Why Christians Believe IN

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

One of the unique doctrines of Christianity is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christianity offers evidence that Jesus Christ was put to death, buried for three days, and that his body came back to life through the resurrection. No other faith in the world can supply evidence for such a claim except Christianity. Critics of Christianity have challenged the resurrection of Christ without controverting the evidence and without establishing contrary facts. Their theories become meaningless in the face of New Testament history. The Christian Church has always met the opposition with the facts. We appeal to the historical record of the Bible and let it speak for itself. Matthew and John were first-hand eyewitnesses of the events recorded in the gospel accounts. Mark was personally acquainted with the apostles, from whom he gathered information for his gospel account (1 Peter 5:13). Luke was well educated, being a physician. He wrote his gospel as a collection of the historical facts from living eyewitnesses (Luke 1:2). He studied it until he had a “perfect understanding” of all the events (Luke 1:3). This was done so that we might know the “certainty” of all that happened (Luke 1:4). Luke also wrote the book of Acts. There he appealed to his contemporaries, challenging them with the “many infallible proofs” (Acts 1:3). Paul, the apostle, appealed to contemporary witnesses in his letters who were still alive as eyewitnesses of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:6).

When we speak of the resurrection we are saying that Jesus literally died by crucifixion, then he was buried in the tomb, and after three days he came back to life in a glorified resurrected body. The resurrected body is different from mortal bodies. It will never die again, it does not decay, and it is immortal (1 Corinthians 15:42-54). This is not to be construed as merely a revived body or a resuscitated body. In these latter conditions the person is subject to death again. In Jesus’ resurrection he was brought back to life in an incorruptible body. Let us consider the weight of the biblical evidence.

The Promise of the resurrection

1. The Old Testament prophesied that Christ would be raised from the dead (Psalm 16:10 with Acts 2:30; Psalm 68:18 with Ephesians 4:8; Jonah 1:17 with Matthew 12:40; 1 Cor. 15:5).

2. The resurrection is a “sign” that Jesus is the Messiah (Matt. 12:38-40).

3. Jesus predicted his resurrection in his teachings (Matt. 16:21, 17:9, 17:22-23, 20:18-19, 26:32; Mark 8:31, 9:9, 9:31, 10:34).

4. The Jews who heard Jesus’ teach said that he predicted his resurrection (Matt. 27:63).

5. Jesus said that he would raise himself from the dead (John 2:18-22, 10:18).

The death of Jesus was literal

We must clearly establish that Jesus died by crucifixion to silence the critics who say that he merely faked his death. The Roman executors were professional executors, so they knew how to crucify someone until death. The Jewish historian Josephus notes the heavy use of crucifixion by the Romans with as many as 800 Jews being crucified in a single 24-hour period. The Roman executors saw that Jesus was already dead (John 19:33).

1. Jesus died before eyewitnesses (Matt. 27:50; Mark 15: 37; Luke 23: 46; John 19:36).

2. Christ’s enemies said that he was dead (John 19:31-33; Mark 15:49).

3. A Roman Centurion attending the crucifixion spoke of Jesus in the past tense “was” (Matt. 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 23:47).

4. Pontius Pilot confirmed it (Mark 15:44).

5. Thomas did not believe the report that Jesus was alive (John 20:25).

6. Christ’s followers went to his tomb because they knew he had died (Matt. 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:1; John 20:1).

7. Peter preached Christ’s death to the Jews who could have contradicted him had Jesus not died (Acts 2:23, 2:29, 3:15, 5:30).

The burial of Jesus was literal

1. Joseph of Arimathea asked to bury the body of Jesus (Matt. 27:57-58; Mark 15:43: Luke 23:50; John 19:38).

2. Nicodemus, a teacher of the Jews, helped bury the body of Jesus (John 19:39-40).

3. The Jews sealed Jesus’ tomb after he was buried (Matt. 27:66).

4. The Jews set guards to watch the tomb both day and night (Matt. 27:65-66, 28:4).

The bodily resurrection of Jesus

1. The guards first told the Jews about the resurrection (Matt. 28:11).

2. The angels proclaimed the resurrection to Mary, Salome, Joanna, Mary Magdalene, and other women (Matt. 28:6; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:5).

3. Jesus appeared to Mary (Matt. 28:9-10; John 20:14).

4. Jesus appeared to two disciples (Jn 20:19).

5. Jesus appeared to ten disciples (Jn 20:19).

6. Jesus appeared to eleven disciples in a room (Mark 16:14; John 20:26; Luke 24:36).

7. Jesus appeared to eleven disciples on a mountain (Matt. 28:16).

8. Jesus appeared to seven disciples by the sea (John 21:1, 14).

9. Jesus appeared to Simon (Luke 24:34).

10. Jesus appeared to the twelve after Matthias was chosen in Acts 1:26 (1 Cor. 15:5).

11. Jesus appeared to Stephen (Acts 7:58).

12. He appeared to 500 people (1 Cor. 15:6).

13. Jesus appeared to James (1 Cor. 15:7).

14. Jesus appeared to all of the apostles (1 Cor. 15:7).

15. He appeared to Paul four times (1 Cor. 15:8; Acts 9:3-6; 20:24, 22:17-21, 23:11).

His enemies could not refute it

It is important to see how the enemies of Christ responded to the eyewitness accounts of the resurrection. At a time when it could have been challenged, nobody offered any counter-evidence.

1. The Jews knew that something had taken place, but they could not refute the facts (Matt. 28:15). This shows Matthew’s honesty in exposing the only explanation attempted by Christ’s enemies.

2. Fifty days after the resurrection, Peters openly preached the resurrection to the Jews from fifteen countries, without any hint of refutation. Three thousand Jews became believers in Christ (Acts 2:14, 24, 31-36).

3. Paul preached the resurrection to Festus, the governor, and King Agrippa, without refutation (Acts 25:19, 26:23-26).

What will you do with the evidence?

There are over ninety verses in this study supporting the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Evidence, though, is objective observation, but belief is an act of the will. The evidence stands true. The truth about Jesus Christ is vindicated by the resurrection (1 Cor. 15:14). Furthermore, Jesus promises to resurrect those who believe in him unto eternal life (John 6:39). This is the wonderful power Jesus has over death! Will you believe in Him today? Romans 10:9-10 states, “that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes to righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made to salvation.” Pray to Jesus and ask Him to become your living Lord and Savior.

Jude 3 Missions

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