Ever since I was a young child, I have been concerned about whether or not it was safe to die. That concern has made me keenly interested in evidences for the resurrection of Jesus. So, on the heels of
Easter, I want to look more closely at this vital subject.
Concerning the resurrection, it made sense to me that if someone could predict that He was going to die and be raised from the dead, and then He, in fact, did die and rose from the dead, then that would be a sufficient miracle to be able to trust anything He said.
Few people doubt that Jesus lived and died. The question is, did He rise from the dead? So, why
would anyone believe in the resurrection?
Christian scholar William Lane Craig correctly presents “inference” as the best evidence for determining if an historical event is actually true. He argues that we should begin with the evidence available to us and then infer what would be the best explanation for that evidence.
This seems only too obvious. But many people do not do this. Instead, they sift the evidence with an “anti-supernatural presupposition.” That is, they decide ahead of time, before ever even looking at the evidence, that it cannot be explained by anything supernatural.
I have never understood why anyone would do this. I have never understood why anyone would simply reject a potential source of truth without even looking at it’s possible value. If I am wanting to make sure if it’s safe to die, I want to have all the information available, natural or supernatural! But
that’s another blog…
The best evidence for the resurrection
Well, of course, the strongest evidence for the resurrection is the empty tomb. There are various theories advanced to explain the empty tomb.
- The disciples stole the body.
Impossible! It was guarded by Roman soldiers.
- The Jewish leaders stole the body.
Unthinkable! They were trying to
prevent rumors of the resurrection.
- They went to the wrong tomb.
Unreasonable! Skeptics would have located the real one.
There are no convincing alternatives for the empty tomb, which is why it is the strongest evidence for the resurrection.
The resurrection is the best-supported event in the history of the Roman Empire. If we believe anything about Julius Caesar, Nero or Mark Antony and Cleopatra, we should believe the resurrection. The only reason not to is if you have an anti-supernatural presupposition.
The second-best evidence for the resurrection
But the longer I live, the more significant the
change in the disciples becomes in my mind as evidence of Jesus' resurrection.
After His arrest and crucifixion, but prior to the resurrection, the disciples were fearful of being caught and punished for being followers of Jesus.
- As soon as Jesus was arrested, the disciples scattered. Matthew 26:56
- That night and into the next morning, Peter denied three times even knowing Jesus. Luke 22:56-60
- The next Sunday, they were hiding behind locked doors. John 20:19
Why were the disciples hiding behind locked doors? They were afraid for their lives.
But then, just days later, they were out from behind locked doors, proclaiming Him far and wide. Why? Because they had seen Jesus, risen from the dead!
After the resurrection, they were transformed into courageous and committed disciples who gave their lives to spreading the message of the resurrection to the surrounding world.
Jesus’ disciples lived lives of hardship and deprivation for 20, 30 and even 40 years. They were persecuted and suffered greatly, including martyrdom for many – all the time steadfastly asserting that they had seen Jesus, risen from the dead.
The strongest motive
Why would they do that? What were they gaining? Were they getting rich? Were they gaining reputation and notoriety? Were they building a life of advantage for themselves in any way? The answer to those questions is no, no and no!
They had either become madmen, throwing themselves off a cliff for something they knew was not true, or they had been radically transformed by having seen Jesus, risen from the dead, just as he said he would.
And put yourself in their shoes. What would motivate you to live a life of sacrifice, deprivation, suffering and eventually be killed for proclaiming a message. Would you do it if you knew your message were not true? I certainly wouldn’t.
That makes the transformation in the lives of the disciples an increasingly convincing evidence to me for the truth of the resurrection.
Chuck Colson, former Special Counsel to President Nixon, spent time in jail for his involvement in the Watergate scandal. Having become a Christian just before he went to jail, he later wrote:
“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because twelve men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for forty years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled twelve of the most powerful men in the world - and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me twelve apostles could keep a lie for forty years? Absolutely impossible.”
Conclusion
An increasingly convincing evidence for me supporting the resurrection is the dramatic transformation in the lives of the disciples from being men who were in hiding for fear of their lives one day for being Jesus' followers, to risking their lives to proclaim Him the next.
What made the difference? They had seen the risen Jesus. No other explanation for their dramatic and unwavering transformation seems remotely convincing. That helps convince me that it is safe to die. If Jesus rose, I believe I will rise.
What about you? Jesus said,
"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6) He backed those claims by rising from the dead. Have you trusted the one who is risen? Have you made sure it's safe to die?
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