The resurrection

Last night at the last Simply Christianity session we were thinking about the resurrection.

If Luke's gospel ended at chapter 23 we may conclude that Jesus was a great man, a prophet, or a martyr. But all the gospels are emphatic that Jesus story didn’t end with his death, that a few days later he was raised to life and that people witnessed this.

Without the resurrection Jesus becomes just another character in history, however if the resurrection is true then he is unique. But can you accept it as true?

There are 4 pieces of evidence that I always try to share with people when this question comes up:
1. The empty tomb

• It is proclaimed empty just weeks after Jesus death in Jerusalem, people would have known and spoken up if it wasn't empty.
• The tomb did not become a holy place unlike with other places where great men or women are buried, why? because he was seen afterwards.
• The Jewish leaders didn’t contest the empty tomb – they merely raised suspicion about how it came to be empty?

So how come it was empty?

• Swoon theory – Jesus didn't die he just passed out he then came round in the tomb and got out. But the Romans were experts at crucifixion, they didn't get it wrong and they thrust a spear in his side proving his death. Besides that how would a man so weak he swoons then come round enough to move a heavy stone and evade the guards.
• Wrong tomb – The disciples and women simply went to the wrong tomb. But such a mistake would have been checked checked out and quickly corrected, besides which we are told they knew where the tomb was!
• Disciples stole body – But that doesn't fit with events afterwards as the disciples die for claims of resurrection. Con men do not die for their lies.

It leaves us with the most likely scenario being the right one, the tomb was empty on Easter Sunday.

2. Women witnesses
Women’s evidence was not admissible in court, so if the resurrection was made up you wouldn’t have women as initial witnesses.

3. similarities and dissimilarities in the accounts
Historians & Police look for general agreement but also small individual variations in accounts of events because it tells us that the accounts were not copied. Gospel accounts of the resurrection live up to this test – they do not contradict each other but they are also not carbon copies of each other.

4. Transformation in the disciples
Peter in the gospels is fearful and denies Jesus, but in Luke’s next volume, Acts, he stands up to the Pharisees and high priest contending for Jesus resurrection.

James – one of Jesus brothers in the gospels thought Jesus was insane, but in Acts he has become a leader of church and is executed for his beliefs. What produces such changes in these men? Seeing the resurrected Jesus.