Can you trust the resurrection?
April 7, 2011 Leave a comment
Paul Maier – Historian
“If all the evidence is weighed carefully and fairly, it is indeed justifiable, according to the cannons of historical research, to conclude that the tomb in which Jesus was buried was actually empty on the morning of the first Easter. And no shred of evidence has yet been discovered in literary sources, epigraphy, or archaeology that would disprove this statement.”
If a person wishes to rationalize away the events surrounding Christ and His resurrection, that person must deal with certain imponderables. In fact, you might say that both the Jews and the Romans outwitted themselves when they took so many precautions to make sure Jesus was dead and remained in the grave. These “security precautions” — taken with the crucifixion, burial, entombment, sealing and the guarding of Christ tomb — make it very difficult for critics to defend their position that Christ did not rise from the dead!
Facts to Consider:
One — Broken Roman Seal … the FBI and CIA of the Roman Empire were called into action to find the man or men responsible. The consequences of breaking the seal were severe … you were to be crucified upside down to allow your guts to run into your throat. No one would have risked this for a myth.
Two — The Empty Tomb … the disciples did not travel to a far away land to preach that Christ had risen but right back into Jerusalem where everyone knew who they were and where all the action had taken place. Surely if this resurrection had been a myth someone would have clearly proven so.
Three – Large Stone Moved … up an incline, away from the tomb, and picked up and carried off. Amazing feet for sure. If the disciples had wanted to come in, tiptoe around the sleeping guards, then roll the stone over and steal the body, why would they have moved a 1-1/2 to-2-ton stone up a slope away from the entire massive sepulcher to such a position that it looked like someone had picked it up and carried it away? The soldiers would have to have been deaf not to have heard that stone being moved.
Four — Romans Guards Go AWOL … the roman guard fled. Roman guards were seriously trained. He knew that if he was to fail to perform to his duty that it could mean being burned alive. For failure to keep his post the guard could be stripped of his clothes, and then burned alive in a fire started with the garments that he wore. Certainly the entire unit that guarded the tomb that night would not have surcom to the sleep temptation at this kind of risk.
Five — His Appearance Confirmed … on several occasions, Christ appeared alive after the cataclysmic events of that first Easter. One of the earliest records of Christ appearing after the resurrection is by Paul. Paul’s audience’s knowledge of the fact that Christ had been seen by more than 500 people at one time. Paul reminds them that the majority of these people were still alive and could be questioned. Dr. Edwin M. Yamauchi, associate professor of history at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, emphasizes: “What evidence is the reference to most of the 500 brethren being still alive. St. Paul says in effect, ‘If you do not believe me, you can ask them.’ Such a statement in an admittedly genuine letter written 30 years of the event is almost as strong of evidence as one could hope to get for something that happened nearly 2,000 years ago.”
Consider these historical facts as you contemplate the resurrection this Easter and how it might impact your life. Jesus was not only a good man … He was the God-Man who paid the debt of every sinner on a cross and rose from the dead victorious. It’s not just a good story but a life changing event for all who would believe. The apostle John did not truly believe until the resurrection … how about you?
