Resurrection evidence index
| Teachings |
How can I know whether Jesus really
rose from the dead?
Jesus died almost 2000 years ago. How can I possibly claim to prove that 3 days after His death He rose from the dead? Surely it is all a matter of blind faith. You either believe He rose from the dead or you don't. Its entirely up to you, right?
Wrong.
Even after 2000 years the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus is close to overwhelming.
Recently a critical debate on the question "Did Jesus rise from the dead?" took place between world-renowned atheistic philosopher, Dr. Anthony Flew, and New Testament scholar, Dr. Gary Habermas. A panel of five philosophers from leading universities judged the outcome. What was the conclusion?
Four votes for Habermas. None for Flew. And one draw.
Many scholars now believe the resurrection to be an established historical fact. See what different people have said about the resurrection of Jesus.
Does it matter whether or not Jesus rose from the dead?
Absolutely. No single historical fact could have greater importance. There is no other 
event that is as crucial as this one fact.
If Jesus' body is still in the tomb, was stolen, was burnt or was disposed of in any other way and his remains are still on earth then the whole of the Christian message is founded on a mistake. However, if He genuinely was resurrected never to die again then there could be no greater proof for the existence of God and the truth of Jesus message. "Belief in the resurrection is not an appendage to the Christian faith. It is the Christian faith." George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury, London Times, 1992-APR-19.
See the related `teaching on the resurrection` for more on this subject.
Summary of the Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead.
1) Jesus suffered crucifixion. Jesus was dead. The idea that Jesus managed to recover from the crucifixion and then convince His disciples that He was in the perfect resurrection body is laughable.
2) Jesus was buried. His tomb was guarded. There was a large stone covering the tomb.The tomb was sealed under Roman authority.
3) Jesus' Tomb was empty on the Sunday morning. If it wasn't empty why didn't the Jewish authorities simply produce His body to disprove the disciples claim that He had risen from the dead?
4) No naturalistic explanation of the empty tomb is adequate.
5) A huge number of people saw, touched and met with Jesus for a period of 40 days after the resurrection. There are many first and second hand accounts in the new testament. But there is documented evidence that over 500 people saw the resurrected Jesus. The idea that the disciples conspired together to make up the resurrection accounts is ridiculous.
6) The disciples were transformed from doubters into radical evangelists. They were willing to suffer death for their belief in the resurrection of Jesus. Who would suffer death for a lie or a practical joke?The gospel accounts look nothing like a fabrication.
7) The resurrection was proclaimed in Jerusalem where Jesus was seen to have died and where the site of the empty tomb was. Wouldn't the listeners have checked out the evidence?
8) The Church went through a massive explosion of growth.
9) The Jewish Christians changed their sabbath from a Saturday to a Sunday.
11) The crucifixion and resurrection was foretold in prophecy.
12) The basic facts of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus are confirmed in early non-Christian writings.
13) Occam's Razor would also seem to support the resurrection as a hypothesis.
Objections to the Resurrection answered:
1) Miracles are not possible.
3) The disciples made up the resurrection account.
4) Jesus only fainted and recovered from His wounds.
5) The witnesses were hallucinating.
6) Jesus' resurrection is a myth - not history.
7) The New Testament is unreliable.
8) The disciples went to the wrong tomb and found it empty.
9) The psychology of disbelief