Evidence
by John Guest
When you consider Jesus hanging on a wooden cross, there are really only two options: He either died, or He didn't. Some writers have set forth the Swoon Theory -- the theory that Jesus did not die on the cross. This theory asserts that Jesus was drugged and only appeared to be dead. When Jesus was taken down from the cross, the theory suggests, the disciples stole the body and resuscitated Him, passing the event off as Jesus coming back to life.
But suppose Jesus did survive the Romans' attempt at execution, being torn from the cross and lying for three days in a cold stone tomb. How would the appearance of Jesus gasping for help and being dependent on someone for survival ever inspire His following that swept Jerusalem? The Swoon Theory presents no valid evidence. Jesus did die on the cross.
Hallucination Theory
So, now we are left with a dead Jesus and another set of choices. Either Jesus is still dead and buried in the ground somewhere, or else He rose from the dead and is alive today. The Apostle Paul explains that Jesus, after His death, “appeared to more than five hundred of [His followers] at the same time” (1 Corinthians 15:6, NIV).
Some opponents of Jesus’ resurrection have set forth a Hallucination Theory, which proposes that Jesus’ original followers actually believed Jesus had risen from the grave, but had a hallucination: They only thought that they saw Him. But psychiatrists say that even two people -- let alone 500 people -- cannot have the same hallucination at the same time.
That Jesus appeared to so many people at the same time invalidates the Hallucination Theory. But what if the disciples knew that Jesus had not come back to life, and they were seeking to pull off the greatest hoax in history? How would the disciples then have reacted when their own lives were threatened for what they were teaching?
Die for a Lie?
At the time of Jesus' crucifixion all of His close friends had fled, fearing a similar fate if authorities associated them with Him, their leader. Why would those who had fled in terror three days earlier suddenly be willing to risk their lives for a lie that they knew they were perpetuating?
If the disciples had stolen the body and knew it to be a hoax, would they have died rather than admit it? But the Early Church underwent relentless persecution. The opposing authorities would only have to produce the dead body of Jesus to end the controversy. But they never did ... for they never could.
A Fanatic's Opposition
Saul was an extremely devoted and legalistic Jew. He was adamantly opposed to the Christians' claim that Jesus had been resurrected. Saul was not a peasant devotee who pined for a lost hope and was psychologically disposed to believe any wispy straw of experiential evidence. He had stood by at the first martyr's death (Acts 8:1) and understood clearly the claims of those Christians.
Should the Christians be correct about Christ, it meant not only that Saul's own religious belief was way off course but also that he was a participant in the execution of the innocent One who was in close communion with the true and living God.
While Saul was on his way to Damascus to stamp out the growing Christian movement there, something caused him to redirect all of his energy from persecuting Christians to promoting Christ. Only one answer accounts for his dramatic turnaround: Paul met the living Christ (Acts 9:3-6).
As you have read this article, and if you have any doubts about Jesus being alive, know that He is aware you have those doubts, and know that He is with you right now: alive, loving you and wanting you to believe in Him. Jesus really did die on the cross. And we know with certainty that His followers -- even His enemies -- were absolutely convinced that Jesus rose from the dead.
by John Guest
When you consider Jesus hanging on a wooden cross, there are really only two options: He either died, or He didn't. Some writers have set forth the Swoon Theory -- the theory that Jesus did not die on the cross. This theory asserts that Jesus was drugged and only appeared to be dead. When Jesus was taken down from the cross, the theory suggests, the disciples stole the body and resuscitated Him, passing the event off as Jesus coming back to life.
But suppose Jesus did survive the Romans' attempt at execution, being torn from the cross and lying for three days in a cold stone tomb. How would the appearance of Jesus gasping for help and being dependent on someone for survival ever inspire His following that swept Jerusalem? The Swoon Theory presents no valid evidence. Jesus did die on the cross.
Hallucination Theory
So, now we are left with a dead Jesus and another set of choices. Either Jesus is still dead and buried in the ground somewhere, or else He rose from the dead and is alive today. The Apostle Paul explains that Jesus, after His death, “appeared to more than five hundred of [His followers] at the same time” (1 Corinthians 15:6, NIV).
Some opponents of Jesus’ resurrection have set forth a Hallucination Theory, which proposes that Jesus’ original followers actually believed Jesus had risen from the grave, but had a hallucination: They only thought that they saw Him. But psychiatrists say that even two people -- let alone 500 people -- cannot have the same hallucination at the same time.
That Jesus appeared to so many people at the same time invalidates the Hallucination Theory. But what if the disciples knew that Jesus had not come back to life, and they were seeking to pull off the greatest hoax in history? How would the disciples then have reacted when their own lives were threatened for what they were teaching?
Die for a Lie?
At the time of Jesus' crucifixion all of His close friends had fled, fearing a similar fate if authorities associated them with Him, their leader. Why would those who had fled in terror three days earlier suddenly be willing to risk their lives for a lie that they knew they were perpetuating?
If the disciples had stolen the body and knew it to be a hoax, would they have died rather than admit it? But the Early Church underwent relentless persecution. The opposing authorities would only have to produce the dead body of Jesus to end the controversy. But they never did ... for they never could.
A Fanatic's Opposition
Saul was an extremely devoted and legalistic Jew. He was adamantly opposed to the Christians' claim that Jesus had been resurrected. Saul was not a peasant devotee who pined for a lost hope and was psychologically disposed to believe any wispy straw of experiential evidence. He had stood by at the first martyr's death (Acts 8:1) and understood clearly the claims of those Christians.
Should the Christians be correct about Christ, it meant not only that Saul's own religious belief was way off course but also that he was a participant in the execution of the innocent One who was in close communion with the true and living God.
While Saul was on his way to Damascus to stamp out the growing Christian movement there, something caused him to redirect all of his energy from persecuting Christians to promoting Christ. Only one answer accounts for his dramatic turnaround: Paul met the living Christ (Acts 9:3-6).
As you have read this article, and if you have any doubts about Jesus being alive, know that He is aware you have those doubts, and know that He is with you right now: alive, loving you and wanting you to believe in Him. Jesus really did die on the cross. And we know with certainty that His followers -- even His enemies -- were absolutely convinced that Jesus rose from the dead.
