On Easter morning, John tells us that he went running to the tomb with Peter. They heard a report that Jesus had risen from the dead, but they didn't know what to make of it, so they went to see what they could find out. The Bible invites us to investigate the facts as well. The accounts in the Bible acknowledge that initial skepticism is a natural reaction to such an amazing event.
Did Jesus rise from the dead or not? To some, this may seem like a question for history buffs or the very religious. Outside of being able to have an informed conversation about a topic that interests many, what difference does it make? Did Alexander the Great die of a disease like Malaria or was he poisoned? It might be an interesting conversation to have, but does it really matter?
According to the Bible, the resurrection of Jesus is no ordinary historical fact. If it did not happen, the Bible says everything about the Christian message is a complete hoax that has deceived billions (1 Corinthians 15:15). On the other hand, if the resurrection did happen, Jesus' message is authenticated and your eternal destiny depends on whether or not you will put your trust in his death and resurrection for salvation. This is a historical question that directly impacts your life like nothing else, historical or otherwise, ever could!
And make no mistake, it is a question of history. Many think of a question like this as a "religious" question. It is a matter of faith, not a matter of fact. However, Jesus of Nazareth was a real person who was crucified in 33 A.D. Did that person come back to life and appear to many, or not? This either happened or it didn't. It doesn't really matter what your religious beliefs are. It is a question of history.
Some historians will claim that it is a question that is impossible to answer. Supernatural events are beyond the scope of what history can investigate. Others deny that it could have happened simply because it is supernatural- and those kinds of events don't happen. However, looking at the evidence has convinced even many hardened skeptics that the resurrection is real.
Following the biblical presentation, I think it is reasonable and right to begin with a degree of skepticism about a miraculous account like the resurrection. However, there are a number of natural events surrounding the resurrection that you can evaluate first. For instance, Jesus was executed by crucifixion. The tomb where he was buried was found empty within a few days. Many followers of Jesus soon proclaimed that Jesus had risen from the dead and that they had seen him. These are the kinds of facts that atheists and skeptics of all kinds can agree with. There is an extraordinary amount of historical data to support them, in historical accounts that are included in the Bible and outside the Bible. These basic facts are attested at least as well, if not far more than, just about any other basic fact from ancient history.
The question then becomes, what is the explanation? Was it a hoax? Were the disciples tricked? Was there some simple mistake, like going to the wrong tomb, that grew into a greater and greater legend over time? Or did Jesus really rise from the dead? Answering all of these questions goes beyond what I can cover in one blog entry. However, I can tell you that every suggested alternative to a real resurrection is met with enormous challenges. There really is only one reasonable explanation to all the facts. Jesus Christ really did rise from the dead! After looking at the evidence, it is hard for me to imagine how anyone really could believe anything else. I recommend "I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist," by Norman Geisler, for an explanation of the alternative theories.
Trust the Bible is a weekday radio program that begins at about 8:10 each morning on WDOG 93.5 in Allendale, SC. You can listen to previous programs online here: http://www.fairfaxfbc.org/trust-the-bible.html
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