The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

   Can anyone prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Jesus arose from the dead? At first one might quickly say, "No, that's impossible!" Yet, if God had a part in it, it would be possible. Not for man, but for God. After all, He who made the world can change normal happenings and cause what we call miracles.

   If we look at the evidence given by those who lived in that day, in the light of current court evidence  and methods, we would be forced to accept the fact of the resurrection of Christ!

   Luke, who wrote the Gospel of Luke, has been proven repeatedly to be a top notch historian who was meticulous in his research. Also, archeology has proven him to be correct even when late historians thought him to be wrong.

   In the beginning of his Gospel he mentions his complete knowledge of his subject, and in the beginning of the book of Acts which he wrote, he again,  tells of Jesus showing Himself alive "by many infallible proofs". Read it! It's written down!

   Let's look at the evidence. 1. The tomb where Jesus was burried was empty! The women went to the tomb to anoint a dead body. When they got there the stone weighing tons was already removed from the opening, but there was no body there! They told the disciples who did not believe them. They thought it was an idle tale because they did not believe Jesus would rise again, but Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw the empty tomb! John specifically writes that "the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying with the linen cloths(which were around His body), but folded together in a place by itself." Many feel that the linen cloths were lying as they had been wrapped around His body because of the meaning of the Greek word for "lying"- "to lie outstretched, be (appointed, laid up, made, set), lay, lie." (Strong's Concordance)

   You may say, "So what, the tomb was empty. The disciples came and took the body so they could say He arose. WAIT A MINUTE! THINK! According to Luke's narrative and in the other Gospels, the disciples were disheartened, didn't believe that He would rise from the dead. Even the women went to anoint a dead body!

   Now, also remember that Matthew 27:62-66 tells us that the Jewish leaders asked Pilate for a Roman guard to keep Jesus' disciples from taking the body of Jesus and saying He arose from the dead. The reason? "Because "that deceiver said 'After 3 days I will rise.'" Pilate granted their request. THIS IS THE GREATEST PROOF THAT JESUS REALLY AROSE FROM THE DEAD! The disciples could not have gotten to the stone, let alone carry away the body of Jesus with Roman soldiers guarding the tomb. If they failed in their job as guards, they would loose their life. That's why the chief priests gave the soldiers "a large sum of money" to say the disciples "came at night and stole Him away while we slept." The chief priests said that they would appease their superiors. So the soldiers took the money and said what they were told.(Matthew 28:11-15)

   There were many eye witnesses to the risen Christ. In I Corinthians 15:5-10 Paul lists many who saw christ alive after His resurrection. Over 500 brethren saw Him at one time. It was NOT halucinations! Paul includes himself in the list. He who fought aghainst the young church with such extreemes-to the death of those arrested-and then, suddenly, he became one of them! He tells the story in Acts 9:1-22.

Sincerely,
Rick