There are four evidences that argue for the reality of Jesus' resurrection. The third is the evidence of changed lives.
The numerous (and suddenly) changed lives of Jesus’ followers strongly argue for Jesus’ resurrection. Let’s review some of the people Paul listed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 as eye witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. I mean, if Jesus really did appear alive after his death, that’s probably an event that would change someone’s life, right? Well did it? Let's take a look...
1. The Apostle Peter ("...he appeared to Cephas...")
In John 18, when Jesus is on trial and about to be crucified, in fear for his life, Peter denied 3x that he even knew who Jesus was. That is, he was afraid to stand up to even a handful of people in the high priest’s courtyard. But then, after Jesus died, in Acts 2 we find Peter standing up to thousands and thousands of people, boldly proclaiming that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. We have to ask ourselves: What accounts for this sudden change in Peter? Well, as 1 Corinthians 15:5 states: Jesus was seen by Peter. We have nothing else to point to, to account for this sudden change except that Peter saw Jesus alive after his death.
2. The Other Apostles ("...then to the Twelve...")
When the authorities captured Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Bible tells us that “all the disciples deserted him and fled” (Matthew 26:56). After Jesus was crucified, the fearful disciples hid themselves in an upper room and locked the doors (John 20:19). These disciples were also skeptical when they first heard about the empty tomb. One of them (Thomas) refused to believe until he personally touched Jesus’ wounds. But within days something happened to utterly change this group of cowardly followers into a bold band of enthusiasts who were willing to face a life of suffering for the cause of Christ. What happened? The most logical explanation is that after Jesus’ resurrection “He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:5). Nothing else can account for this sudden change except that they saw the risen Jesus.
3. Jesus’ brother James ("...then he appeared to James...")
Neither James nor any of Jesus’ younger brothers believed in Jesus during His lifetime (Mark 3:21, 31-35; John 7:1-10). But after Jesus died, his brothers show up in the Christian fellowship in the upper room in Jerusalem (Acts 1:14). Not only did James become a Christian but also an apostle (Galatians 1:19) and a pillar of the church in Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9). And we find him lead pastor of the Jerusalem church in Acts 21:18. Church history reveals that James was stoned to death illegally by the Sanhedrin sometime after AD 60 for his refusal to recant his belief in his brother’s resurrection and that he was the Son of God.
The numerous (and suddenly) changed lives of Jesus’ followers strongly argue for Jesus’ resurrection. Let’s review some of the people Paul listed in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 as eye witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. I mean, if Jesus really did appear alive after his death, that’s probably an event that would change someone’s life, right? Well did it? Let's take a look...
1. The Apostle Peter ("...he appeared to Cephas...")
In John 18, when Jesus is on trial and about to be crucified, in fear for his life, Peter denied 3x that he even knew who Jesus was. That is, he was afraid to stand up to even a handful of people in the high priest’s courtyard. But then, after Jesus died, in Acts 2 we find Peter standing up to thousands and thousands of people, boldly proclaiming that Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world. We have to ask ourselves: What accounts for this sudden change in Peter? Well, as 1 Corinthians 15:5 states: Jesus was seen by Peter. We have nothing else to point to, to account for this sudden change except that Peter saw Jesus alive after his death.
2. The Other Apostles ("...then to the Twelve...")
When the authorities captured Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the Bible tells us that “all the disciples deserted him and fled” (Matthew 26:56). After Jesus was crucified, the fearful disciples hid themselves in an upper room and locked the doors (John 20:19). These disciples were also skeptical when they first heard about the empty tomb. One of them (Thomas) refused to believe until he personally touched Jesus’ wounds. But within days something happened to utterly change this group of cowardly followers into a bold band of enthusiasts who were willing to face a life of suffering for the cause of Christ. What happened? The most logical explanation is that after Jesus’ resurrection “He appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:5). Nothing else can account for this sudden change except that they saw the risen Jesus.
3. Jesus’ brother James ("...then he appeared to James...")
Neither James nor any of Jesus’ younger brothers believed in Jesus during His lifetime (Mark 3:21, 31-35; John 7:1-10). But after Jesus died, his brothers show up in the Christian fellowship in the upper room in Jerusalem (Acts 1:14). Not only did James become a Christian but also an apostle (Galatians 1:19) and a pillar of the church in Jerusalem (Galatians 2:9). And we find him lead pastor of the Jerusalem church in Acts 21:18. Church history reveals that James was stoned to death illegally by the Sanhedrin sometime after AD 60 for his refusal to recant his belief in his brother’s resurrection and that he was the Son of God.
And here’s something really interesting: Not only did James become a Christian and get involved in preaching, but so did Jesus’ other brothers (Jesus’ brothers are included in a list of itinerant preachers in 1 Corinthians 9:5). Now how is this to be explained? What would it take to make you believe that your brother is the Lord, so that you would die for this belief, as James did? What would it take for you to believe that your brother had risen from the dead so that you stopped doubting and starting preaching as Jesus’ other brothers did? Can there be any doubt that the reason for this remarkable transformation is to be found in the fact that “then he appeared to James” (1 Corinthians 15:7).
4. The apostle Paul ("...last of all he appeared to me also...")
He was a rabbi, a Pharisee, a respected Jewish leader. He hated the Christian heresy and did everything in his power to stamp it out. He tells us that he was even responsible for the execution of Christian believers. Then suddenly he gave up everything. He left his position as a respected Jewish leader and became a Christian missionary. He entered a life of poverty, labor and suffering. He was whipped, beaten, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked three times, in constant danger, deprivation and anxiety. Finally, he made the ultimate sacrifice and was martyred for his faith at Rome. What can account for this sudden and drastic change? Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:8 stating, “I also saw him.”
Even though the evidence strongly points towards the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, those who are uncomfortable with miracles, propose a different theory for why the disciples lives were so radically changed. It’s called the swoon (or apparent death) theory. This theory states: Jesus didn’t die on the cross. He was still alive when he was placed in the tomb, but he somehow escaped and convinced his disciples that he had risen from the dead. But if that’s true we have the following problems:
4. The apostle Paul ("...last of all he appeared to me also...")
He was a rabbi, a Pharisee, a respected Jewish leader. He hated the Christian heresy and did everything in his power to stamp it out. He tells us that he was even responsible for the execution of Christian believers. Then suddenly he gave up everything. He left his position as a respected Jewish leader and became a Christian missionary. He entered a life of poverty, labor and suffering. He was whipped, beaten, stoned and left for dead, shipwrecked three times, in constant danger, deprivation and anxiety. Finally, he made the ultimate sacrifice and was martyred for his faith at Rome. What can account for this sudden and drastic change? Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:8 stating, “I also saw him.”
Even though the evidence strongly points towards the reality of Jesus’ resurrection, those who are uncomfortable with miracles, propose a different theory for why the disciples lives were so radically changed. It’s called the swoon (or apparent death) theory. This theory states: Jesus didn’t die on the cross. He was still alive when he was placed in the tomb, but he somehow escaped and convinced his disciples that he had risen from the dead. But if that’s true we have the following problems:
- The Romans, who were professional executioners, didn’t break Jesus’ legs to speed death because they knew he was already dead.
- It’s not just the Christian record of Jesus’ life that says he was dead - so do several non-Christian records. The historians Josephus, Tacitus and Thallus all record that Jesus died by crucifixion. So does the Jewish Talmud (a source NOT considered friendly to Christianity).
- Jesus was embalmed in seventy-five pounds of bandages and spices. Do you think Jesus (who had been whipped and crucified) could stay still enough to trick Joseph of Aramathea and Nicodemus as they embalmed him? Could Jesus have just laid there perfectly still while they poured spices in his open wounds? Could he had hid his breathing from them?
- How did Jesus stay alive for three days being in the poor physical condition he was in after being crucified? And how did he move the estimated two-ton rock up and away from the inside of the tomb and then get by the elite Roman guards?
- And in the pitiful physical condition he was in - How did he convince the scared, scattered, skeptical disciples that he was a conquering king who had triumphed over death? Would this have inspired the disciples to do the things they did and to lay down their lives?
The evidence of the changed lives argues powerfully for the reality of the resurrection, while alternative theories are harder to believe than the resurrection itself!
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