The Case For The Resurrection Of Christ

This is a paper I wrote for my apologetics class at seminary. I welcome comments.
The paper is not copyrighted, all sources are noted. Please feel free to use any or all of the paper. Just cite the source.

The Resurrection Of Jesus

Historical events are recorded by those who were there to see the event take place – eye witnesses. But for some reason, historical events in the Bible are disregarded and not accepted by those do not believe in God, much less the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Skeptics will tell you well, that’s just a bunch of nice stories written by dead old white men.

There are ways to verify historical events that have occurred, but the most effective way is through those who personally saw those events take place. Skeptics can take the word of a historian they never heard of and tell you, yes, of course, Caesar fought and defeated the Gauls, or that three hundred Spartans held off a much larger Persian army at Thermopylae. How do we know General Washington crossed the Delaware? It was recorded by people who saw it. But let someone say actual living people heard the teachings, saw the miracles, the trials, the crucifixion, the death and resurrection of Jesus, and that person is branded a dangerous religious fanatic.

“So they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe. The women were startled, but the angel said, "Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body.”

Mark 16:5,6 - The New Living Translation

The sham of a trial and the execution of the itinerant preacher Jesus had been over for three days. All of Jesus’ disciples had disappeared, fearful and wondering if they would be next. They were in hiding. They did not believe that Jesus would in His words, “lay down my life and take it back up again.” This miracle was too much for them to believe even after spending a little over three years with Jesus, listening to His teaching and watching him perform miracle after miracle. Even John said in John 21:25,

“And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.”

But yet, as many times as Jesus spoke of his death and resurrection, they still would not believe. But, after the resurrection, after the faithful women were dispatched by the Risen Lord to notify His disciples, and after they had SEEN him, they became different men. The went out to the world, making disciples, teaching them the things Jesus taught them, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. They were willing to lay down their lives because they knew, they had seen Jesus in his glorified body.

But what about those who have not seen, and therefore cannot believe? The world and the culture we live in today demand sight for verification. The only thing those who have no faith nor belief in the risen Lord can believe in (fanatically it seems) is evolution. And that requires more faith than believing in the resurrection.

So, what sort of proof can be offered to those who don’t believe by those who do? We can start with the New Testament, specifically the book of John. John the disciple addressed the Divinity of Jesus in his Gospel account. John was an eyewitness to the works, sayings, and miracles of Jesus. He traveled with the Lord during Jesus’ three year ministry in and around Galilee. John belonged, along with his brother James and Peter, to the inner circle of disciples. This group was near Christ on such occasions as the transfiguration, his prayer time in Gethsemane before His arrest. From the cross Jesus gave the care of his mother over to John. John saw with his own eyes the death and resurrection of Jesus. The other Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke also attest to being eye witnesses to the risen Christ.

Directly after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to numerous witnesses. This is a list of those who saw the risen Christ.

i. To Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18)

ii. To the women returning from the tomb with the angelic message (Mathew 28:8-10)

iii. To Peter, probably in the afternoon (Luke 24:34; 1 Cor 15:5)

iv. To the Emmaus disciples toward evening (Mark 16:12; Luke 24:13-32)

v. To the disciples, Thomas being absent (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:36-43; John 20-19-25)

vi. On the next Sunday night, the appearance to the disciples, Thomas being present (John 20:26-31; 1 Cor 15:5)

vii. To the seven beside the Sea of Galilee (John 21)

viii. To the apostles and “over five hundred brethren (Matt 28:16-20; Mark 16:15-18; 1 Cor 15:6)

ix. To James, the Lord’s half brother (1 Cor 15:7)

x. His last recorded appearance and His ascension from Olivet (Mark 16:19-20; Luke 24:44-53; Acts 1:3-12)

It is also recorded that, after His ascension, Christ appeared one or more times to three men:

xi. To Stephen at his stoning (Acts 7:55-60)

xii. To Paul at his conversion (Acts 9:3-8, 17), at Corinth (Acts 19:9-10), in the temple at Jerusalem (Acts 22:17-21); later in Jerusalem (Acts 23:11); and in another vision (2 Cor 12:1-4

xiii. To John the apostle on Patmos (Rev 1:10-19, and other visions in Revelation.)

The Pharisee, Saul, who set out “breathing threats against followers of the Way” set out to Damascus to drag Christians from their homes and take them to Jerusalem for trial. Saul of course, was blinded by the light of the risen Christ, was blinded for three days, and then became the man who would be Christ’s “chosen vessel to the Gentiles, their kings and to the Jews (Acts 9:15). Saul, taking the name Paul, went on to establish churches all over Asia Minor, Jerusalem and Rome, and wrote half the New Testament. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:4-6,

“And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: and that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.” (KJV)

In this paper, I have presented the validation of the resurrection of Jesus through eyewitness accounts. But not having seen them ourselves, we can only take on faith what happened. It’s as Jesus told Thomas, “You have seen and believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and still believed.” Jesus was talking about us – those who came after and had no opportunity to see.

In conclusion, for those who believe, no proof is necessary. For those who don’t believe, no proof is enough.