Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus

Joyful day friends! It's Good Friday. Today commemorates the day our Lord Jesus was crucified and died. Why call it ‘good’ then? Because it was the necessary path for Christ to show His glory and to save us (a), his resurrection being the culmination of His victory over death, sin, and evil forever. All authority in heaven and on earth was given to him. A good day indeed!

In the past four weeks, we spent some time exploring the question: what if Jesus was not raised from the dead? I aimed to enliven our hearts with the Joy of our salvation, to the greatness of the hope we have in Jesus' resurrection. If Jesus wasn't raised from the dead, absolutely everything about our Faith would be in vain. But in fact, Jesus was raised from the dead. Hold fast your confidence in Him.

Evidence for the Resurrection

Unlike popular belief, the Christian faith is not blind, wishful thinking, or devoid of reason. Today, I am making the case for the resurrection of Jesus. This is for your own encouragement and hopefully, for conversations you may have with well-meaning skeptics and seekers in the future. We are called to give reasons for the hope we have —and reasons, we have. I will provide historical references, biblical and extra-biblical. Why? Because there are historical facts widely accepted amongst historians (including non-Christians) that corroborate the biblical evidence. Our faith is reasonable.

1. Jesus actually died and was buried. He lost his life by crucifixion. He did not just pass out or fall into a comma as some suggest. It was not someone else on the cross either. Jesus, the son of Joseph and Mary, died by crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, and his body was placed in a tomb (b)(c).

2. Jesus’ tomb was made of solid rock with no other way out but the entrance, which was covered with a heavy stone and sealed. It was then guarded by Roman soldiers who were given the specific mission to make it as secure as possible. These soldiers would be in great trouble or even put to death if they somehow lost the body. Jesus’ body was not getting out of that tomb (d)(e).

3. But the tomb was empty and Jesus’ body was never found —at all. Many people, including Roman and Jewish leaders, were eager to discredit Jesus and his apostles. They made up a story that Jesus’ body was stolen, which some Jewish literature written later still says. Ironically, it confirms that the tomb was empty and that they could not find Jesus’ body. If Jesus’ body was somehow hidden or stolen, you best believe it would have been found (f).

4. More than 500 people (at once), as well as Jesus’ apostles, claim that he appeared to them after death. Most of these 500 people were still alive at the time the apostles wrote about it in their letters. Their claim was verifiable. Many of Jesus’ own disciples did not even believe until he appeared to them. They claim to have seen his physical body alive after death. He was not a spirit or a ghost; some touched his physical body, and his wounds and ate with him. It was not a mass hallucination either. These appearances were independent and were tactile, auditory, and visual (g)(c).

When you consider the evidence, there are more reasons to believe that Jesus was bodily raised from the dead than not. It is a fact of history. But we know that apart from God’s Spirit, all of us suppress the truth and are blind to reality. Faith is a gift from God. So, as we rejoice in the Resurrection of Jesus, let us continue to be faithful witnesses and pray for all people who do not yet share in this hope.

He is risen indeed! Good Friday and Glorious Easter!

NOTES & SCRIPTURE REFERENCES

All scriptures from the ESV version unless otherwise noted

(a) Luke 24:26;46: Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?… and said to them, Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead”. 2 Cor. 5:21: For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. Hebrews 12:2; 13:12: looking to Jesus, the founder, and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God…So Jesus also suffered outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood.

Evidence for the resurrection of Jesus - references:

(b) Biblical - John 19:33-35: But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness—his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth—that you also may believe. Matthew 27:57-58: When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him.

(c) Extra-Biblical - The Antiquities of the Jews, Book 18, Chapter 3, From The Works of Josephus - translated by William Whiston - Hendrickson Publishers, 1987. Note on Josephus: He was a non-Christian, first century historian and military leader. His historical works are widely used and highly regarded, even today, by both Christians and non-Christians. Josephus’ writing below confirms the facts that Jesus indeed died by crucifixion under Pilate and that his disciples, who say he is The Christ, claim to have seen him alive afterwards.

“Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works-a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day”.

(d) Biblical - Matthew 27:59-66: And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. …The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

(e) Extra-Biblical - Jewish Library - Archaeological Sites in Jerusalem: Burial Sites & Tombs of the Second Temple Period.

(f) Biblical - Matthew 28: 11-15: While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

(g) Biblical - 1 Corinthians 15:3-7: For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. See also Luke 24:36-43, John 20:26-29, Acts 1:3.

(h) I used many things from this video: Mike Winger - Bible Thinker: EVIDENCE for the RESURRECTION of Christ . Highly recommended if you want more evidence and in-depth explanations.