Addressing the Questions of Jesus’ Resurrection

Apr 11

Was the resurrection of Jesus real? For many, believing God could raise someone from the dead is difficult. In this blog, we explore the historical context, medical evidence and provide a case for the reality of the resurrection.

1 Now I would remind you, brothers,[a] of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Consider the Supernatural

I invite you to consider the supernatural for a minute. Within the confines of the resurrection, what are the implications of that for you?

David Berlinski was an American author who wrote prolifically on science and mathematics. He penned a book called The Devil’s Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions, where he asks several questions and provides his own rhetorical responses.

Has anyone provided proof or proof for God’s inexistence? Not even close.
Has quantum cosmology explained the emergence of the universe and why it is here? Not even close.
Have the sciences explained why our universe seems to be fine-tuned to allow the existence of life? Not even close.
Are physicists and biologists willing to believe in anything so as long as it’s not religious thought? Close enough.
Has rationalism and moral thought provided us with an understanding of what is good, right, and moral? Not close enough.
Has secularism in the 20th century been a force for good? Not even close to being close.
Is there a narrow and oppressive orthodoxy of thought and opinion within the sciences? Close enough.
Does anything in the sciences or philosophy justify the claim that religious belief or metaphysical reality is irrational? Not even in the ballpark.
Is scientific atheism a frivolous exercise in intellectual contempt? Dead on.

Let me be clear: Berlinski is not impugning the sciences. In fact, he’s an advocate for science, research, and all the discoveries that have benefited humanity, particularly through the practices of the sciences. However, he affirms that science and rational thought don’t answer all the questions about religion or metaphysical reality.

So when we get to a topic such as God raising someone from the dead, we must consider this through a lens that goes beyond the Western enlightenment.

Addressing the Questions of Jesus’ Resurrection

The Vacancy Question: How Do Explain the Empty Tomb?

Theory #1: The Disciples took the body.

This theory proposes that the ragtag group of disciples overpowered the best-trained Roman soldiers, pushed a two-ton boulder aside, and stole the body of Jesus, only to bury Him elsewhere. They effectively pulled off the biggest hoax in human history.

I lovingly submit that that dog won’t hunt.

Once Jesus appeared to His followers, they had a life change; They began proclaiming the resurrection. When we read early Christian history, we see that these persons were also beheaded, sawed in two, and fed to lions, and not one of them backed off to say, “It was all a joke! We made it all up.” They didn’t because Jesus was alive, and they witnessed it.

Theory #2: The Roman or Jewish Authorities Took the Body

The idea here is that the authorities wanted to snuff out the Christian movement and the ordeal it created. If there were no body, then Christianity would effectively be over, but the opponents of Christ never tried to say the tomb was empty. However, they did attempt to bribe the soldiers to claim that the disciples stole the body.

Axiom: A Socially Trustworthy Source

Scripture tells us that the first person to report the empty tomb was a group of women. If you were writing something during the biblical era in Middle Eastern culture, this would be an unwise route to pursue for trustworthiness. Women had no proper status at that time and were considered second-class citizens. They were not noble or reliable witnesses. If you wanted to convince others, there were better paths to do so.

[READ MORE: The Hope of the Empty Tomb]

The Flatline Question: Was Jesus Actually Dead?

Theory: When Jesus was on the cross, He didn’t die but fell unconscious, which enabled Him to claim resurrection.

This theory proposes that perhaps Jesus ingested a drug that made Him appear dead. Then, His unconscious body was taken to the tomb, and after three days, He moved the two-ton boulder and reappeared.

When we study ancient history and recognize what crucifixion entailed, we see this isn’t possible. Truman Davis, a medical doctor who studied crucifixions, explains the process.

Step 1) Scourged

Jesus was whipped with razor-sharp lead or bone at the tip of a whip. This would cover his entire backside, including his shoulders, back, glutes, hamstrings, and calves. People who experienced this before crucifixion often never made it to the cross and would die from the scourging. Those who suffered this punishment were laid bare with their muscles, veins, tendons, and bowels exposed. This alone would’ve given Jesus a minuscule survival opportunity, even in our modern ICUs.

Step 2) Crucifixion

Following the scourging, Jesus was placed on a cross with six-inch nails driven into His wrists and feet. The cross was then hoisted into a hole and put upright. Gravity would take effect, and flesh would be torn.

However, despite that brutality, asphyxiation was the most common death on the cross. Victims could breathe in but not out. Through enormous pain, they could raise their body to gasp for air. But Roman soldiers would often break their legs to provide more suffering and ensure their death.

While Jesus’ legs were not broken, they did, however, put a spear through His side that poured blood and water. Medical experts believe that the pericardium was pierced for that mixture to flow.

Bottom line: No one came down from a Roman cross alive.

The Cameo Question: Did Jesus Really Make Himself Seen?

Theory: After the resurrection, Jesus only appeared to small groups of people, creating plausible deniability of those who saw Him.

The Scriptures tell us that Jesus appeared dozens of times after His resurrection. He appeared to groups small and large.

“He (Jesus) appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:5-6

Here’s an idea: Perhaps those 500 people were hallucinating. They were primed for the resurrection. Therefore they were already convinced and were only seeing what they wanted.

If we study history, we see that it’s not only impossible, it’s implausible. Try convincing 5-10 people someone rose from the dead, let alone 500. Not only that, but for them to assume it was a hallucination. It’d prove even more challenging to convince 500 people to hallucinate at the same time about the same thing. Also, the notion of the resurrection was contrary to Jewish culture and their expectations for a Messiah.

Suppose we took those 500 observers and put them on trial. Questioned them, took testimony, and cross-examined each of their stories, there would be no discrepancies. That’s how confident Paul was. So he was encouraging doubters to ask any one of the 500 so they could hear firsthand accounts of Christ’s resurrection.

The 180 Question: What About the Changed Lives?

Theory: How do you explain the lives changed if the resurrection was faked?

When I came to know Christ as a college student, my first sermon was only 15 minutes long. A few days later, a neighboring town called to ask me to preach to their youth. The church secretary said, “You know, he’s only preached one sermon, right?” The neighboring church said, “We’re not interested in him coming because he’s a great speaker. We’re interested because no one believes he’s become a Christian.”

What I’m illustrating is, how do you explain the lives changed?

For example, Peter, who previously made his life as a fisherman, would likely have gone back to the lake. Matthew would’ve returned to the IRS and Luke to his private practice as a physician. Their lives would’ve been remarkably more straightforward had they returned to their regular 9-5, but none of them did. Instead, their lives were marked by courage and commitment; They did a 180.

For more than 2000 years, skeptics have dealt with the prevailing church where millions of lives have been changed. Yet, even in a physics lesson, every action generates an equal and opposite reaction; therefore, how do you explain the countless lives that have experienced 180s?

God’s Invitation to Love

God tells us through Christ’s resurrection: “I love you.” He loves you so much that He sent His only son on a rescue mission (paraphrased). Romans 3:23 reinforces that when it says that the wages of sin are death, which separates us from God’s love.

So, how do we survive such a fall from God’s grace? Well, our only hope is to make a perfect landing.

“For our sake, He made Him to be sin who knew no sin so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

There is a love and trust found in Jesus that prevents perishing. When we put our belief in the risen savior, Scripture tells us we’re given a new life that extends into eternity. When we put our faith in Him, that’s our perfect landing.

I asked you to consider the supernatural and that Jesus is who He said He was. He is the Son of God, who went to the cross to be crucified. Consider that the resurrection only reinforces the reality of the things He said but affirms the implications that God loves you.

TL;DR

Consider the resurrection beyond a Western scope of enlightenment and doubt.
How do you explain the empty tomb?

The disciples couldn’t move the body, nor did the Jewish or Roman authorities move it.
Were biblical authors more concerned with being trustworthy rather than honest, they wouldn’t have detailed women finding the empty tomb due to their second-class standing during the times.

Was Jesus actually dead?

When we review crucifixion procedures, we see no one could survive.

Did Jesus make Himself seen after the resurrection?

Paul describes in 1 Corinthians how more than 500 people witnessed Jesus post-Resurrection. It would be impossible to convince 500 people to agree to a hallucination.

What about the changed lives?

Were this all a hoax or unreal, the disciples would’ve returned to their lives rather than proclaiming their firsthand accounts and ultimately brutal deaths.