However, as set forth in the linked-articles below, Christian apologists maintain none of the alternative explanations are rationally compelling because none of the explanations adequately explain the totality of the evidence in the historical record: Since there are good reasons to believe God exists (more>>) and, therefore, could have supernaturally raised Jesus from the dead, and since none of the proffered alternative explanations adequately explain the historically documented accounts of Jesus being seen alive by multiple eyewitnesses after he had been crucified and buried, Christian apologists maintain it is reasonable to look for an explanation that does adequately explain all of the historical evidence, including the explanation that God supernaturally raised Jesus from the dead. ... And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. ", The Resurrection Proves Jesus Was Who He Said He Was, Morrow said of Paul, "He understood why Jesus of Nazareth was different in the unique claims that He made, but that then those claims were authenticated through His Resurrection that said 'What I said is what is real. Few events are as well attested as the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. ... Peter and John were hiding somewhere waiting for "the dust to clear" after Jesus died on the cross. 132-133 (1997) citing to Terry L. Miethe (ed. And not only that. and the following seven independent lines of evidence reasonably establish God did, in fact, supernaturally raise Jesus from the dead: The resurrection best explains the historical evidence of Jesus being seen alive in a resurrected body on at least twelve (12) separate occasions by more than 500 witnesses, including at least two skeptics (, The resurrection best explains why the tomb Jesus was buried in was found empty within days of his crucifixion and burial, The resurrection best explains why Jesus’ disciples were transformed from fearful deserters to faithful followers who endured great persecution and became martyrs for their faith, The resurrection best explains why even Jewish leaders and skeptics converted to Christianity after Jesus was crucified, even though Christianity was foundationally centered on Jesus’ resurrection, The resurrection best explains why there is no evidence, The resurrection best explains the sudden rise and expansion of Christianity so soon after Jesus death even though he had been crucified by the Romans as a political traitor and declared a religious heretic by the Jewish religious leaders. "These people were eyewitnesses, they were there, and it was early.". This is another radical departure from historic Christian teaching. (Also read Acts 3:15,4:33, 10:39-41.) "In the Resurrection, where was the hardest place in the world to convince anyone it was true if it was false? We then investigate them on a case-by-case basis. In Luke 3, in the first three verses, there are 17 historical references. PST700_The_Resurrection_is_True_AM_v1_HD1080_5.833_444, Why You Can Believe the Resurrection is True. [See, Kenneth Boa & Robert Bowman, 20 Compelling Evidences that God Exists, pgs. But it takes a lot of hard work, time, and money to do what we do. [Ankerberg & Weldon, Ready With an Answer, pgs. "You're talking about over 5,800 Greek manuscripts, over 8,000 Latin manuscripts. The Resurrection Best Explains the Transformation of Jesus’ Disciples from Fearful Fleers to Faithful Followers, The Resurrection Best Explains Jesus’ Empty Tomb — Introductory Summary, God’s Attributes — What is God Like? And then Jesus appeared to him in James' own word, and he became the leader of the church of Jerusalem. Paul's encounter with Jesus came just two or three years after Christ's death and Resurrection, and not long after that, he interviewed Peter, James, and … After the initial report of the experience, Luke might have saved significant effort and space by simply saying , “And Paul reported to the crowd/Agrippa how Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus” or something to that effect. Prophets call us to love God, neighbor. There are 4 opinions on this “500 witnesses event”: Never Happened: Liberal scholars say that Saint Paul made this up to make it sound like there were plenty of witnesses to the resurrection. Now when Jesus rose {from the dead} early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. You see, people today say, 'How do you know Jesus said that? What Would Cause Such Radical Transformations? Because eyewitnesses authenticated that event. Indeed, following a two day debate over the evidence of the resurrection between Dr. [Ankerberg & Weldon, Ready With an Answer, pgs. That's why he mentions the eyewitnesses. We, too, though we are not witnesses of Christ's actual resurrection, are so spiritually. Morrow said of that, "You've got living history. This is what's called the Criterion of Embarrassment in historical Jesus studies: that you'd never make up the story this way. '", Liars Wouldn't Have Testified About the Female Disciples' Role. Jehovah’s Witnesses deny the physical resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Another crucial factor that debunks the idea all these disciples were trying to sell a false Resurrection to the world: the fact that they proclaimed it was females who found the empty tomb and let the male disciples know Jesus was missing. They didn't recant that. Some suggest that the apostles all lied in a vast conspiracy to turn the deficit of Jesus' death into the positive of a risen Lord. And if the disciples were making up Jesus' Resurrection, would they have lived and died for Him and a fiction they themselves made up? And that's what you have. "'We're going to sell this difficult idea, and the people we're going to get to sell it are people that the culture doesn't believe have the right to be witnesses,'" Bock imagined them saying. Well, to have 500 people have the same hallucination would be 500 miracles equal to the Resurrection.". Jesus’ Resurrection. 81 (1997); Kenneth Boa & Robert Bowman, 20 Compelling Evidences that God Exists, pg. Christians believe in Jesus Christ and know that He lives today. ), Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? But in his own words, Christ appeared to him. For some people, they might be ready to believe the Bible is legitimate, but they have a hard time believing Jesus Christ could have actually risen from the dead. One of the greatest murderers into one of the greatest missionaries. But he says Christians shouldn't just defend the faith and the Resurrection. So the reason the story is this way is because it must be grounded in what happened. Watch below: Christians: If Jesus Is Dead, So Is Your Religion. It’s a lie. 1 Cor. Debunking this conspiracy idea, Morrow said, "Conspiracy theories unravel very quickly because people will eventually tell what they know. They trust in the Savior and His atoning work for their redemption at Calvary. 1621-1622(Holman Bible Publishers, 2007), Kenneth D. Boa and Robert M. Bowman, 20 Compelling Evidences That God Exists: Discover Why Believing In God Makes so Much Sense, pgs. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. The Hobbit is about changing feeling for Bilbo Baggins. Jesus said He would come back the same way He went to Heaven. Index of the Eyewitness Accounts of Jesus’ Post-Death Appearances, To the women after they had been to the empty tomb. God uses witnesses to establish a matter. You've got this idea that 'there are witnesses; go investigate them. Whether you believe it or not, whether you're sincere about it, if the Resurrection didn't happen, Christianity's false - go to the next religion.". He wanted them to know it was Jesus, the one who was crucified and died. Jesus calls us to follow and abide in him. ", McDowell said of such eyewitness testimony, "I put a lot of weight on this. People tend to think or act like the Bible simply comes to a stop after Jesus is raised from the dead. ", Bock insisted, "The faith is very, very defendable. Well, why? He explained, "The issue that's sometimes raised up: 'well, these books were written many decades later. Submitted by escamp on August 31, 2015 - 3:04pm. But what about those who can not believe or choose not to believe that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead? But if these guards were asleep, how would they know it was the disciples? Josh McDowell, author of New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, said the disciples knew this well. God is everywhere—even in the news. Believers point to them as evidence of his resurrection and identity as Messiah, seated in Heaven on the right hand of God (the doctrine of the Exaltation of Christ). If the resurrection of Jesus is just a fairy tale that can provide us with some moral inspiration and encouragement, then he doesn’t need to concern himself with the historicity of the resurrection and it’s over 500 witnesses. Jesus' encounter with Mary was not at random, but deliberate. However, the apostles were not the only ones who saw the risen Jesus. That's what they all wanted. This is who I am. ", Biblical expert Bock flat-out stated, "These books are the best-attested pieces of ancient literature we possess. And it doesn't explain why He'd suddenly disappear after several weeks among His disciples, never to be seen again. The Prophet Joseph Smith and Sidney Rigdon testified: “And now, after the many testimonies which have been given of him, this is the testimony, last … But Morrow added, "We shouldn't believe just any and every miracle. Raised in the Spirit. The Catholic Christian cannot allow that the Apostle Paul would bear false witness within Divine Scripture. He was a smart guy. The resurrection of Jesus, or anastasis, is the Christian belief that God raised Jesus on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary as first of the dead, starting his exalted life as Christ and Lord. There's more evidence Jesus existed than Julius Caesar. They went back to Jerusalem to report that they had seen Jesus. For several sound reasons He gave her an honored place among witnesses of the Resurrection. And yet history tells us that we have good reason to think they all went to their death with the exception of one for that core belief: that Jesus was raised from the dead. The central message of Christianity is the historical event of Jesus Christ resurrection from the grave. ", CLICK HERE TO SEE HOW YOU CAN FIND PEACE WITH GOD. 232 (2002)] Notwithstanding the fact the apostle Paul knew his claims could be and most probably would be investigated, he stated he was passing on the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection as a matter of “first importance” (1 Cor. The writer explained, "Here's the key: what is a hallucination? Peter said (Acts 2:31-32) he saw Jesus before the resurrection and "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact." That's why it's lasted for 2,000 years. Paul's encounter with Jesus came just two or three years after Christ's death and Resurrection, and not long after that, he interviewed Peter, James, and John. And it was central to Christianity. You crucified this guy, but this is what He offered.' Proponents say that explains His many appearances after His supposed death. "Matthew, Mark, Luke and John - they all recount Jesus' earliest women followers finding the empty tomb," Morrow said. Some people even doubt that. xiv (New York Harper & Row, 1987)]. At the Impact 360 school in Pine Mountain, Georgia, Prof. Jonathan Morrow preps college-bound Christians in how to fight with the facts of their faith. Christianity's core belief is that the Son of God took on human form, died for our sins and then rose from the dead to give us eternal life. Let … And then with their opponents they would say, 'You were there, too. The post-resurrection appearances of Jesus are the reported earthly appearances of Jesus to his followers after his death and burial. These and other experts say that in truth, it would take something as radical as Jesus' Resurrection to completely transform the disciples like cowardly Peter, who was so scared just before the crucifixion, he swore he didn't even know Jesus. After his death on the cross, which was confirmed by the Romans, Jesus was kept inside the tomb which was covered by a large stone. ", McDowell concluded, "If the Resurrection was a lie, they had to know it. Short of the risen Jesus appearing to Paul, Bock believes it's an unfathomable transformation. So, Christianity hangs on the Resurrection. They also believe the Bible. Gospels give unique portrayals of Mary. Bock imagined being with the disciples plotting how they'll push a false Resurrection. (Zondervan,1958), Lee Strobel, The Case for Easter: Journalist Investigates the Evidence for the Resurrection (Zondervan, 2004), Designed by Elegant Themes | Powered by WordPress, Cleopas and another disciple on the road to, Jesus’ wounds seen; may have eaten food (, The apostle Paul made this claim to people living in, Notwithstanding the fact the apostle Paul knew his claims could be and most probably would be investigated, he stated he was passing on the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection as a matter of “first importance” (, In response to the assertion that the resurrection best explains the multiple post-crucifixion appearances of Jesus, skeptics offer a variety of alternative explanations to attempt to explain away the appearances. surprisingly enough, such a spectacular event was never mentioned anywhere other than the bible and the bible doesn't even mention what happened to them after … ", McDowell agreed, saying, "James despised his brother. According to the historical record, after Jesus’ death on the cross and his subsequent burial in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathaea, he appeared alive to more than 500 people, on twelve (12) separate occasions. Because it's all internal; subjective. They had the ring of truth to them.". I Peter 3:18 states, It is a popular theme for movies and books. To try to answer this question, we first need to look at what each gospel says about the matter. There are, however, an awful lot of pages left after His resurrection. You've got that radical transformation right at the heart of what's going on around that earliest Christian movement.". ", Morrow returned to how Paul pushed his readers in I Corinthians 15 to gather proof that Jesus rose from the dead: "He says, 'It's not a matter of wishful thinking. And the fact that all four (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) say it happened just gives it that much stronger evidence that it actually did happen.". You've got the people who were there to cross-check whatever message is being put out there. What the Jehovah’s Witnesses miss is that after His resurrection Jesus said, “Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have,” (Luke 24:39). Investigate this.' ", McDowell concluded, "Something happened in Paul's life that I've never found any other explanation that even comes close to satisfying me intellectually except: 'And Jesus appeared to Paul after the Resurrection. 132-133 (1997) citing to Terry L. Miethe (ed. Stay informed with the latest from CBN News delivered to your inbox. There's a rationale that shows the uniqueness of what Jesus is that's important to appreciate as well. 1. '", Morrow summed up, "These claims to forgive sins sound crazy unless you're the Son of God, you're the Son of Man, you're the Messiah. Jesus referred to this principle when urging believers to maintain good relationships within the Church (Matthew 18:16-17), a… They believe He rose from the dead because that's what the earliest and best historical documents show, and that's what's the best explanation of the data.". In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 Paul fka Saul reported the resurrected Jesus had appeared to Peter aka Cephas, then the 12 disciples, then more than 500 brethren most of whom who were still alive and could be questioned, James (Jesus’ half-brother who was still alive and had been a previous skeptic) and finally to Paul himself (a Pharisee and a man who persecuted Christians until he had a face-to-face encounter with the resurrected Jesus). Jesus’s post-resurrection appearance to Paul is described in detail in Acts 9:1–19; 22:6–16; and 26:12–23. Jesus is our Passover in the Eucharist. But he insisted, "You'd never make up a story that way. The main reason the disciples believed in the resurrection of Jesus is that they saw Him alive after He was dead. This is the core message. He said, "James – the brother of Jesus —didn't follow Jesus during His earthly ministry; thought He was crazy. 72 (1998)]. The Gospel of John presents the apostles after Jesus’ resurrection as getting on with their lives, even after he had appeared to them, in as normal a way as one could expect. If He could do that before the resurrection, how much more can we see it after the resurrection. And so, I don't think it's intellectually credible to rule out miracles before you investigate the event, out of hand. They trust what is recorded in sacred Scripture. They should embrace it and let it change their lives just like it changed the ancient world. Even Jesus’ enemies knew that he had performed this miracle. Saying the disciples lied about Jesus' resurrection doesn't explain His post-Resurrection appearance before 500 people. Mary didn’t recognize Jesus until he spoke her name then she clung to him. The more we discover and the more we find, the more confidence you can have that this is really true. Most books that we work with in the ancient world have maybe at best a dozen manuscripts.". Morrow explained, "You see Peter with this radical transformation, going from coward to this courageous champion who's saying 'Look, here I stand, this is what I'm saying, this is what's true. Jerusalem, where a 15-minute walk by anyone could confirm the emptiness of the tomb," McDowell said.". ", McDowell pointed out, "In I John 1, how did John answer that? ", Morrow added, "The earliest disciples would have known - not just believed, but would have known - that either Jesus was who He claimed to be and was actually raised from the dead or they were making this thing up. Jesus’ wounds seen; text implies Thomas touched the wounds. After listening to both sides of the debate, one of the judges concluded the historical evidence of Jesus’ resurrection was “strong enough to lead reasonable minds to conclude that Christ did indeed rise from the dead.” [Ankerberg & Weldon, Ready With an Answer, pgs. We're preaching the same exact thing.' The witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus included his disciples, several of his women followers, his brother James, and possibly his mother... First Witness to the Resurrection Who was the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection? Growing in faith opens us to challenge. How do you know He did that?' Luke’s insistence on recording the incident in detail three times in Acts highlights the importan… High priest was afraid that Jesus's disciples would steal the body of Jesus and say that he got resurrected. My Witness – The Resurrection 4-12-20. This is why no two people ever have the same hallucination. 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