Is the Resurrection of Christ Real

Is The Resurrection of Christ Real?
Written by Dr. Buddy Young copyright 2001 WTBSM

THE IMPORTANCE of the RESURRECTION

When Jesus was asked to produce a sign which would without a doubt persuade individuals to believe He was whom He claimed to be, he replied, " . . . no sign shall be given to you but the sign of Jonah the prophet, for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the sea monster, so the Son of Man be three days and nights in the heart of the earth."

Paul states in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19; "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most pitied.

Josh McDowell states," . . . the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men, or it is the most fantastic fact of history." Another author adds, "To me Christianity stands or falls with the Resurrection.

If Christ was not raised, then He was a liar, all of Christianity is a hoax, and all of those hoping for an eternal resurrection through Christ are foolish. But, if Christ was raised from the dead and it can be proven historically and Biblically, then those who don't trust the claims of Christ and embrace Him as their Savior and Lord are the foolish ones.

THREE VIEWS of the RESURRECTION

NO            Miracles are impossible and thus no resurrection is possible.
MAYBE    A supernatural resurrection is possible, but there is a natural
                  explanation for the Biblical resurrection of Jesus.
YES          The resurrection of Jesus occurred and is historically verifiable.

RESPONSE to the NO ARGUMENT

Position:
Those who hold this position either deny the existence of God, don't believe in miracles, and/or deny the reliability, authenticity, and authority of the Bible. Thus, it might be necessary to ask, "Why do you deny the possibility of the resurrection?"

On the basis of the response one can argue for the Christian faith. Once they can affirm the existence of an all Powerful, Eternal, and Personal God, the historicity, authority, and accuracy of the Biblical documents, and the transcendence and immanence of God who acts miraculously in history, then they will be open to discuss the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

A RESPONSE to the MAYBE ARGUMENT

Position:
Those who hold this position agree that miracles are possible, but deny that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was a supernatural event or that it is a historically reliable event. They believe there is some type of natural explanation for the event, or the historical evidence is insufficient to prove it occurred.

POSSIBLE NATURAL EXPLANATIONS

Listed below are several natural explanations suggested to prove the resurrection of Jesus was a hoax rather than an historical miracle.

The Swoon Theory: Jesus never died, He fainted on the cross and the cool tomb revived Him, allowing Him to walk away from the tomb.
The Unknown Tomb Theory: The tomb where they buried Jesus is unknown. He is still dead, we just don't know where the tomb is located.
The Wrong Tomb Theory: The women went to the wrong tomb on Easter morning.
The Passover Plot Theory: Jesus plotted with Joseph of Arimathea to take a drug before His crucifixion to appear dead and deceive His disciples.
The Spiritual Resurrection Theory: Jesus was raised spiritually, but not bodily.
The Substitute Theory: Someone who looked like Jesus was crucified, then later Jesus appeared.
The Stolen Body Theory: Two views of this theory, 1) the disciples stole the body, or 2) the enemies of Christ stole the body.
The Lying Disciples Theory: Those who saw the resurrected Christ lied about His appearance.
The Hallucination Theory: Those who saw Christ after the resurrection hallucinated.
The Myth Theory: The whole story of the resurrection is a myth or legend.

Rather than confronting each one of these theories, we shall observe the historical facts of the resurrection of Christ and let them speak for us.

THE PREDICTIONS OF CHRIST

Jesus predicted His death, burial, and resurrection in such a way that even though misunderstood by the disciples it was clear that the event would happen.

Even the Jewish leaders took Him at His word, " . . . the chief priests, and Pharisees gathered together with Pilate, and said, "Sir, we remember that when He was still alive that deceiver said, "After three days I am to rise again." Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, lest the disciples come and steal Him away and say to the people, "He has risen from the dead,". . .(Matthew 27:63, 64).

The accounts of Jesus predicting His resurrection are found in the following passages:

        Matthew 12:38-40; 16:21; 17:9, 22, 23; 20:18, 19; 26:32; 27:63.
        Mark 8:31-9:1; 9:10, 31; 14:28, 58; 10:32.
        Luke 9:22-27.
        John 2:19-22; 12:34

One that expresses the specific nature of these predictions is Matthew 20:18-19:
        "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man will be delivered
        up to the chief priests and the scribes, and they will condemn Him to death,
        and will deliver Him up to the Gentiles to mock and scourge and crucify Him,
        and on the third day He will be raised up."

THE DEATH OF CHRIST

The evidence is conclusive that Jesus actually died on the Cross. Some of this evidence is
listed below."

The testimony of the Guards: John 19:3-34 "The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man, and of the other man . . . but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs."
The testimony of Pilate: Mark 15:44 "And Pilate wondered if He was dead by this time, and summoning the centurion, he questioned him as to whether He was really dead. And ascertaining this . . . he granted the body to Joseph."
The testimony of the Disciples: They affirmed it by:

               a. Recording His death (Mk. 15:37, Matt. 27:50)
               b. Preparing His body for Burial (Matt. 27:59, Mk. 15:46, Lk 23:53)
                    John 19:38 "Joseph . . . came therefore and took away His body. And
                    Nicodemus came also . . . bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a
                    hundred pounds weight. And so they took the body of Jesus and bound it in
                    linen wrappings with spices as is the burial custom of the Jews."
              c. The disillusion over his death Luke 24:12

The testimony of the blood and water: John 19:33, 34 " . . . but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs, but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water." (1 John 5:6,8) Most doctors would agree the evidence of blood and water suggest a massive clotting of blood in the arteries which is strong medical proof of death. One doctor suggests this type of evidence indicates the crucified individual died of a broken or ruptured heart.The evidence is conclusive, JESUS really DIED on the cross. He didn't faint or take a drug to make Himself appear dead, but He actually died.

The TOMB of CHRIST

The Evidence of the tomb itself

It was the new tomb of Joseph (Matt. 27:58, 60)
It was hewn out of solid rock (Mark 15:46)
It was unused by anyone else (Luke 23:54)

The Evidence of those who went to the Tomb

Joseph and Nicodemus book the body to Joseph's tomb. (John 19:38-41)
Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus followed them to the tomb. " . . . beheld where He was laid" (Mark 15:47), Luke 23:55).
Pilate and the Religious leaders knew the location of the tomb. (Matt. 27:62-66).

The Evidence of the Security of the Tomb
The entrance was closed with a huge rock:

It was a "large stone" Matt. 27:60). The women asked "Who will roll away the stone for us . . . ?" (Mark 16:3)
It was rolled "down" to close and "uphill" to open (Mark 16:4).

A Roman seal was placed on the stone

The broken seal was punished by death.
The seal was similar to that of Dan. 6:17.
It was placed there by Pilate (Matt. 27:66).

A Guard was placed around the Tomb.

The Guard was ordered by Pilate (Matt. 27:65).
They were "commanded" to make the tomb "as secure as you know how" (Matt. 27:65).
To fail as guards meant certain death (Matt. 28:11-15).
The guards lied about the resurrection (Matt. 28:13-15).

The Post-resurrection evidence of the tomb

The women returned to "the empty tomb" (Mark 16:2; Luke 24:2; John 20:2)
Peter and the disciple ran ahead to the "empty tomb" (John 20:3).
The angel appeared at "the tomb" where the guards and women were (Matt. 28:1-4)

The evidence reveals that several people knew the location of the tomb and even watched as they placed the body of Jesus in the tomb. Also, the tomb was securely sealed and guarded so no one could seal the body.

If Jesus was placed in an unknown tomb, then Joseph, the women, the religious leaders, Pilate, the guards, the disciples and the angel must have gone to the wrong tomb or plotted together to deceive the world.

The empty tomb of Christ bears witness TODAY that He is not there, but is Resurrected and Alive.

The POST-RESURRECTION Appearances

Probably the most convincing evidence of the resurrected Lord Jesus is His numerous appearances after the Resurrection. These manifestations are listed below:

To Mary Magdalene (John 20:14, Mark 16:9)
To the Women (Matthew 28:9, 10)
To Peter (Luke 24:34, 1 Corinthians 15:5)
To the two on the road (Luke 24:13-33)
To the apostles w/o Thomas (Luke 24:36-43, John 20:29-24)
To the apostles w/Thomas (John 20:26-29)
To the seven (John 21:1-23)
To the 500 plus (1 Corinthians 15:6)
To James (1 Corinthians 15:7)
To the eleven (Matthew 28:16-20, Mark 16:14-20)
At the ascension (Acts 1:3-12)
To Paul (Acts 9:3-6, 1 Corinthians 15:8)
To Stephen (Acts 7:55)
To John (Revelations 1:10-19)

Jesus changed the lives of everyone He touched, He is still doing that today. Trust Him and you too will receive the affects of His resurrection and have a future hope of an eternal resurrection.
HE IS ALIVE!!!

Endnotes:
Kenneth Boa and Larry Moody. I'm Glad You Asked. Wheaton, Illinois: Victor Books 1982.
Josh McDowell and Don Stewart. Answers To Tough Questions. San Bernardino, California: Here's
Life Publishers. Inc,