PROOFS OF THE RESURRECTION

By, Jim Wies

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is foundational to our belief as Christians. This single event proves the validity of Christianity! Christians declare Jesus Christ to be the one true God, by whom salvation has come to all mankind, proven indisputably by the resurrection from the dead.

Atheists say He was a myth.

New Agers say He was a guru mystic

Moralists say He was a good moral teacher

Muslims say He was a prophet - as well as Mohamed

Mormons say he was one god among many.
 
But Christians declare Jesus Christ to be the one true God, by whom salvation has come to all mankind, verified and indisputably ratified by the resurrection from the dead.
 
The fact that Jesus Christ, after being dead for three days, was resurrected from the dead through the power of the eternal Spirit of God, sets Christianity apart from all other religions of the world.

"I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said", declared an angelic being to the women who had come to His tomb to attend to His burial. (Matt 28:5-6)

If Jesus had not risen from the dead, the following would be true:

1. Jesus is still dead

2. Jesus was lying when he said He would be raised

3. The apostles were liars

4. You are still under condemnation for your sin

5. All Christians who have died are gone forever

6. Christianity is vain and hopeless

The resurrection proves that Jesus DID, in fact, take away our sin. It proves that Jesus DID in fact, conquer the power of death, hell and the grave. It proves that He DID, in fact, strip the devil of his one last stronghold over man, the fear of death.

 ".that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage." Heb 2:14-15

 Because of the resurrection we have a living Savior. We have life eternal. We have a supernatural gospel. We have an eternal hope! But how do we know that he rose from the dead? Are there any proofs that this amazing supernatural event actually happened? Can we base our faith on any tangible proofs of the resurrection?
 
What follows are numerous proofs of the resurrection. In the remainder of this article we will look at prophetic and historical proofs; sociological and psychological proofs; as well as contemporary proofs that Jesus Christ, after being dead for three days, raised from the dead to everlasting life.

THE PROPHETIC RECORD
Centuries before the time of Christ, the prophets foretold the very manner of death Jesus would suffer, describing in detail the roman style of execution by crucifixion, long before the roman cross was ever in existence.

Both prophets David and Isaiah at different times, prophetically described in detail the death He would suffer.

Psalm 22:14-18 prophesied: "I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me.  My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death.  Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me.  They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing."
Isa 53:3-5 prophesied "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed."
The prophetic record also indicated that he would not remain in the grave but be raised  from the dead after the third day. (see Ps 16:9-11; Isa 53:10-11; Hos 6:2-3; Jonah 1:17; Matt 12:39-40 
 
That is why Paul the apostle could say:
 "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living," 1 Cor 15:3-6

THE HISTORIC RECORD
In addition to numerous prophetic Scriptures lending proof to the reality of the resurrection, there were many witnesses that serve as historic proofs of the resurrection.

First, there is the witness of the empty tomb. (Luke 24:3; John 20:4-8)
The religious leaders of the day had thought they finally solved their dilemma about Jesus. They had Him killed. But there were still rumblings and talk that He had predicted He would raise from the dead on the third day. So the Pharisees conscripted Roman soldiers to stand guard over His grave. There were no mistakes. There was no secret body-napping. Who would dare try to steal a body out from under the noses of these dreaded Roman warriors. Never-the-less, come Sunday morning, the tomb was empty.

Rumors began to spread that the tomb was empty. The rumors became reports and the reports began to be substantive and verifiable enough to be called evidence. All that would have had to happen to successfully squash this fledgling movement of Christianity would have been to produce a dead body. But it was never found. He rose from the dead!

Then began the eye witnesses of the risen Christ Jesus.
He began to show Himself to His friends. (some of whom had literally given up and denied even knowing this rogue preacher just days before)

He appeared to Mary Magdalene. (John 20:11-18)

He appeared to the other women of His company (Matt. 28:9)

He appeared to Peter. (Luke 24:34)

He appeared to two other disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-15)

He appeared to His core group of eleven disciples. (Mark 16:14)

He accommodated doubting Thomas and showed him His wounds. (John 20:24-29)

He showed up in His old stomping grounds of Galilee. (John 21:1)

He appeared to a group of 500 at one time. (I Cor. 15:6)
 
Even after His visible ascension to heaven He made at least a few more visits to planet earth to reveal himself to the apostle Paul, (1 Cor. 15:8) and to the apostle John (Rev. 1:12-17)

The profound SOCIOLOGICAL and PSYCHOLOGICAL affect of His resurrection upon the life of these witnesses is, itself, a proof of the resurrection. To His followers, His very public trial and degrading public execution by Roman soldiers meant their dream had ended. The grand adventure was over. Their hopes of a new life were dashed and their behavior showed it. They were fearful, discouraged, and were ready to go back to their old life.

Only a real encounter with a resurrected and living Jesus would have the kind of affect that would cause these timid and defeated followers to become the courageous leaders they became. They would make all manner of sacrifice and even suffer persecution and martyrdom for a cause they KNEW was true.

The fact that this small group of believers changed the world, split the calendar from BC to AD, and started a movement that has grown into the largest and continuously fastest growing religion in the world, (currently approx. 2 billion followers world wide) is an additional proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

CONTEMPORARY PROOFS
But some might say  "those are just stories out of an ancient book. How can we know, and what proof is there that this phenomenal event actually happened? Are there any contemporary proofs of the resurrection?"

The answer is an emphatic "yes". If Jesus demonstrated a supernatural life, and invited us to do the same; and Christianity was birthed out of a supernatural event like the resurrection, it would only make sense that followers of this risen Lord would experience a supernatural lifestyle as well. And God has called Christians to be a supernatural expression of His supernatural Kingdom. *(see: "The case for a supernatural Christianity " and Wikipedia's article under "Continuationism")

The resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead puts a supernatural seal upon His claims to be the Son of God, and the Savior of mankind. It gives a supernatural witness to the fact that he defeated death, hell and the grave.

To believe He rose from the dead is essential to salvation. "if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." Rom 10:9-11

In addition to numerous prophetic Scriptures lending proof to the reality of the resurrection, There were many witnesses that serve as historic proof of the resurrection.

While there are some who deny such contemporary experiences of the supernatural, (called cessationists) the fact remains that through the name of Jesus, people are, to this day, experiencing the phenomena of the power and presence of God and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, lending proof that Jesus is Who He said He is, and did what He says He did.

Through-out the history of the church and to this very day, testimonies abound of people being healed, touched by the power of God, speaking in ecstatic utterances and prophecy, etc., (see gifts of the Holy Spirit) through the power of that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead.

Romans 8:11 says it this way:  
"But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you." (see also 1 Cor 12 - 14)

The same section of Scripture goes on to say:
"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

. It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

. "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Rom 8:31-39

Hallelujah! He is risen indeed!

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