 |
|
|
|
|
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
|
| How vitally important is the resurrection of Jesus Christ to Christianity? How vitally important is the resurrection of Jesus Christ to You? |
To the Apostle Paul the resurrection of Christ was central to the doctrine of the first century Church. Notice what he wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:14,
"If Christ is not risen, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is also empty."
These are strong words, vital to our Christian faith. Yet, today some "scholars" and other "enlightened" souls challenge the credibility of the resurrection of Christ. We, indeed, live in a skeptical age. For many, the Bible is just too much to accept or too difficult to validate. Does not the Bible contain stories of fiat creation, a universal flood, the parting of the Red sea, divine healing, powerfully answered prayers, the resurrection of Christ and more? Even many professing Christians have their little doubts. Of course, the apostles predicted this skepticism of the "educated class." See 2 Timothy 3:7, for example. Despite the skepticism of the modern age many educated, objective researchers have accepted the resurrection of Christ because of the overwhelming evidence of historic fact and written eyewitness testimony.
Many Infallible Proofs
The phrase "many infallible proofs" has been borrowed and applied to other subjects, such as the proof of creation. But this phrase in proper context is directly related to the resurrection of Christ. In Acts 1:3 we find:
"to whom [the apostles] He also represented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God."
The apostles were eyewitnesses to the life, death and resurrection of the Living Christ. But they were not the only ones. Paul wrote some 500 others were also eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). Today, just as in biblical times, a matter is settled with just two or three witnesses (Matthew 18:16). But here, with the issue of the resurrection of Christ, the word of God notes well over 500 eyewitnesses! Why so many witnesses? What makes this such a vital issue? Simply this: if we cannot be assured that Christ, God's very own Son rose from the dead, how can we be assured in faith that we and our loved ones will likewise rise from death? (1 Corinthians 15:12.). The resurrection of the dead is vital and central to the Christian Church and to the future kingdom of God on the earth—with a living Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. So how can we be sure that Christ rose from the dead? Does our faith need to be baseless or are there facts to support a risen Christ? The resurrection is part of the foundation of Christianity and can be proven. But first let us examine what the critics and skeptics say.
Is the Resurrection a Myth?
There are usually three basic ideas that critics suggest could explain away the resurrection of Christ. To begin with, the very fact that people offer several stories to "explain it away" indicates there is substance to the resurrection. The first idea is the swoon theory, which states that Jesus faked His death. If He did not really die on the cross then He did not literally rise from death in the tomb. The idea of faking one's death with a roman soldier's spear in one's side is more than a little difficult. Did Jesus arrange for the Roman soldier to pretend to run the spear in His side to give His whole performance more drama? Military men know death, since it is part of their trade. The soldier was perhaps demonstrating to the crowd, who did not want to accept that Jesus was dead, that indeed He was dead (John 19:34). This detail of His death is affirmed as true testimony (verse 35). Another idea skeptics suggest is the theft or robber theory. "He died," they concede, "but He was not resurrected." Either His followers took His body to further the cause or graverobbers stole His body for some unexplained reason. Actually, this is the oldest theory of all, perpetuated by those that murdered him (Matthew 28:11-15). A third possibility is the hallucination theory. Christ's disciples were victims of some mass hysteria. The strain of His death overwhelmed them. That's right, over 500 victims of mass hysteria and hallucinations, along with Roman officials, military officers, temple guard, Jewish leaders and the like. Even those who killed Him would have been hallucinating because they tried to stop people from telling the resurrection story, rather than just showing the body, and proving it false (Acts 4:32-33, 5:28). Educated, enlightened people have to stretch to expect reasonable people to accept this theory. Remember, 2 Timothy 4:3-4 predicted that as time goes along critics, skeptics and even believers themselves would grow more and more prone to theological fables. We will see that these three theories and their kind are just that—theories, opinion and speculation, but not facts or evidence.
Does the Bible Lack Credibility?
Perhaps some question the validity of the resurrection of Christ, along with other miracles and divine acts, because the presented evidence is contained in the same book where the event is first noted. In other words, an alleged event, such as the resurrection of Christ, should be supported by other sources. Many people assume the Bible is just one source. This is a legitimate concern. The Bible is just one volume today. Originally, the New Testament—which contains the direct accounts of the resurrection—was composed of 27 separate books and letters (also called "epistles"). It was written by at least eight authors and an unknown number of contributors. It was hundreds of years before these separate and independent accounts were consolidated into one easy to use volume. This was done for convenience of study and because of common inspiration. The Old Testament, which contains the prophecies and the criteria that the Christ must meet, is composed of 39 separate books by a number of different writers and contributors. Moses, for example, wrote the first five books, though someone else obviously finished the last chapter as it records the death of Moses. Other Old Testament accounts were written over hundreds of years by men of different perspectives, but containing corresponding evidence, facts and history. So the Bible does not lose credibility because some allege it is "just one source." In reality it is a collection of many books and letters, from many writers, containing an awesome array of provable history, facts, eyewitness testimonies and details. When it comes to the resurrection of Christ, the evidence is presented and supported by several writers each working independently from the others. It is based on eyewitness accounts of over 500 persons including Romans and Jews, and religions, civil and military leaders. Quite a credible case is actually laid out, presented and supported, if one chooses to look into the evidence.
Truth is Based on Facts
What constitutes credible, or as a court of law would term it, "admissible" evidence? How about eyewitness accounts, such as we have already mentioned? Would a court of law, striving to get at the facts of a case accept written eyewitness testimony? When a witness is not available, written or taped statements are allowed instead. This is what the four Gospel accounts are—four written eyewitness statements of the life, death and resurrection of Christ. Further, it is interesting to note that there were twelve apostles, just like we have twelve jurors who sit on a jury panel to hear testimony in a court case. Christians need to examine the Gospel records—the written eyewitness statements. This is why the records were preserved for us today. Too many have a shallow, unsubstantiated faith based mostly on what they have heard from modern day preachers. It is much better to read the words of the men who were actually there and knew the facts. As an example, look at Luke's testimony—the third book of the New Testament. To record the factual events that he witnessed he wrote an "orderly account" (Luke 1:1-3). Why? So that the readers, which include you and me, can
"know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed" (verse 4).
Luke was a physician (Colossians 4:14), a medical doctor. He was an educated man who would have by training dealt in accurate facts. His written eyewitness account can therefore be considered trustworthy. In addition to his Gospel account he also wrote the accurate historic book of Acts. It is from Luke's pen that we also get the phrase "many infallible proofs" (Acts 1:3). The other three Gospel accounts are likewise eyewitness accounts, acceptable as admissible evidence. While they relate many of the same incidents, they are separately written books—not merely copies of each other. Jesus Christ's power over death (Hebrews 2:9,14-15) and His resurrection extend the same hope to His true followers (Philippians 3:10-11). Since His resurrection is one of the most well-attested facts of history, we can have faith in this hope.
There are few known surviving written direct eyewitness accounts of the assassination of Julius Caesar, and yet no one questions the story of his life and treacherous death. It is accepted as historic fact. Why, then, all the skepticism about the life and treacherous death of Christ when there is much more available written eyewitness testimony? When you read and study the written eyewitness reports of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, and consider the evidence, ask yourself: "Could Christ have faked His own death?" Were all these hundreds of witnesses, including leaders and government officials, all victims of some strange mass hysteria or hallucinations? Would the Apostles spend the rest of their lives being persecuted and eventually killed for something they knew was false? The apostle Paul argued before a king, noting that "this thing was not done in a corner" (Acts 26:26), meaning gone unnoticed. Christ's enemies were some of the highest Jewish leaders (Mark 15:1). The highest Roman occupation official was caught up in the plot (Mark 15:2). The Roman Empire was highly organized. Pilate certainly had reports to file, and certainly would have made note of these things in his official dispatches to Rome. Roman army officers and soldiers were present (Matthew 27:27,54) and would have made reports to their superiors. Important men in Jewish society buried Christ's body (John 19:38-39). With facts like these how can reasonable individuals suggest that Christ faked his death or that hundreds of eyewitnesses, including Roman officials and officers, were hysterical or hallucinating? Instead, once you read and consider the true facts in the case, there can be only one reasonable verdict: Jesus Christ lived, died and rose from the dead!
The Lie and Attempted Cover-up
The oldest idea used to discredit the eyewitness accounts of the resurrection of Christ was first promoted by those who killed Christ (Matthew 28:11-15). On the other hand, the apostle Paul wrote that over 500 eyewitnesses saw Jesus alive after he was crucified. Which have more credibility? Corrupt leaders and conspirators always try to lie and cover-up their evil deeds. The theory that Christ's disciples stole His body is still being promoted. Those who refuse to seriously consider the facts presented by written eyewitness accounts fall victim to this lie and cover-up. Until they change, they cannot be justified by their Savior's death. What will You Do? What will you do? Will you accept the weak, groundless theories, opinions and speculations of latter-day skeptics or the written direct eyewitness accounts of those at the scene? Will you study and carefully consider the eyewitness testimony, carefully and painstakingly preserved by expert scribes and scholars for 1900 years, or haphazardly accept the empty theories of modern skeptics? It is your choice. Without a resurrected, living Christ we have no genuine hope of our own resurrection and that of our loved ones (1 Corinthians 15:12-23). Without a resurrected, living Christ we also have no hope of a future glorious kingdom of God on the earth, with a living and loving Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. Each of us and our children, along with all of mankind, will be stuck forever with this present age of crime, hunger, debts, wars, drugs, disease, murder and the like. If this life is all we have then Christians are indeed the most miserable of all God's creatures (verse 19). The eyewitness record stands. Jesus Christ lived, died, and lives again. What will you do with that testimony?
Written by: Donald L Hudgel
(for another excellent article on resurrection proofs try here)
|
