How do we know Jesus' resurrection is legit?

First, let me apologize for my tardiness! I recently was on a missions trip for two weeks and starting my final undergrad class. But I am glad to be blogging again!

Today, I want to keep it brief. It is the Easter season. This is the time we remember the triumphant work of Jesus Christ. Christ took on Himself the sin of humanity. The sinless lamb was slain. But that is not where it ends. After three days in the grave He rose and exited the tomb. That is what I want to address today. 

How do we know Jesus' resurrection is legit?

An important starting point is that scholars, both Christian and non-Christian agree that Jesus was buried in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. "When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the grave." ~ Matthew 27:57-61 (NASB). It is also spoke of in Mark 15:43. Centuries after the resurrection, the word of the empty tomb was spread by Christians and non-believers.  

Then notice who discover the empty tomb. "When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, bought spices, so that they might come and anoint Him. Very early on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. They were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” Looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away, although it was extremely large...Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping." ~ Mark 16:1-4, 9-10 (NASB).  It was the women who witnessed the empty tomb. William Lane Craig of Biola University says "when you understand the role of women in first-century Jewish society, what's really extraordinary is that this empty tomb story should feature females as the discoverers of the empty tomb...The fact that women are the first witnesses to the empty tomb is most plausibly explained by the reality that-like it or not-they were the discoverers of the empty tomb. This shows that the gospel writers faithfully recorded what happened, even if it was embarrassing."

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared before Cephas (Peter), the twelve disciples, James, the apostles, over five hundred believers, at the same time, and Paul, formerly Saul (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). Paul's witness to the events and his recording the five hundred brothers "most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep" (v. 6) are very important. Paul is saying "Hey, if you don't believe me, go ask them. They'll speak of their witnessing the resurrected Christ." There is no record of argument against the resurrection recorded in ancient manuscripts. If these claims were false, testimonies against it would have been recorded.

The greatest testimony of the truth Jesus' resurrection is the unyielding stance of its validity. In fact there has never been anything like it. A handful of believers grew and grew. They were opposed with torture, treason, harassment, and evil agonizing death. It is impossible to fathom so many people would endure hostility to the point of excruciating death for a hoax. Dr. Simon Greenleaf, Professor of Law at Harvard stated "If it were morally possible for them to have deceived in this matter, every human motive operated to lead them to discover and avow their error...If then their testimony was not true, there was no possible motive for this fabrication." 

It is about now that most people will say “Okay, it sounds somewhat convincing, but all I see recorded is what’s in the Bible. Is the Bible that reliable?”  I will dive more into that topic later, but here is a snapshot.  There is not an ancient document like the New Testament, nothing compares. There over 24,000 manuscripts found. There are 6,446 Greek manuscripts. The first known manuscript we written was around 75 A.D. The earliest copy we have is from about 130 A.D. The accuracy between those manuscripts is 99.5%.  The closest ancient document that compare is Homer’s Illiad. The original copy was from 900 B.C. The earliest manuscript found is from 400 B.C. There are only 643 copies and there is a 95% accuracy weight. The New Testament is undeniably the most reliable ancient text. If it was secular, its validity would not be scrutinized. Sir William Ramsay, who spent over 10 years trying to debunk Luke’s credentials as a historian and the validity of the New Testament, said “Luke is a historian of the first rank…This author should be placed along with the very greatest of historians.”

The evidence speaks for itself. The proof is there. But the problem with man is not intellectual. It is moral. Examine your heart. If you have ever done wrong to yourself or someone else, you are a sinner. That sin separates you from God. God wants to restore a relationship with you and adopt you into His family. Jesus said “I am the way, and the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me” ~ John 14:6 (NASB). No other person or prophet claimed that. They had a way or the way, but no other person claimed to be the way. Jesus died, bore your sin, and rose from the dead for you. Ask God for forgiveness and believe in who Christ is and what He did for you. ““Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” ~ Matthew 11:28-30 (NASB).

Karl Barth, a Swiss theologian, was asked by a reporter to summarize his twelve volumes of church dogma.  He thought and said “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  Amen!