Proof for the Resurrection

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important thing regarding salvation. As a matter of fact, the resurrection is what separates salvation in Jesus Christ from all other religions in the world today. True Christianity has a risen savior. There have been many other religious founders throughout history but only Jesus Christ arose victorious over death, hell, and the grave. This gives us a living savior that lives to intercede on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25)

The original conspiracy:

From the very beginning there were lies and people trying to cover up the fact of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Note in Matthew 27:62-66 that the chief priest and pharisees went to Pilate claiming that Jesus’ disciples might try to come and steal the body and say that Jesus was resurrected. Pilate gave them permission to seal the tomb and set a watch. After the resurrection one that were responsible for watching the tomb went to the chief priests and told them about the resurrection (Matthew 28:11). The chief priest paid them money and told them to say that the disciples came and stole the body at night while they slept (Matthew 28:12-15). Here we see one conspiracy to lie and create a false narrative regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Proof for the Resurrection:

1)  The word of God (Psalm 119:160 ; Romans 3:1-4)

• When proving the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the word of God is always the place to start.
• Note also the context in Romans 3:1-4 is the fact that to the Jews were given the oracles of God. Even if they didn’t believe the words of God, it doesn’t make the faith in God of none effect.
• Therefore, the word of God should be sufficient when proving the resurrection of Jesus Christ, but we will see there are more proofs available.

2)  The Eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:5-8)

• These verses tell us that over five hundred people saw the resurrected Christ, that many of them were alive at the time Paul was writing this letter to the church at Corinth.
• Paul himself even saw the resurrected savior on the road to Damascus and wrote about it in several places in the word of God.
• Signed statements by eyewitnesses are admissible in court and there should also be proof of the resurrected Christ.

3)  The coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-6 with John 16:7-11)

• In Acts 2 we see the Holy Spirit come and start indwelling people on the day of Pentecost. Jesus promised that this event would happen (Acts 1:3-5).
• Jesus said also in John 16 that he had to go so the Holy Spirit could come. The coming of the Holy Spirit proves the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it also proves the fact that God accepted the sacrifice and payment for our sins that his son made. If God had not accepted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, then the Holy Spirit would have never come.

4)  The fact that the Apostles were willing to die for believing the resurrection.

• At the beginning of this lesson, we saw that the chief priest paid the guards of the tomb to lie and say that the disciples stole the body by night.
• Given the fact that most of the disciples of Jesus were killed (some in horrible ways) for preaching and believing in a resurrected Jesus Christ this lie makes no sense. Could you imagine dying a horrible death for a stealing the body and hiding it somewhere and then saying that he was risen.
• The fact that the disciples were willing to suffer and die is proof they did not steal the body and that Jesus Christ arose from the dead.