Positivity: Evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Note: This post, a BizzyBlog Easter tradition, will be the last one until either late Sunday or early Monday.
______________________________

Here’s a good layman’s terms explanation:

Was Christ’s tomb really empty?

One of the undisputed details of the resurrection is that the tomb was indeed empty. The first indicator is the reaction of the Jewish authorities when faced with the disciples’ claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. Instead of producing the body, or perhaps organizing a search, they bribed the soldiers who had guarded the tomb (Matt. 28:11-15). In other words, instead of refuting the disciples’ claims, they merely rejected them. Paul also banks on the empty tomb in 1 Corinthians 15:6, when he mentions Jesus’ appearance to the 500, “most of whom are still living.” Since the eyewitnesses were still alive, it would have been foolish for him to make such a bold and easily disproved claim without confidence in its accuracy.

Did Christ appear to anyone after his death?

There is much biblical testimony of Christ’s independent appearances to over 500 different individuals after his resurrection. In fact, the resurrection accounts list as many as 12 different appearances of Christ, starting with Mary Magdalene and ending with the apostle Paul. These appearances could not have been hallucinations, due to the variety of situations and the number of individuals involved –there is no such thing as a “group hallucination.” Further, these appearances were physical and tangible in nature, as evidenced by Christ’s actions (e.g., eating with the disciples and suggesting that they touch his side and his hands). His resurrected body, though immortal, was undoubtedly a physical body.

The answers to the above questions endeavor to provide direct evidence for the historical veracity of the resurrection of Christ. At this point it might be useful to ask if there is any additional, indirect evidence for his resurrection.

Resurrection of Christ - The Impact on His Followers

The strongest indirect evidence for the resurrection of Christ involves the transformation of His disciples. At the time of Jesus’ death, the disciples were scattered (only John was present at the crucifixion), scared (Peter denied Christ three times for fear of being associated with him), and skeptical (the two disciples on the road to Emmaus doubted even while they talked with Jesus; Thomas demanded physical proof before he would believe). It seems highly unlikely that a group in this sad state would suddenly pull themselves together and start a church that endures even today; such a transformation is much more likely if predicated on an experience of the resurrected Christ. What else can explain the boldness and courage of a group who initially hid in secret (John 20:19)?

Further indirect evidence can be found in the emphasis of apostolic teaching. Instead of focusing on one of Jesus’ teachings from the Sermon on the Mount, for example, they proclaimed instead the resurrection of Christ. In fact, within weeks of Christ’s death, the apostles were “with great power … giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 4:33). Repeated encounters with the resurrected Christ provide the best explanation for the dominance of this theme.

As the apostles proclaimed the resurrection of Christ, the early church grew quickly. As a sect of Judaism — a religion tenaciously committed to monotheism — it is quite surprising that they would claim an exalted state of deity for Christ, pray to him as Lord, and baptize in his name! The bodily resurrection of Christ, coupled with the coming of the Holy Spirit, is again the best explanation for this.