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Home , Resurrection of Jesus

FOR THE By Josh McDowell

hrist’s resurrection His found the body gone. In "Had there been any tendency to is as relevant today subsequent , His disciples depart from the facts in any material as it was in the claimed that God had raised Him respect, the possible presence of hostile C from the dead and that He appeared witnesses in the audience would have first century – our pre- to them various times before ascend- served as a further corrective." sent and eternal lives ing into . From that foundation, IS THE depend upon it. spread throughout the Roman Em- RELIABLE? happened. The resurrec- pire and has continued to exert great Because the New Testament influence down through the centuries. provides the primary historical source tion is an historical and for information on the resurrection, living reality that can LIVING WITNESSES many critics during the 19th century The New Testament accounts attacked the reliability of these biblical empower us to live a life of the resurrection were being circu- documents. full of meaning and lated within the lifetimes of men and By the end of the 19th century, how- purpose. women alive at the time of the resur- ever, archaeological discoveries had rection. Those people could certainly confirmed the accuracy of the New have confirmed or denied the accuracy A student at the University of Uru- Testament manuscripts. Discoveries of of such accounts. guay said to me, "Professor McDow- early papyri bridged the gap between The writers of the four ell, why can't you refute Christianity?" the time of and existing either had themselves been witnesses "For a very simple reason," I manuscripts from a later date. or else were relating accounts of eye- answered. " not able to explain Those findings increased scholarly witnesses of the actual events. In away an event in history — the resur- confidence in the reliability of the advocating their case for the , rection of Christ." . William F. Albright, who in a word that means "good news," How can we explain the empty his day was the world's foremost appealed (even when tomb? Can it possibly be accounted biblical archaeologist, said: "We can confronting their most severe oppo- for by any natural cause? already say emphatically that there is nents) to common knowledge no longer any solid basis for dating any concerning the facts of the A QUESTION OF HISTORY book of the New Testament after about resurrection. A.D. 80, two full generations before After more than 700 hours of F. F. Bruce, Ryland’s Professor of the date between 130 and 150 given studying this subject, I have come to Biblical Criticism and at the by the more radical New Testament the conclusion that the resurrection University of Manchester, says con- critics of today." of Jesus Christ is either one of the cerning the value of the New Testa- Coinciding with the papyri discover- most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ment records as primary sources: ies, an abundance of other manu- ever foisted on the minds of human beings — or it is the most remarkable fact of history. Here are some of the facts relevant to the resurrection: Jesus of Naz- areth, a Jewish prophet who claimed to be the Christ prophesied in the Jewish Scriptures, was arrested, was judged a political criminal, and was crucified. Three days after His death and burial, some women who went to 1 scripts came to light (over was rolled against the of the men who were responsible. If they 24,000 copies of early, New Testa- tomb. Large stones weighing approxi- were apprehended, it meant automatic ment manuscripts are known to be in mately two tons were normally rolled execution by upside down. existence today). The historian Luke (by means of levers) against a tomb People feared the breaking of the seal. wrote of "authentic evidence" con- entrance. Jesus' disciples displayed signs of cow- cerning the resurrection. Sir William A Roman guard of strictly disci- ardice when they hid themselves. Peter, Ramsay, who spent 15 years plined fighting men was stationed to one of these disciples, went out and attempting to undermine Luke's guard the tomb. This guard affixed denied Christ three times. credentials as a historian and to on the tomb the Roman seal, which refute the reliability of the New Testa- was meant to prevent any attempt at Fact #2: ment, finally concluded: "Luke is a vandalizing the sepulcher. Anyone As we have already discussed, historian of the first rank.... This trying to move the stone from the another obvious fact after the resur- author should be placed along with tomb's entrance would have broken rection was the empty tomb. The the very greatest of historians." the seal and thus incurred the wrath of disciples of Christ did not go off Roman law. to Athens or Rome to preach that But three days later the tomb was Christ was raised from the dead. empty. The followers of Jesus said He Rather, they went right back to the claim to be an had risen from the dead. They city of , where, if what they historian. My approach reported that He appeared to them were teaching was false, the falsity to Classics is historical. during a period of 40 days, showing would be evident. The empty tomb I Himself to them by many "infallible And I tell you that the evi- was "too notorious to be proofs." recounted dence for the life, death, and denied." Paul Althaus states that the that Jesus appeared to more than 500 resurrection "could have not been the resurrection of Christ is of His followers at one time, the maintained in Jerusalem for a single better authenticated than majority of whom were still alive day, for a single hour, if the emptiness most of the facts of ancient and who could confirm what Paul of the tomb had not been established wrote. as a fact for all concerned." history…. E.M. Blaiklock Professor of Classics So many security precautions were Both Jewish and Roman sources and Auckland University taken with the trial, crucifixion, burial, traditions admit an empty tomb. Those entombment, sealing, and guard- resources range from to a ing of Christ's tomb that it becomes compilation of fifth-century Jewish BACKGROUND very difficult for critics to defend their writings called the "Toledoth Jeshu." The New Testament witnesses were position that Christ did not rise Dr. Paul Maier calls this "positive fully aware of the background against from the dead. Consider these facts: evidence from a hostile source, which which the resurrection took is the strongest kind of historical place. The body of Jesus, in accor- Fact #1: Broken Roman Seal evidence. In , this means that if dance with Jewish burial custom, was As we have said, the first obvious a source admits a fact decidedly not in wrapped in a linen cloth. About 100 fact was the breaking of the seal that its favor, then that fact is genuine." pounds of aromatic spices, mixed stood for the power and authority Gamaliel, who was a member of the together to form a gummy substance, of the Roman Empire. The conse- Jewish high court, the , put were applied to the wrappings of cloth quences of breaking the seal were forth the suggestion that the rise of about the body. extremely severe. The FBI and the Christian movement was God's After the body was placed in a solid CIA of the Roman Empire were doing; he could not have done that rock tomb, an extremely large stone called into action to find the man or if the tomb were still occupied, or if

MAYBE HIS 11 FOLLOWERS OVERPOWERED THE ROMANS AND TOOK THE BODY. 2 the Sanhedrin knew the where- abouts of Christ's body. Paul Maier observes that "... if all the evidence is weighed carefully and fairly, it is indeed justifiable, according to the canons of historical research, to conclude that the sepulcher of , in which Jesus was buried, was actually empty on the morning of the first Easter. And no shred of evidence has yet been discov- ered in literary sources, epigraphy, or archaeology that would disprove this statement." MAYBE THE GUARDS FELL ASLEEP (EVEN THOUGH IT WOULD COST THEM

Fact #3: Large Stone Moved THEIR LIVES). THEN HIS FOLLOWERS REMOVED THE TWO-TON STONE AND On that morning, the first STOLE HIS BODY WITHOUT WAKING UP THE GUARDS. thing that impressed the people who approached the tomb was the unusual Fact #4: Roman Guard place where the body of Jesus had lain, position of the one-and-one-half to Goes AWOL and there were the grave clothes, in the two-ton stone that had been lodged in The Roman guards fled. They left form of the body, slightly caved in and front of the doorway. All their place of responsibility. How can empty — like the empty chrysalis of a writers mention it. their attrition be explained, when caterpillar's cocoon. That's enough to Those who observed the stone after Roman military discipline was so make a believer out of anybody. John the resurrection describe its position exceptional? never did get over it. as having been rolled up a slope away Justin, in Digest #49, mentions all The first thing that stuck in the minds not just from the entrance of the the offenses that required the death of the disciples was not the empty tomb, tomb, but from the entire massive penalty. The fear of their superiors' but rather the empty grave clothes — sepulcher. It was in such a position wrath and the possibility of death undisturbed in form and position. that it looked as if it had been picked meant that they paid close attention to the most minute details of their Fact #6: Jesus' Appearances Con- jobs. One way a guard was put to firmed here exists no death was by being stripped of his Christ appeared alive on several occa- document from the clothes and then burned alive in a sions after the cataclysmic events of that ancient world, wit- fire started with his garments. If it first Easter. T was not apparent which soldier had When studying an event in history, it nessed by so excellent a set of failed in his duty, then lots were drawn is important to know whether enough textual and historical testimo- to see which one would be punished people who were participants or eye- nies… Skepticism regarding with death for the guard unit's fail- witnesses to the event were alive when the historical credentials of ure. Certainly the entire unit would the facts about the event were published. Christianity is based upon an not have fallen asleep with that kind To know this is obviously helpful in irrational bias…. of threat over their heads. Dr. George ascertaining the accuracy of the pub- Currie, a student of Roman military lished report. If the number of eyewit- Clark Pinnock McMaster University discipline, wrote that fear of pun- nesses is substantial, the event can be ishment "produced flawless atten- regarded as fairly well established. For tion to duty, especially in the instance, if we all witness a murder and up and carried away. Now, I ask night watches." a later police report turns out to be a you, if the disciples had wanted to fabrication of lies, we as eyewitnesses come in, tiptoe around the sleeping Fact #5: Graveclothes Tell a can refute it. guards, and then roll the stone over Tale and steal Jesus' body, how could they In a literal sense, against all state- OVER 500 WITNESSES have done that without the guards' ments to the contrary, the tomb was Several very important factors are awareness? not totally empty — because of an often overlooked when considering

amazing phenomenon. John, a Christ's post-resurrection appearances of Jesus, looked over to the to individuals. The first is the large 3 number of witnesses of Christ after that The facts show the exact opposite. Saul that all to whom Jesus appeared became resurrection morning. despised Christ and persecuted followers. No one acquainted with the One of the earliest records of Christ's followers. It was a life- facts can accurately say that Jesus Christ's appearing after the resurrec- shattering experience when Christ appeared to just "an insignificant few." tion is by Paul. The apostle appealed to appeared to him. believe that Jesus was bod- his audience's knowledge of the fact Although he was at the time not a ily resurrected in time and space by the that Christ had been seen by more disciple, he later became the apostle supernatural power of God. The diffi- than 500 people at one time. Paul Paul, one of the greatest witnesses culties of belief may be great, but the reminded them that the majority of for the truth of the resurrection. problems inherent in unbelief present those people were still alive and could even greater difficulties. be questioned. Dr. Edwin M. Yamau- f the New Testament The theories advanced to explain chi, Associate Professor of History at were a collection of the resurrection by "natural causes" are Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, secular writings, their weak; they actually help to build confi- emphasizes: "What gives a special I dence in the truth of the resurrection. authenticity would generally authority to the list (of witnesses) as historical evidence is the reference to be regarded as beyond all THE WRONG TOMB? doubt. most of the five hundred brethren F.F. Bruce A theory propounded by Kirsopp being still alive. St. Paul says in effect, Manchester University Lake assumes that the women who 'If you do not believe me, you can ask reported that the body was missing had The argument that Christ's them.' Such a statement in an admit- mistakenly gone to the wrong tomb. appearances were only to followers is tedly genuine letter written within 30 If so, then the disciples who went to an argument for the most part from years of the event is almost as strong check up on the women's statement must silence, and arguments from silence can evidence as one could hope to get for have also gone to the wrong tomb. We something that happened nearly two be dangerous. It is equally possible thousand years ago." Let's take the more than 500 wit- nesses who saw Jesus alive after His death and burial and place them in a courtroom. Do you realize that if each of those 500 people were to tes- tify for only six minutes, including cross-examination, you would have an amazing 50 hours of firsthand testi- mony? Add to this the testimony of many other eyewitnesses and you would well have the largest and most lopsided trial in history.

HOSTILE WITNESSES Another crucial factor to inter- preting Christ's appearances is that He also appeared to those who were hostile or unconvinced. Over and over again, I have read or heard people comment that Jesus was seen alive after His death and burial only by His friends and follow- ers. Using that argument, they attempt to water down the over- whelming impact of the multiple eye- witness accounts. But that line of reasoning is so pathetic it hardly deserves comment. No author or MAYBE JESUS DIDN’T DIE. MAYBE HE JUST PASSED OUT ON THE CROSS, informed individual would regard Saul THEN WOKE UP IN THE TOMB, PUSHED OVER THE TWO-TON STONE, of Tarsus as being a follower of Christ. OVERPOWERED THE ROMAN SOLDIERS, AND ESCAPED. 4 may be certain, however, that Jewish gave the deathblow to any thought that THE BODY STOLEN? authorities, who asked for a Roman Jesus revived from a swoon: "It is Then consider the theory that the body guard to be stationed at the tomb to impossible that a being who had stolen was stolen by the disciples while the prevent Jesus' body from being half-dead out of the sepulcher, who guards slept. The depression and coward- stolen, would not have been mistaken crept about weak and ill, wanting ice of the disciples provide a hard-hitting about the location. Nor would the medical treatment, who required argument against their suddenly becoming Roman guards, for they were there! bandaging, strengthening and so brave and daring as to face a detach- If the resurrection-claim was merely , and who still at last yielded ment of soldiers at the tomb and steal because of a geographical mistake, the to His sufferings, could have given to the body. They were in no mood to Jewish authorities would have lost no the disciples the impression that He attempt anything like that. time in producing the body from the was a conqueror over death and the The theory that the Jewish or Roman proper tomb, thus effectively grave, the Prince of Life, an impression authorities moved Christ's body is no quenching for all time any rumor of which lay at the bottom of their future more reasonable an explanation for the resurrection. ministry. Such a resuscitation could empty tomb than theft by the disciples. If only have weakened the impression the authorities had the body in their pos- HALLUCINATIONS? session or knew where it was, why, when Another attempted explanation claims the disciples were preaching the that the appearances of Jesus after the or the New resurrection in Jerusalem, didn't they resurrection were either illusions or Testament [book] of explain: "Wait! We moved the body, hallucinations. Unsupported by the Acts, the see, He didn't rise from the grave"? psychological principles governing the F And if such a rebuttal failed, why didn't of historicity is overwhelming. appearances of hallucinations, this theory they explain exactly where Jesus' body lay? also does not coincide with the historical Any attempt to reject its basic If this failed, why didn't they recover the situation. Again, where was the actual historicity, even in matters of corpse, put it on a cart, and wheel it body, and why wasn't it produced? detail, must now appear through the center of Jerusalem? Such absurd. Roman historians an action would have destroyed DID JESUS SWOON? have long taken it for granted. Christianity — not in the cradle, but in the womb! Another theory, popularized by A.N. Sherwin- Venturini several centuries ago, is often Classical Roman Historian quoted today. This is the swoon theory, THE RESURRECTION IS A which says that Jesus didn't die; He which He had made upon them in life FACT merely fainted from exhaustion and loss and in death, at the most could only have Professor Thomas Arnold, for 14 of blood. Everyone thought Him dead, given it an elegiac voice, but could by years a headmaster of Rugby, author but later He resuscitated and the no possibility have changed their sorrow of the famous History of Rome, and disciples thought it to be a resurrection. into enthusiasm, have elevated their appointed to the chair of modern Skeptic Friedrich Strauss, reverence into worship." history at Oxford, was well acquainted certainly no believer in the resurrection, with the value of evidence in deter- 5 mining historical facts. This great question: "What difference does all this RECOMMENDED RESOURCES scholar said: "I have been used for evidence make to me? What difference many years to study the histories of does it make whether or not I believe For Adults: other times, and to examine and weigh Christ rose again and died on the Evidence for the Resurrection the evidence of those who have writ- cross for my sins?" The answer is put The New Evidence that Demands a ten about them, and I know of no best by something Jesus said to a man Verdict one fact in the history of mankind who doubted — Thomas. Jesus told More than a Carpenter which is proved by better and fuller him: "I am the way, and the truth, Beyond Belief to evidence of every sort, to the under- and the life; no one comes to the Convictions standing of a fair inquirer, than the Father but through Me" (:6). A Skeptic’s Quest CD great sign which God hath given us On the basis of all the evidence for The Bible: Fact or Fiction CD that Christ died and rose again Christ's resurrection, and considering from the dead." Brooke Foss Westcott, the fact that Jesus offers forgiveness of For Youth: an English scholar, said: "Taking all sin and an eternal relationship the evidence together, it is not too with God, who would be so foolhardy Jesus: Dead or Alive? much to say that there is no historic as to reject Him? Christ is alive! He is Don’t Check Your Brains incident better or more variously sup- living today. at the Door ported than the resurrection of Christ. You can trust God right now Youth Devotions 2 Nothing but the antecedent assump- by faith through prayer. Prayer is tion that it must be false could have talking with God. God knows your For Children: suggested the idea of deficiency in the heart and is not so concerned with Jesus Is Alive! proof of it." your words as He is with the attitude Children Demand a Verdict of your heart. If you have never The Great Treasure Quest REAL PROOF: THE trusted Christ, you can do so right DISCIPLES' LIVES now. For Groups: The prayer I prayed is: "Lord Jesus, But the most telling testimony of Is Christ Really God? Interactive I need You. Thank You for dying all must be the lives of those early DVD Course Christians. We must ask ourselves: on the cross for my sins. I open the Is Christ Really God? Children’s What caused them to go everywhere door of my life and trust You as my Workbooks telling the message of the risen Christ? Savior. Thank You for forgiving my Had there been any visible benefits sins and giving me eternal life. Make Christ Up Close & Personal Interac- accrued to them from their efforts — me the kind of person You want me to tive DVD Course prestige, wealth, increased social status be. Thank You that I can trust You." Is the Bible Personally from God? or material benefits — we might logi- Children’s Workbooks cally attempt to account for their actions, for their wholehearted and ©Josh McDowell Ministry, 1992, 2001, 2009 total allegiance to this "risen Christ." Material referenced from More than a Carpenter www.josh.org * 866-252-5424 As a reward for their efforts, how- ever, those early Christians were Josh McDowell beaten, stoned to death, thrown to the Since beginning ministry in 1961, Josh has given more than 24,000 lions, tortured and crucified. Every talks to over 10 million young people in 118 countries. He is the conceivable method was used to stop author or co-author of 112 books, selling over 51 million copies them from talking. worldwide, including More Than a Carpenter, (15 million copies Yet, they laid down their lives as the worldwide) which has been translated into over 85 languages and ultimate proof of their complete confi- The New Evidence That Demands a Verdict, recognized by dence in the truth of their message. World Magazine as one of the century’s top 40 books.

WHERE DO YOU STAND? Josh is currently traveling the United States with the message of TRUTH in the How do you evaluate this over- context of RELATIONSHIPS. This message is designed to help adults and young whelming historical evidence? What is people take their faith and scriptural beliefs to form solid convictions that will stand your decision about Christ's empty firm in the face of constant worldly attacks. tomb? What do you think of Christ? When I was confronted with the Josh will tell you that his family does not come before his ministry – his family IS his overwhelming evidence for Christ's ministry. He and his wife, Dottie, have been married for 37 years and have four chil- resurrection, I had to ask the logical dren and three very precious grandchildren. 6