More Than A Metaphor
For those who think the resurrection did not actually occur, but is just a metaphor for the new life in Christ, use the information presented below to better inform them.
When it comes to the veracity of the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, we have more than just faith alone to support our belief. We may present compelling evidence of Christ’s resurrection, evidence that demands another reasonable explanation, if not the one given by the original eye-witnesses.
Eye-Witness Testimonies
“Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book, but these are written, so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and that, through believing, you may have life in his name.” (John 20:30-31)
The stated purpose of John’s Gospel, and indeed, all four Gospels, is to testify to the truth concerning the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They are written to convince the reader that the things they say happened really did happen. They are based on facts and physical evidence as reported at that time.
“Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.” (Luke 1:1-4)
For those skeptics who point to the fact that it was only Jesus’ disciples and a few of his closest followers who saw him after his death and burial, about 15-20 people, we have Paul’s testimony that he also appeared to over 500 people at one time (1 Corinthians 15:1-11). This is a significant testimony that is often overlooked by those who aren’t so familiar with it. And, at the time of its writing, Paul also tells us that many of them are still alive, presumably, so that anyone who wanted to could go and speak to them about it.
All these eye-witness testimonies bring up another piece of evidence, a question really, that a reasonable person might find quite curious. If all of these original testimonies were considered false, how come we don’t find more ancient writings refuting them? Given the speed at which the Jesus movement and the early Christian church grew and spread throughout the Roman Empire, why haven’t we found more historical evidence refuting its most outrageous claim and/or providing some other explanation for the movement’s proliferation?
Physical Evidence
For those who claim that what the eye-witnesses saw was not a bodily resurrection, but an apparition, The Gospels provide the following evidence to the contrary.
“While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, ‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.
While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence.” (Luke 24:36b-42
And,
“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.’” (John 20:27)
Why do we get two versions of this same story in consecutive weeks this year? Is it just a coincidence or is the valuable physical evidence it supplies worth repeating?
Behavioral Evidence
Perhaps even more compelling evidence then the eye-witness testimonies of Peter and the other disciples is found in the dramatic change in their behavior after their encounter with the resurrected Jesus. They go from hiding out in a house behind locked doors for fear of the Jews (John 20:1) to a band of fearless witnesses boldly proclaiming Christ to the very authorities they once feared would find, arrest and execute them, just as they had Jesus.
{Peter addressed the people}, “The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.” (Acts 3:13-15)
And,
“The next day the rulers, elders, and scribes assembled in Jerusalem, with Annas the high priest, Caiaphas, John, and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. When they had made the prisoners stand in their midst, they inquired, ‘By what power or by what name did you do this?’ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, ‘Rulers of the people and elders, if we are questioned today because of a good deed done to someone who was sick and are asked how this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that this man is standing before you in good health by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead. This Jesus is “the stone that was rejected by you, the builders; it has become the cornerstone.” There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among mortals by which we must be saved.’” (Acts 4:7-12)
How do you explain this dramatic change in Peter and the other disciples? Why do they no longer fear death the way they did just days before? What happened?
We see more compelling evidence of its truth in the community that began to form around the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. How do you explain what people were doing in Acts 4:32-35?
“Now the whole group of those who believed was of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”
What would cause you to sell all that you own and relinquish it the way those first believers did? Any reasonable or intelligent person would agree that it would take something truly extraordinary to elicit such selfless behavior.
And what about the Apostle Paul? How does a reasonably intelligent person explain the radical change in his behavior? What would cause one of the most feared and zealous persecutors of Jesus’ first followers, to suddenly become willing to risk his life to proclaim the resurrection too?
“For several days he was with the disciples in Damascus, and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, ‘He is the Son of God.’ All who heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem among those who invoked this name? And has he not come here for the purpose of bringing them bound before the chief priests?’” (Acts 9:19b-21)
Or, in Paul’s own words:
“Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unfit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace towards me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God working in me.” (1 Corinthians 15:7b-10)
What happened that caused a man as bright and intelligent as Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee and leader of the Jews, to leave his life’s work behind and spend the rest of his life proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ all over the world?
Concluding Remarks
The skeptic may be able to offer a plausible explanation to refute one or more of these pieces of evidence, but so far, none has been able to offer one that refutes them all together. No, the only logical, reasonable explanation for all this is that something truly extraordinary happened. And until someone comes up with a more plausible explanation, as reasonable people, I think the only sensible, logical thing to do is to accept the explanation that has been given us.
As Christians, we do indeed have a story to tell, and it’s a story that begins with the most astonishing life-changing, historical event of all time— the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, Son of Man, and Son of God. Alleluia!