Easter week may be past, but its incredible claims live on. According to the Bible, the linchpin of Christianity centers on the empty tomb (1 Corinthians 15:19). No resurrection equals no Christianity. But if Jesus’ rising from the dead can stand the test of scrutiny, not only is Christianity true, but it makes demands on all people.
Let’s survey the evidence for the resurrection. The oldest objection, begun by the chief priests themselves, is that the disciples simply stole the body of Jesus and fabricated the tale. The problem with this is that the soldiers who guarded the tomb never were killed. If Jesus’ disciples did steal the body, wouldn’t they have to kill the soldiers? And if any of those soldiers remained alive to tell the chief priests, wouldn’t they have also been killed for failing to complete their mission? But the soldiers remained alive, proving that the disciples could not have stolen the body (Matthew 28:11-15).
Some contend that Jesus’ appearance was simply an illusion. He was a figment of their imagination. In response, Scripture tells us that Jesus proved he was real by doing things ghosts don’t do, like eating fish (Luke 24:42) and having his nail-pierced hands touched (Luke 24:39). He also appeared to 500 people at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6). Hallucinations don’t work well in mass crowds.
Finally, some argue that Jesus wasn’t really dead; he just ‘swooned’ and then revived in the cool air of the tomb. But the evidence argues strongly against this. After being condemned to be crucified, Jesus was scourged nearly to the point of death. In fact, he was so weak that he could not even carry his 30-40 pound cross (Luke 23:26). After he died, he had 75 pounds of spices placed on top of him (John 19:39). Doesn’t it seems like a stretch to think that after he has been confirmed dead, he can now miraculously shoulder double the weight?
The clear evidence for Jesus’ resurrection is not simply an interesting fact. We do not stand in judgment of it; it stands in judgment of us. The disciples, energized by seeing their risen Savior, proclaimed, “[God] has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead” (Acts 17:31). Because he rose from the dead, he is now the judge of all men. How will we respond to this evidence?
