The Resurrection really happened

03/30/2024 • View profile

When this goes live, it will be the day before Easter.
Now, Easter is the most important day (and season!) to Christians, and I think we need to examine the reality of Jesus rising from the dead.
So, why is this important?
Because rising from the dad is a big deal!
Now, of course, there are (mainly spurious) claims that other religions have a similar concept.
So what? Know the difference? With Jesus, it actually happened!
So, what's the internal evidence in the New Testament that Jesus rose from the dead? Well, we're about to go through that.
"In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye seem him; lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, be not afraid; go tell my brethren, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.
Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, saying, Say ye, his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So, they and took the money, and did as they were taught; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews to this day." (Matthew 28:1-15)
"And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Salome, had brought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre, at the rising of the son. And they said among themselves,Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: For it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre for they trembled and were amazed; neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.
Now, when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast out seven devils. And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. And they, went they had heard he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.
After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country, And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.
Afterward, he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." (Mark 16:1-14)
"Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments; And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stopping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass." (Luke 24:1-12)
"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early; when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together; and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie. And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away unto their own home." (John 20:1-10).
Now, these are all tied to the first Easter Sunday morning, but, what about Resurrection appearances afterwards?
Well, still on Easter, but, what about the appearance on the road to Emmaus? (Luke 24:13-35) Or the appearance in Jerusalem? (Luke 24:36-48)?
And more biblical evidence for it! John 20:19-29).
So, why this massive multitude of Messianic melange?
Because it proves its veracity.
"But", you may say, "It's from The Bible, and Christians are not trustworthy, thank about all the wars caused by religion!"
Okay, not sure what that has to do with the reliability of the gospels. In fact, I'm pretty sure that's irrelevant to the veracity of the gospels.
The idea that we shouldn't trust people because of their religion is an absurdity. By that logic, we'd have to dismiss every atheist, Christian, Jewish, or Muslim scientist.
The Bible isn't trustworthy because I say it's trustworthy, it's trustworthy on this matter, because the relevant details all mainly agree. Yes, there are some slight differences in detail in the Resurrection narrative, but, nothing substantial. For instance, a suspect may have robbed a store, and some people describe him as a bit heavyset, others describe him as tall, but not really tall, and others mention that he has gray eyes.
None of those contradict each other, but, different aspects of the suspect (who looks suspiciously like me), are emphasized by different people.
Anyway, I think we'll let Saint Paul have the last word:
"For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures; And 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 who are fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:3-6)