EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION
Do you believe that Jesus defeated death and the grave? Do you believe in the
resurrection? My wife and I sat down to dinner with a new friend who lives in
Oklahoma City. I ask him if he had been living there during the time Timothy McVeigh
bombed the federal building. He says, “I was in that building at 8:00 that morning and
left only minutes before the explosion.” That experience, needless to say, changed his
outlook on life. 168 people lose their lives and hundreds of others are injured on that
dark morning in Oklahoma history.
No one sees Timothy McVeigh driving the rental truck to the scene of the
accident that fateful morning. No one sees him load two tons of fertilizer-based
explosives into that truck. No one is able to pick him up on a security or video camera
fleeing the scene after the heinous crime. In other words, there are no eyewitnesses at
all who see him tied in to the crime scene. Yet, a jury is able to unanimously agree that
he is guilty by using circumstantial evidence to convict him. They are able to reconstruct the situation beyond any shadow of doubt.
At the resurrection of Jesus there are both eyewitnesses and strong
circumstantial evidence. Over 500 people see the resurrected Jesus face to face. In
addition, there is strong circumstantial evidence to help prove Jesus’ resurrection.
Today, it is more important than ever before not only to believe but also to know why
you believe. We are going to look together at evidence for Jesus' resurrection and what
that can mean for us and to us.
THEORIES THAT JESUS DID NOT CONQUER THE GRAVE
a) JESUS’ BODY IS STOLEN. This is a reasonable theory until you ask the question,
“Who would or could steal the body and why would they steal the body?” This
theory is even Biblical in origin because Matthew, in chapter 28 of his book, tells us
that the chief priests and elders, when they hear that Jesus’ body is missing, bribe
the soldiers to tell everyone that the disciples came and stole the body while they
were sleeping. Matthew even says that that theory is still being propagated while
Matthew is writing his gospel, several decades after the death of Christ.
Who would steal the body? Who could steal the body? The Romans had a guard
unit there around the clock. The pictures you may have seen of this group look a lot
like a bunch of wimps carrying crude wooden spears and wearing mini-skirts. A
Roman guard unit was a fighting machine! Falling asleep during the night watch was
punishable by death. The disciples were a defeated, demoralized group! They are
cowering in an upper room, afraid that the next knock at their door will be the
authorities who will crucify them just as they did Jesus. Why would they steal Jesus’
body, even if they could, and then go out and die for a lie? Would you die for a lie?
All of the disciples are believed to have suffered martyrs’ deaths, with the exception
of John, who is exiled to the island of Patmos.
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The Jews would not have stolen Jesus’ body. That would mean that they would
actually be supporting the resurrection. The Romans would not steal the body. That
would give support to a new religious movement, and they did not want any new
uprisings that would threaten their control over Palestine.
b) GROUP CONSPIRACY. In other words, all the disciples and followers of Jesus got
together and came up with a “whopper.” Again, we would have to ask the question,
“Why would someone come up with a lie and then go out and die for it?”
However, another very important point is that if they were going to make up a story
about the resurrection, they would have never included the testimony of the
women going to the tomb. In Jewish court, the testimony of a woman is never
accepted as valid. They would be shooting themselves in the foot from a legal
perspective to make up such a tall tale.
c) HALLUCINATIONS. This theory suggests that everyone who saw the resurrected
Christ just dreamed it up. This is a fairly bizarre story because this means that all of
the people in all 12 post-resurrection accounts saw the same hallucination. At times
there was one witness and on another occasion there were over 500 witnesses.
They all had the same hallucination. I don’t think so!
d) SWOON. According to this theory, Jesus did not really die. He receives 39 lashes
from a cat of nine tails type whip (pieces of bone or metal imbedded in leather
straps) administered by Roman guards. Why 39 lashes? Forty lashes are the death
penalty, although many never made it to 39 lashes before they died. Jesus’ head is
pierced with a crown of thorns. He is beat upon the head with a long stick. He is
forced to carry his cross up a long hill to Golgotha. He is nailed to a rough wooden
cross. The soldiers pierce his side with a spear. Dr. Luke reports that when his side
is pierced, water and blood flow out. Medical experts report that this separation of
the water and blood is a postmortem or after-death separation of the blood into clot
and serum, proving that Jesus had already died before his side is pierced. He is
pronounced dead on the scene by medical experts.
Therefore, those who believe that Jesus did not die on the cross believe that Jesus
went through all this, was wrapped in 75 pounds of linen cloths and aromatic spices,
was placed into a cold, damp tomb, went without food, water, and medical
attention for several days, and on Sunday morning he jumped up, tore off his burial
clothes, rolled away a huge stone all by himself, overcame some of Rome’s finest
soldiers, walked into Jerusalem on nail pierced feet and presented Himself as Lord of
life and conqueror of death. The evidence suggests otherwise!
EVIDENCE FOR JESUS’ RESURRECTION:
1) CHANGED LIVES OF THE DISCIPLES.
The disciples spend three years living with Jesus Christ. They see all the miracles, hear
the incredible wisdom from his divine lips, and experience first-hand how to live in this
world. Suddenly all their hopes and dreams are dashed when Jesus is arrested, tried,
and sentenced to die a cruel criminal’s death on the cross. The disciples are discouraged
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and depressed. They have seemingly wasted three years of their lives for what? They
will now be forever identified as the gullible disciples of the carpenter’s son. According
to Jewish belief, a crucified person is cursed by God. They had been led to falsely
believe that the Messiah would never have to suffer death. The Jesus movement is
dead in the water. The disciples are cowering in that upper room, fearing that the next
knock on the door will be the authorities coming to arrest and perhaps crucify them.
They are defeated.
Just a few days later they leave their hideout and go out with a strong passion to
share the message that Jesus is the Messiah. He died on the cross for their sins and had
returned to life. Get this! They spend the rest of their lives sharing this message with
no hope of any payoff from a human perspective. They are persecuted, go without
food, are exposed to harmful weather, and are ridiculed, beaten, and imprisoned. Most
of them are executed for their faith.
Call it “The Great Turnaround.” Acts 4:13 is really a summary of what is
happening. “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were
unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men
had been with Jesus.” Peter and John changed after the resurrection; however, they
were already followers of Jesus. Some of the strongest evidence for the resurrection
comes from the changed lives of those who had previously been skeptics.
One of these is James, Jesus’ half-brother. John 7:5 says, “For even his own
brothers did not believe in him.” How humiliating this must have been for Jesus! His
own brothers did not believe. You can be “close” to Jesus without having a life change.
Before the resurrection James is not convinced that Jesus is the Messiah. After the
resurrection, look at the testimony of his own letter: “James, a servant of God and of
the Lord Jesus Christ.” Josephus, a Jewish historian, tells us that James, who at that
time is the leader of the church in Jerusalem, is stoned to death because of his belief in
his brother. The resurrection changes everything!
Another skeptic is Paul or Saul. As a loyal Pharisee, he would oppose anything
that disrupts Jewish tradition and beliefs. For him to become a follower of Jesus would
be the ultimate in betrayal, the height of disloyalty to his roots. He never would have
taken that step if he did not believe wholeheartedly in Christ. Before his dramatic
conversion to Christianity, he persecutes and executes Christians. Then he becomes
one! Galatians 1:23 is a reference to Paul: “They only heard the report: ‘The man who
formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” What
happens? Paul has a face-to-face encounter with the risen Jesus and receives his
appointment to go out and share that news with the world.
Look at Peter. He denies even knowing Jesus to a servant girl, who certainly
could have done him little harm, and, after the resurrection, Peter goes out to boldly
proclaim Christ until he dies as a martyr and is hung upside down on a cross because he
says he does not deserve to die in the same way Jesus died.
Men who are cowering in an upper room invest the rest of their lives
courageously suffering for their faith in Christ. What happens? Jesus defeats the grave
and sin and comes back as Lord of Lords.
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2) CHANGED JEWISH TRADITIONS.
All of us have certain family traditions that we like to observe. Some of them may have
even been passed on from a generation or two back. We live in a society that changes
every single day and we are not accustomed to traditions as much as the Jews are. The
Jews have been persecuted for centuries on end, and yet they have survived. How were
they able to do so? Other cultures from Biblical days have died out. They mix, mingle,
and intermarry. Jews survive because they are able to pass on their traditions, which
they believe came from God from generation to generation. Yet, just weeks after Jesus’
death, huge changes are made by converted Jews to their revered religious traditions.
Here are four specific examples:
a) Animal sacrifice.
They would offer animal sacrifices yearly in order to pay or to atone for their sins. God
would transfer the sins to the animal and they would be forgiven. Jewish followers of
Christ stopped making animal sacrifices because they realize that Jesus is the ultimate
sacrifice, the “Lamb of God.”
b) Priority of rules and laws.
1st century Jews believe that one has to obey the laws entrusted to them through Moses
in order to be upstanding citizens of the kingdom of God. After the resurrection, they
say that you don’t become a kingdom citizen merely by obeying the laws of Moses. It is
faith in Christ that provides the power for moral obedience.
c) The Sabbath.
Many of their laws and traditions focused on the special Sabbath day. For 1500 years
they worshiped God on this day. Suddenly they change this revered tradition and began
to worship on Sunday. Why? The resurrection occurs on Sunday morning.
d) Understanding of the Messiah.
Most Jews thought the Messiah or Savior would be this political ruler who sweeps in
and establishes a political kingdom and who would destroy Roman armies. Christfollowers observe the Lord’s Supper where they celebrate the facts that Jesus is
betrayed by one of his own disciples, goes through inhumane treatment, is put through
an unjust, illegal trial, and is tortured on the cross in a grotesque and humiliating way.
How could they celebrate that? Why would they emphasize the death of Christ in
baptism? Within 5 weeks of the resurrection, 10,000+ Jews are Christ-followers! How
could such a rag-tag motley crew pioneer a movement that now spans the globe? If you
were walking through the 1st century world, where would you have placed your money
– on Christianity or on the Roman Empire? Yet today we name our children Peter and
Paul and our dogs Nero and Caesar. What makes the difference? The resurrection of
Jesus Christ!
3) CHANGED LIVES THROUGH HISTORY (and the existence of the Church).
The resurrection has been the foundational principle of the Christian church for almost
2000 years. Millions and millions of lives have changed. Mine has. Has Jesus changed
you? What is your verdict today? Sir Lionel Luckhoo is recognized in the Guinness Book
of World Records as the world’s most successful lawyer. For several years he analyzed
the details surrounding the resurrection and then declared, “I say unequivocally that the
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evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is so overwhelming that it compels
acceptance by proof which leaves absolutely no room for doubt.”
The resurrection is more than just history. It leads to an experience, an encounter with
Jesus Christ.
BECAUSE JESUS DEFEATS DEATH…
1) HE IS UNIQUE AND TRUSTWORTHY.
Combine all the attributes and you will find no other like Jesus. He is the most moral
individual who has ever lived. He is the greatest teacher and the most powerful miracle
workers. He exhibits the greatest wisdom in decision-making. He identifies himself as
the way, the truth, and the life. He is the way to heaven. He said that and verified it
through his death and resurrection. You can believe what he says. The resurrection has
been the foundational principle of the Christian church for many centuries.
2) I HAVE AN UNCHANGING MORAL STANDARD.
More and more, the standards for society’s morality are being built on changing and
selfish standards. Jesus’ life and teachings become the never-changing standards for
the way you and I are to live.
3) HE IS ALIVE AND AVAILABLE TODAY.
You can go to the tombs or gravesites of other world religious leaders and you can find
their remains. However, you cannot find a grave memorial for Jesus. He is risen!
You can have a living, personal, daily relationship with the resurrected Lord Jesus.
Christianity is not just history and it is certainly more than just a religion. Jesus wants to
live in and through you.
4) I CAN EXPERIENCE RESURRECTION POWER.
1 Corinthians 6:14 says, “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will
raise us also.” This is the power that brings life out of death. You can experience that
overcoming power, which includes forgiveness of sins and a home in heaven. You can
have a God-given purpose and plan for your life – educationally, vocationally, and
relationally.
Ephesians 1:18,19 say, “I pray … that you may know … his incomparably great power for
us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength. Everywhere we
look today we see books, tapes, and seminars in self-help areas. All of these tell us what
we need to do. Here’s the problem. They can tell us exactly what we need to be doing,
but they cannot give us the power to do it.
Christianity says that death precedes power. When we choose to die to self and follow
Christ, we then begin to have the potential power to have a victorious life. The same
resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead is available to help us to overcome
addictions, have a strong marriage, be effective parents, make a difference in the
workplace, be faithful servants of Christ, develop and pursue godly financial goals, and
make the best out of bad situations that we face in life. Are you experiencing the
resurrection power of Christ?
The resurrection tells me that God will have the final word. He is trustworthy! 1
Peter 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great
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mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead.” Since Jesus is alive, we have a living hope! We have heaven as
our eternal home!
A boy named Jeremy had been born with a twisted body and some mental
deficiencies and was diagnosed as being terminally ill. He was “mainstreamed” into the
regular school program because in their area they were not equipped to deal with
special needs students and at 12 he was still in the second grade. During the advent of
spring Mrs. Miller, the class teacher, gave each student a plastic egg and asked them to
take it home and to bring it back the next day with something inside the plastic egg that
shows new life. When asked if they understand the assignment, all of the children
responded positively, except Jeremy, who said nothing and simply stared at the teacher
and then stared at his egg. The next morning the kids came in excitedly, all 19 students
placing their eggs into a basket on Mrs. Miller’s desk. They then opened their eggs,
explaining what they had brought. One held a flower, an obvious sign of new life for the
springtime. Other eggs contained butterflies, a rock with moss on it, and numerous
other objects that represented new life to those children. Then Mrs. Miller opens one
egg that is empty. She knew this was Jeremy’s and did not want to embarrass him, so
she put it to the side and went on opening the others. After a few moments, Jeremy
says, “Mrs. Miller, aren’t you going to talk about my egg?” She says, “Yes, but Jeremy,
your egg was empty.” Jeremy looks into the eyes of his teacher and says, “Yes, but
Jesus’ tomb was empty, too!” His teacher asks, “Jeremy, do you know why the tomb
was empty?” “Oh, yes, Mrs. Miller, I know why. Jesus was killed and put in there. Then
His Father raised him up!” Three months later Jeremy died. Those who paid their
respects at the funeral home see a very interesting sight – 19 plastic eggs laid on top of
his casket, all of them empty. An empty tomb means an overflowing life!
5) NEUTRALITY IS NOT AN OPTION.
The resurrection demands a decision. You can no longer sit on the fence, if you have
been. If you have ignored making a decision about Christ, you have told Him, “No,
thanks!” If you have ignored the bride of Christ, His church, you are saying, “No, thanks!
My plan is better than your plan.” That’s a dangerous philosophy of life. Jesus says, “He
who is not with me is against me.” Let today be the day you make a serious
commitment to follow Christ. C.S. Lewis, at one time a skeptic, says the following:
“I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say
about Him: ‘I’m ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don’t accept His
claim to be God.’ That is the one thing we must not say. A man who was merely a man
and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would
either be a lunatic…or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice.
Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You
can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at
His feet and call Him Lord and God.”