The Resurrection

I try to operate at the place where secular humanism, atheism, and Christianity meet. I am a Christian, as you suspected. The two ideas that do the most to drive a wedge between Christians and non-Christians are: the age of the earth and the resurrection. Both are tough topics. I’ll save the age of the earth for later.

So what about the resurrection? Did it happen or is it a myth? Which side you choose is moderately important during your 80 years on this earth. But, considering the potential consequences, it is the most important choice you will ever make for the period after you die, which may be a very long time.

I’m not going to take the easy way out…….”because the Bible says so!” But, on the other hand, you cannot completely dismiss the Bible either. Most of the written history supporting the resurrection is collected in the Bible. To discard it out of hand would be like a judge at a trial telling the jury to disregard everything that the defense had said. There is no faster or less honest way to “win” an argument than to reject any evidence that opposes you.

So……here goes.

Point 1: the resurrection is physically, scientifically impossible.

It seems to me that this is the entire point. If a supernatural being (God) wanted to prove a point, boiling water or building a dam would not be a very compelling demonstration. What better way is there to show us that he operates outside of our rules, outside of our world, outside of current scientific understanding than to do something impossible. In a way you have to choose: either science has it all figured out and the resurrection is impossible…….or there are things that are beyond our current understanding. We call these the supernatural……including the resurrection.

Point 2: Jesus lived; he was an historical figure.

He lived and he was crucified. There are contemporary accounts outside of the bible that mention him.

Point 3: He died.

A Roman soldier was well trained to do one job…..to kill people. To botch a judicial execution would have probably cost the soldier his own life. At the end of the crucifixion a soldier drove his pilum (a spear with with an 18″ barbed metal point into Jesus’s chest). This was followed by 3 days without medical treatment. Jesus was dead.

Point 4: He was seen alive after the crucifixion.

On several occasions multiple witnesses spoke with him, saw him, touched him, and ate with him. These accounts are collected in the new testament.

Point 5: The execution of the disciples

At least 10 people suffered torture and a gruesome execution rather than deny that they had witnessed Jesus alive after the crucifixion. I can think of no instance in human history where 10 men in 10 separate events gave up their lives to promote a lie……..a lie that they did not benefit from in any way.

Point 6: Jesus said he was the son of God

He endured torture and crucifixion rather than recant. He was either telling the truth……or he was insane. There is no middle ground. Some say that he was a great man. Others say that he was a prophet. These positions ignore his unambiguous claim to divinity. He was either the son of God or he was insane. The written texts are more consistent with him telling the truth about his divinity. It is very hard to read his teaching and believe that he was insane.

Taken together, I think that these points prove the resurrection beyond a reasonable doubt. This is important because of the chain of logic that follows.

The resurrection happened.
Therefore, Jesus was devine.
Jesus endorsed the old testament.
Therefore, the old testament is true.
Jesus promised paradise to those who believe.
Therefore, the difference between spending eternity in paradise and spending it somewhere else is belief in Jesus.

And that is why this seemingly abstract choice is so important.
This is why this question deserves study and thought from you………a lot of it.