How do we know Christ was raised from the dead?
That is not an unreasonable question because the Apostle Paul took great pains
to answer it in his first letter to the church at Corinth.
How do we know Christ was raised from the dead?
That is not an unreasonable question because the Apostle Paul took great pains
to answer it in his first letter to the church at Corinth.
In the 15th chapter of 1 Corinthians, verses 5-9, Paul lists firsthand witnesses
to the resurrected Christ: “And that He appeared to Cephas, then to the
twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time,
most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared
to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as it were to one untimely
born, He appeared to me also.” (NAS)
Paul apparently did not see the need to add Christs appearances of the
first morning of the resurrection to the women and two disciples. Paul also
seems not to think it necessary to add the account of the two disciples on the
road to Emmaus.
Historians add other facts that are certainly on the side of the reality of
the resurrection. Authors have written their proof of the resurrection in both
technical and non-technical styles. In addition, there has never been a substantial
disproving of the resurrection.
There have been some efforts to disprove the resurrection, but believing the
arguments of those who try to discredit the resurrection is more difficult than
believing the resurrection really happened.
The main proof of the resurrection to this editor is twofold.
The first is the radical change in the lives of the disciples. What else could
account for those who were totally dispirited, dejected, defeated and frightened
suddenly to become brave, forthright proclaimers of the truth that would certainly
lead to their persecution and deaths? What else could turn Thomas from a complete
“show me” doubter to a firm believer?
There is no other way to account for the hard core commitment of the first
century followers to Christs presence and gospel that was built upon the
resurrection. If they did not believe with all their hearts that Christ had
genuinely been resurrected, they would not have put everything on the line for
a hoax. There was absolutely no reason for them to perpetuate a conspiracy.
If the Apostle Paul had not had a real experience with the risen Christ, or
why else would he have suffered such incredible hardships and persecutions?
There was no money in it for him, no grandstanding – just hard work and
physical suffering. If telling the truth about the resurrection had not been
so vital, why would he have suffered so greatly even to his death to perpetuate
it?
The second part of the verification of the resurrection today is that the risen
Christ still changes lives. Day after day, year after year, decade after decade,
millennium after millennium, the risen Christ still transforms lives –
some radically at once, others through a long process, but the lives are radically
transformed by a power beyond themselves – the power of the risen Christ.
When someone asks, “Can you prove the resurrection?” my goal, my
prayer, is to be able to say, “Yes. Look at my life. There is no other
way to account for it. I am aware of Christs presence every moment of
my life. He helps me discern His will for my life, and he empowers me to follow
it. I am proof of His resurrection – a poor proof, perhaps, but a proof.”
But, if I say that to a person who has not accepted Christ, will there be proof
enough in my life to help lead that person to accept the resurrected Christ
as Lord and Savior? Only through the grace of the resurrected, living Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised
from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the
dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been
raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your
faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God,
because we witnessed against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise,
if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even
Christ has been raised, for the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been
raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are
still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:12-17)
One of the greetings early Christians gave one another was, one would say,
“Christ is risen.” The other Christian would respond, “He is
risen indeed.” We can confidently offer that greeting this Easter, and
every day.