CONTENTS DID CHRIST

REALLY RISE
Why Look Back? . . . . . . 2 FROM THE
Fact Or Fiction? . . . . . . . 4
The Evidence For
DEAD?
S
Christ’s Resurrection o much depends on the
answer to this question.
The Verification Of
Jesus’ Death . . . . . . . . . 7 The reliability of the
Bible. The answer to your
The Empty Tomb . . . . 10
search for meaning. The destiny
The Appearances of all people. It all depends on
Of Jesus . . . . . . . . . . . 13
whether or not Jesus is alive.
The Reaction Of Did His body ever leave the
The Jewish Officials . . . 17
tomb?
The Outlook Of No matter which side of the
Jesus’ Disciples . . . . . . 19
issue you are on—a Christian
The Start Of The who has faith in the resurrection
Christian Church . . . . . 22
or a nonbeliever who finds this
The Expectation miracle too good to be true—we
Of Christ’s Return . . . . 23
hope this booklet will help you.
What The Explore with us why we can
Opposition Says . . . . . 25
trust the biblical account of
All The Savior’s Men . . 27 what happened on that first
Why Is This Easter morning.
So Important? . . . . . . . 30 Dave Branon, RBC Ministries
It’s Your Decision . . . . 32

Managing Editor: David Sper Cover Photo: Terry Bidgood

Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas
Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
© 1991, 2002 RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, Michigan Printed in USA

© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

WHY LOOK century be convinced that
BACK? Jesus really did come back
from the dead? Many say

C
onsider for a moment no. They feel we have
what mankind has progressed too far to
accomplished. consider the resurrection
We’ve built spaceships that of Jesus to be an authentic
can leave our solar system. historical event. These
We’ve transplanted hearts skeptics say:
into week-old babies. We’ve “Miracles are not
computerized everything scientific.” To people of
from architecture to science, dead means dead.
zoology. We’ve made They have no evidence that
tremendous progress in anything that was dead
many areas of life. ever came back to life
Then why go backward? spontaneously. Therefore,
Why step 2,000 years into they aren’t easily convinced
history to put our faith in that in one special case the
an event that violates the normal processes of decay
laws of science? Why were halted. It goes against
insist that the resurrection their established data to
is anything more than a believe that a dead man
myth? After all, isn’t DEAD came back to life.
MAN COMES ALIVE the kind “It was spiritual,
of headline we usually not physical,
expect to find on those resurrection.”
tabloids that litter the Some “enlightened”
supermarket checkout modern-day skeptics
lanes? maintain that the disciples
Can educated, refined did not really see Jesus with
people living in the 21st their eyes; they “saw” Him
2
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
with their hearts. They accept as evidence a story
had a spiritual awakening with such discrepancies.”
because of Jesus’ great “The historical
sacrifice, and that spurred accounts aren’t
them on to preach about trustworthy.”
Him. Thus, He could be Obviously, no reporters
“resurrected” in the heart from the Jerusalem Star
of anyone who accepted were at the garden on
His teachings. To those that resurrection morning
who hold this view, Jesus to record the event.
was a great teacher whose Therefore, the nonbiblical
ministry ended on the historical accounts we
cross but whose influence have concerning Jesus’
continues through His resurrection were written
words and philosophies. some time after the event.
“The biblical To people who have
accounts are too grown accustomed to
contradictory.” Some instantaneous news,
people think that if the that alone makes those
Gospel writers could not accounts undependable.
agree on all the details, So, the question
then we cannot be sure remains. Can a
they got any part of the technologically
story straight. For instance, advanced society that
they point out that each of continues to open new
the four accounts of the vistas of scientific
morning scene at the tomb knowledge believe in a
records a different number miracle that 20 centuries
of women who were there. of research have not been
“A contemporary thinker,” able to duplicate?
they say, “could never
3
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
FACT OR Valley Forge. Reliable
FICTION? witnesses wrote about
meeting and talking

T
ruth is not with Jesus after His death.
negotiable. Historical Skeptical enemies noticed
statements of fact are His disappearance from
not open to question. When the tomb. Extrabiblical,
we read, for example, that historical reports were
George Washington and his given of His resurrection.
men spent the winter of Eyewitnesses of Jesus’ post-
1777 enduring wretched death appearances died
conditions at Valley Forge, defending their belief in it.
we are obligated to believe In order for an honest
it. Although none of us historian to be convinced
observed their long, deadly that something actually
winter, what we know happened, he needs to see
about it is supported by the two specific criteria met:
written testimony of those (1) The event in question
who were there and by must be supported by the
the scholarship of later testimony of believable,
inquirers who studied the trustworthy witnesses.
Revolutionary War. The And (2) the circumstantial
written accounts may differ evidence must be authentic.
on a few minor details, but When both of these
we know that we can trust demands are clearly
the record of the historians. supported by the evidence
In a historical sense, at hand, the inquirer is
the resurrection stands on compelled by logic to believe
ground that is just as solid that the event actually took
as the story of George place. We will see that each
Washington’s winter at of these criteria is met by the
4
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
things we know about the refusal, a person must
resurrection. not only reject the

z
“The Christian
eyewitness accounts and
the circumstantial evidence,
but he must make an even
Savior had lived greater leap. The person
and associated with who thinks that the
men whose minds resurrection is a fraud or a
hoax must reject the entire
and senses New Testament. There can
apprehended His be no picking and choosing.
person, acts, and If the resurrection is a
hoax, then so is the New
character. These Testament and everything
witnesses had Jesus said or did. Claiming
transmitted their that Christ was a great
teacher or a prophet—as
knowledge directly, even most unbelievers
and they had attest—while rejecting
testified to the life His resurrection is an
impossible position.
of Jesus Christ and Consider what Jesus
His teaching. said during His ministry—
Jesus was then before the crucifixion:
The Son of Man must
a historical, not suffer many things, and
a mythical, being.” be rejected by the elders
Clifford Moore and chief priests and
z
Even so, some still
scribes, and be killed, and
be raised the third day
don’t believe. To make that (Lk. 9:22).
5
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
 For as Jonah was three 2,000 years of church
days and three nights in history (which rests solely
the belly of the great fish, on the resurrection).
so will the Son of Man
be three days and three
nights in the heart of the
z
“It may be said that
earth (Mt. 12:40). the historical
Think about it. Wouldn’t evidence for the
we consider a man who
made such wild claims to resurrection is
be untrustworthy if he stronger than for
couldn’t follow through on any other miracle
his predictions? Instead of
calling such a person a anywhere narrated.”
great teacher, wouldn’t we William Lyon Phelps,
Yale University
call him a charlatan and a
threat to mankind? There
can be no middle ground.
z
The evidence to be
If Jesus did not do what He presented in the next
said He would do, He must few pages is based on the
be rejected completely. biblical and historical data
And along with Him go the as we know it. We will
Old Testament (because see why both secular
of its predictions of the and religious scholars find
Messiah’s coming), the Jesus to be a captivating,
trustworthiness of Paul historical person. So, let’s
(who converted to Christ get logical. Let’s take a hard
at the cost of beatings, look at the evidence that
imprisonments, and gives us reason to believe
banishment from his that Jesus rose from the
former colleagues), and dead.
6
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
THE EVIDENCE would be no need for a
FOR CHRIST’S resurrection. For a person
to be raised from the dead,
RESURRECTION he must first have died.
Observation 1: To deny Christ’s death,
THE VERIFICATION therefore, is to remove all
OF JESUS’ DEATH possibility of resurrection.
But the Bible teaches that
He died.
In the four Gospel
accounts of Jesus’
crucifixion, His death is
spoken of in two distinct
terms. In Matthew 27:50
and in John 19:30, the
writers said He “yielded up”
We have to start with or “gave up” His spirit. The
the bad news. Jesus’ other accounts both record
confrontation with the that He “breathed His last”
religious leaders of Israel (Mk. 15:37; Lk. 23:46).
cost Him His life. When the Remarkably, Matthew,
Roman soldiers removed Mark, and Luke each
Him from that awful cross recorded a simultaneous
of Golgotha, He was dead. event that occurred some
As horrible as this fact distance from Calvary. They
is, the validity of the wrote that as Jesus died,
resurrection accounts “the veil of the temple was
hinges on it. torn in two from top to
If, as some critics say, bottom” (Mk. 15:38). This
Jesus did no more than miraculous event signaled
faint from the pain, there the end of the Old
7
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
Testament era of animal water and blood (Jn.
sacrifice and limited access 19:34). Medical experts
to God. But that’s not all it say that if He were not
meant. It also verified already dead, this in
Jesus’ death, because it itself would have killed
demonstrated that His Him. Others have
complete sacrifice had concluded that the
satisfied God’s demands. pouring out of water
For centuries, God had and blood from His side
required the death of an was proof that Jesus was
unblemished lamb as an no longer alive.
atonement for sin. Now • When Joseph of
Jesus, the sinless Lamb of Arimathea asked for the
God, had become the new body of Christ so he and
sacrifice. The veil was no Nicodemus could bury
longer needed, for access Him, Pontius Pilate
to God had been opened to ordered a centurion to
all who would believe in verify that Jesus was
Christ. dead (Mk. 15:43-45).
The following events at The Roman governor
the site of the crucifixion would not release the
help verify that Jesus was body to Joseph until the
dead: centurion was certain
• The Roman soldiers did that all signs of life were
not break Jesus’ legs, gone. You can be sure
because they “saw that that an officer in the
He was already dead” Roman army would not
(Jn. 19:33). make a mistake about an
• The soldiers plunged a important matter like
spear into Jesus’ side, this in his report to such
and from it came both a high official as Pilate.
8
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
• Joseph and Nicodemus from coming to “steal
prepared the body for Him away” (v.64). The
burial according to Jewish leaders and the
Jewish custom. This Roman authorities knew
included wrapping it beyond a doubt that
“in a clean linen cloth” Jesus was dead.
(Mt. 27:59), anointing
the body with “a mixture
of myrrh and aloes” (Jn.
z
“[Jesus] was
19:39), and placing it crucified and
“in a tomb which had
been hewn out of the
died under
rock” (Mk. 15:46). It Pontius Pilate.
seems obvious that any He really, and
sign of life would have
been detected by these
not merely in
bereaved friends. Surely appearance, was
they would not have crucified, and
buried a breathing Jesus.
• The Pharisees and chief
died, and in the
priests met with Pilate sight of beings
to discuss what had in heaven and on
occurred. They made
such remarks as “while
earth, and under
He was still alive” (Mt. the earth . . . . He
27:63). Soldiers were also arose again
ordered to secure the
tomb with a seal. In
in 3 days.”
Ignatius, second-century
addition, guards were historian
placed on duty to
prevent the disciples z
9
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
Observation 2: on His body. But what a
THE EMPTY TOMB surprise lay ahead!
As they walked toward
the garden, they worried
aloud about who could roll
away the heavy stone so
they could go inside the
tomb and apply their
spices. But when they
arrived, they saw that the
stone had already been
The Sabbath had ended, moved! They were greeted
and Jesus’ friends could by an angel, who told them
now come to visit the tomb. that Jesus had risen.
As morning broke on the With this background
new day, the women who in mind, let’s look at the
had watched Joseph and evidence that the tomb was
Nicodemus bury Jesus empty. First, we can depend
came back to anoint His on the historical record.
body. It was Sunday now— Surely the authorities of
a somber day that, as far as Jesus’ day wanted nothing
the women knew, would be more than to have Jesus
followed by many more stay where Joseph had put
days just like it. They were Him. The mere fact that
undoubtedly resigned to a they sealed the tomb and
future of sad pilgrimages placed guards to protect
such as this one. They it—a highly unusual act—
knew of nothing else they indicated that they were
could do for their fallen determined to keep the
loved one but to grieve at body behind that stone
His tomb and to put spices barrier. Suppose they had
10
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
been able to do that. You body was. As we will see,
can be sure the Sanhedrin the evidence shows that it
and other officials would was no longer in the tomb.
have been the first to Second, there is
use the knowledge of an something even more
occupied tomb as evidence conclusive than the
officials’ inaction—
z
“The resurrection
the actions of several
eyewitnesses. The first to
proclamation could see and report the empty
tomb were the women with
not have been the spices. Mark’s account
maintained in sets the scene for us:
Jerusalem for Entering the tomb, they
saw a young man clothed
a single day, in a long white robe
for a single hour, sitting on the right side;
if the emptiness of and they were alarmed.
But he said to them, “Do
the tomb had not not be alarmed. You seek
been established Jesus of Nazareth, who
as a fact.” was crucified. He is risen!
Paul Althus He is not here” (16:5-6).

z
when the disciples began to
John and Peter were the
next to see that Jesus was
gone. When they heard the
announce to everyone that unbelievably good news
they had seen Jesus alive. from Mary and the other
Yet no historical evidence women, they raced to the
exists to suggest that those tomb. John got there first
officials knew where the but didn’t go in. Instead,
11
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
he peered through the you have one in the apostle
opening and saw the John. He was there, and he
linen wrappings that wrote down what he saw.
Jesus had left behind. That is solid historical
Characteristically, Peter evidence in anyone’s book.
was not content with a A third strong piece of
long-distance view. He evidence that the tomb was
empty is the reaction of the
z
If you need an
authorities when the guards
reported the events in the
eyewitness to garden. They wanted to
destroy the credibility
convince you that and influence of Jesus.
the tomb was Therefore, they would
empty, you have surely have been foolish
to spread the rumor that
one in John.
z
charged right into the
the disciples had stolen
the body—if Jesus were
still in the tomb. No, Jesus’
tomb and spied the linen disappearance was the sole
wrappings and the face cause for their concern.
cloth lying undisturbed Surely their collusion with
and neatly arranged. Then the guards is solid proof
John entered and saw the that there was no body
wrappings. John, it should in the tomb.
be noted, is the one who We are faced with two
wrote this account as facts. (1) Jesus died and
recorded in chapter 20 of was buried. (2) In a short
his Gospel. If you need an time, His tomb became
eyewitness to convince you empty. The question
that the tomb was empty, remains: Where was Jesus?
12
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
Observation 3: expect that they ever would
THE APPEARANCES (see Jn. 20:9).
OF JESUS Yet see Him they did!
First at the tomb. Then on
the dusty Emmaus road.
Then in the upper room.
Over and over, in different
settings, Jesus appeared to
His friends. For 40 days He
made His presence known
throughout the land. Let’s
look at who saw Jesus and
Jesus’ friends weren’t where He appeared. It’s one
looking for what they were more piece of evidence for
about to see. Although the resurrection.
they had heard and closely To Mary Magdalene
followed Jesus’ teaching for At The Tomb (Jn. 20:11-
3 years, they just never fully 18). Mary had been
understood that He was standing outside the empty
going to rise from the dead. tomb crying because, as
Therefore, they would have she said, “They have taken
had no reason to make away my Lord, and I do not
up stories in which they know where they have laid
claimed to have seen Him. Him” (v.13). His death,
To them, that wasn’t even combined with her fear that
an option. Sure, they missed His body had been stolen,
Jesus. And just as anyone had engulfed her in heart-
who has lost a loved one or wrenching despair. But
friend longs to see him, so when Jesus startled her into
also they had the desire to recognizing Him by calling
see Jesus. But they did not out, “Mary!” she rushed to
13
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
Him in joy and relief. Then they were talking about.
she ran to tell the disciples Apparently, they had been
that she had seen the Lord. discussing the death and
To Several Women entombment of Jesus,
As They Ran From because they were surprised
The Tomb (Mt. 28:9- that the stranger wasn’t
10). These women had familiar with their topic.
already heard that Jesus They said, in effect, “Do you
was alive, even though mean to say that you don’t
they had not yet seen Him. know about Jesus’ death?”
They had just left the tomb, The two then explained why
where an angel had told they were so sad—that
them that Jesus had “risen though some women had
from the dead.” When they seen the empty tomb and
saw the Lord, they “held claimed that Jesus was alive,
Him by the feet and they had not yet seen Him.
worshiped Him” (v.9). These disciples would not
Jesus told them to spread believe without seeing the
the news that He was alive evidence for themselves.
and to tell the disciples to An exciting surprise
meet Him in Galilee. awaited the pair when
To Two Disciples they arrived at Emmaus.
On The Emmaus Road The three of them stopped
(Lk. 24:13-32). Imagine the to eat, and as they ate,
drama of this scene. Two the disciples’ “eyes
disciples were walking the 7 were opened” and they
dusty miles from Jerusalem recognized that this
to Emmaus when a fellow mysterious stranger was
traveler caught up with Jesus. But before they could
them and struck up a speak again, He “vanished
conversation, asking what from their sight” (v.31).
14
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
 To Peter At An To 11 Disciples
Unknown Location In The Upper Room
(Lk. 24:33-35). In this (Jn. 20:26-31). It must
passage, we are not given have been a long week
a direct look at the meeting for Thomas. The other 10
between Peter and Jesus. disciples had met with Jesus
All we know is that when in the upper room, but he
the disciples who had been had not. Surely they had
to Emmaus returned, they spent time trying to
learned that Peter had seen convince Thomas that they
the Lord too. Imagine the really had seen Jesus. But
excitement that must have he reacted the same way
been generated in that they had when they heard
place! from the women who first
To 10 Disciples saw Jesus. They were not
In The Upper Room convinced without hard
(Lk. 24:36-43). Suddenly evidence, and Thomas
this praise meeting of the wanted the same advantage.
disciples was interrupted. Now he was about to get it.
As they sat comparing notes Jesus suddenly appeared
about the thrilling reality of to the men and said to
seeing Jesus, He suddenly Thomas, “Reach your
appeared. As might be finger here, and look at My
expected, the men were hands” (v.27). Then Thomas
startled because they believed, exclaiming, “My
thought they were seeing a Lord and my God!” (v.28).
spirit (v.37). Jesus quickly To Seven Men At
laid that idea to rest by The Sea Of Galilee
offering to have them touch (Jn. 21:1-25). Things had
His hands and feet, and by begun to return to normal
eating supper with them. for the disciples. They had
15
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
gone back to work. Some resurrection. Matthew
went on an all-night fishing wrote that the disciples
trip on the Sea of Galilee. proceeded “into Galilee, to
But the fish weren’t the mountain which Jesus
cooperating, and the men had appointed for them”
had an empty boat. As (28:16). There He met
daylight broke over the with the Eleven, and
water, they saw a man probably some others.
standing on the shore, Perhaps this included the
shouting advice to them. “500 brethren” mentioned
The seven seamen did what in 1 Corinthians 15:6.
He suggested and nearly What is significant is
capsized their boat with all that even though the Eleven
the fish they dragged ashore. worshiped Jesus when they
When John informed saw Him, “some doubted”
Peter, “It is the Lord!” (Mt. 28:17). Although it is
(Jn. 21:7), Peter jumped in possible that a few of these
and swam to shore. When men were still doubting
they all arrived on the Jesus’ resurrection, it is
beach, they saw that more probable that the
Jesus had prepared a hot skeptics were disciples who
breakfast of fish and bread didn’t have the advantage
for them. Jesus then offered of touching Jesus and eating
to cook a few of the fish with Him. They would
they had just caught. naturally have been more
To 11 Disciples hesitant to believe that this
On A Mountain was the same man who had
(Mt. 28:16-20). This is been crucified a few weeks
the first planned meeting before. Yet the fact that
between the disciples and doubters are mentioned
Jesus recorded after the shows that the disciple
16
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
who wrote the account was Observation 4:
not afraid to talk about the THE REACTION
skepticism of some of the OF THE JEWISH
observers. OFFICIALS
To His Disciples
Near Bethany (Acts
1:9-12). The final
appearance of Jesus to
His disciples ended with His
disappearance. As He stood
talking with them about the
command He had just given
them to be His witnesses,
“He was taken up, and a A Roman soldier was no
cloud received Him out of coward. He was a specially
their sight” (v.9). This turned trained, tough-minded, well-
out to be a commencement equipped warrior. But notice
of sorts for the disciples. Just the reaction of the soldiers
a few weeks earlier, they had who were protecting Jesus’
been a disheartened group tomb when they felt the
whose leader was dead. earth move and saw an
Now they were enthusiastic angel roll back the stone
evangelists. They “returned (Mt. 28:2). They “shook for
to Jerusalem with great joy” fear of him, and became like
(Lk. 24:52), and “they dead men” (v.4).
went out and preached They probably realized
everywhere” (Mk. 16:20). that they had more to be
The evidence was clear. afraid of than an angel.
Jesus was alive. Now their Their training told them
job was to go and tell that keeping watch was
people about it. an important commission.
17
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
They knew that various The soldiers must have
punishments were handed done what they were told,
out to soldiers who couldn’t for Matthew commented
stay awake on guard duty. that the story begun by
Sometimes they were those chief priests was
beaten; other times they “commonly reported
were set afire. Most of the among the Jews until this
time they were executed. day” (v.15). Devised in
These brave, well-armed the face of the fact of the
men had no way to stop the resurrection, this fabrication
angel, so they had double stayed alive for many years
reason to be afraid. among those who refused to
But look what they believe that Jesus had risen.
did next. They turned It wouldn’t have taken
themselves in! Facing sure much effort to refute their
punishment, they still felt story. First, if the disciples
that they must report this had indeed been able to
amazing event to their steal the body of Jesus,
superiors. Once they had how would the guards
spilled their story to the have known that it was
chief priests and elders, they who had stolen it?
their fears turned to relief. Didn’t the story go, “while
The officials, realizing that we slept”? Second, it seems
sending Jesus to His death preposterous that a group of
had not accomplished their men could have sneaked up
purpose, decided to concoct on highly trained, albeit
a story. They bribed the slumbering, soldiers without
soldiers to spread the news waking them. And then to
that “His disciples came at think that they could have
night and stole Him away moved the stone, unwrapped
while we slept” (v.13). 100 pounds of graveclothes,
18
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
folded them neatly, lifted the tried to explain to them
body, and carried it away what would happen in the
while the soldiers slept is days ahead, they often
even more ridiculous. misunderstood. When He
Yes, the officials knew asked some of them to stay
that Jesus had risen. Their with Him during His all-
reaction proves it. Their night prayer vigil, they kept
bribe verifies it. And their falling asleep. When He
hastily concocted story talked of servanthood,
authenticates it. they argued about their own
greatness. When He tried to
Observation 5: tell them that He would be
THE OUTLOOK OF raised up after 3 days, they
JESUS’ DISCIPLES didn’t get it.
On the night Jesus was
arrested, the disciples ran
for their lives. Peter couldn’t
even stand up to a servant
girl when she identified him
as a friend of Jesus. The
disciples just didn’t seem
like the men of action you
would need if you wanted
Sometimes you have to to win a following and
wonder about the disciples. influence the world.
They certainly didn’t seem But something happened
to be the kind of men you to change all that. What
would recruit if you wanted would change a cowardly
to promote a revolutionary group of mourners into
concept. a courageous band of
For instance, when Jesus evangelists who were
19
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
willing to stand up and understood for sure that
testify that the crucified Jesus planned to rise from
Jesus was alive? What the dead, why would they
changed them into willing break out of their anonymity
martyrs for their faith? with such a far-fetched
Some would say that scheme? And why would
the disciples had nothing they record their fabrication
stronger to spur them on in the Gospel accounts,
than a story they had made complete with details?
up. But can you imagine
what it would take to
believe this? Just picture
z
“Nothing less
Peter standing up before than a witness as
the disciples, who had
remained safely hidden
awesome as the
behind locked doors after resurrected Christ
Jesus’ death for fear of their could have caused
lives, and saying, “Well, the
entire weight of the Roman
those men to
government was just used maintain to their
to put Jesus to death by dying whispers that
crucifixion. Even though He
is still dead, we are going to
Jesus is alive.”
Charles Colson
start a rumor that He isn’t.
We are going to say that He
rose from the tomb and that
z
A fictional story can’t
we all saw Him.” possibly account for the
Did they make up the changes in the disciples.
story? If so, why would Take, for instance,
they later risk their lives for the transformation
nothing? If they hadn’t even of Thomas. Of all the
20
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
disciples, he seemed the seen Jesus, he saw the
least likely to be convinced. Savior face to face. Finally,
His pessimism was first Thomas was convinced. His
revealed earlier, when Jesus statement “My Lord and my
mentioned His plans to go God!” (Jn. 20:28) is the
to Bethany where Lazarus ultimate proclamation of
had just died. Thomas had belief in Jesus’ resurrection.
suggested to his fellow Here was victory that could
disciples, “Let us also go, be won only through hard
that we may die with Him” evidence. It’s the only thing
(Jn. 11:16). Although this that could have changed
statement suggests a degree this skeptic into a believer.
of courage, it also implies No, the disciples were
that Thomas was resigned not the type of men who
to martyrdom. If that was could have lived a lie as
his typical response, it is no far-reaching as one that
wonder he responded to the claimed a dead man wasn’t
disciples’ claim that they dead anymore. They might
had seen Jesus after His have misunderstood Jesus
death by saying, “Unless I on occasion, but they were
see . . . I will not believe” basically honest men. They
(Jn. 20:25). Does this sound had no reason to devise
like someone who is willing such a scheme, and they
to rekindle the anger of the didn’t have the courage it
Roman officials by claiming would take to defend such
that Jesus was alive if He a bald-faced lie. Peter would
really wasn’t? never have been hanged
Now look at Thomas upside down for a trumped-
a week later. In the upper up story. Mark would not
room, surrounded by his have been dragged through
10 friends who had already the streets to his death if he
21
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
had been defending fiction. church that began less than
James would not have been 2 months after Jesus’ death
beheaded for a falsehood. is the result of something
Thomas wouldn’t have been more significant than His
pierced with a lance for a great sayings, parables,
lie. Yet tradition says that and philosophies. It began
these men died the horrible because a group of people in
deaths just described. What Jerusalem testified that they
a testimony to the truth of saw Jesus alive after He had
their claims! They were been killed. Without the
willing to die for the One faith of those resurrection
who overcame death for witnesses and the new faith
them—and for us! of those who believed their
testimony about it, there
Observation 6: would be no Christian
THE START OF church today.
THE CHRISTIAN Let’s see what the people
CHURCH were told when they were
first given the opportunity to
embrace this new faith. This
will help us to see what
caused the church to take
hold in the first century.
Standing before people
from all over the Roman
Empire, including many
from Jerusalem, Peter
The Christian church was described Jesus as the One
not born nor does it exist “God raised up” (Acts 2:24).
today on the basis of Jesus’ He also said, “This Jesus
life and teachings. The God has raised up, of
22
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
which we are all witnesses” the crucified Christ was
(v.32). As a result of this alive. That was the essence
clear, straightforward of his message. And that
message, 3,000 people was the only message the
believed Peter and were Christian church needed to
baptized that very day. catch fire. For 2,000 years,
In a later sermon, this it’s been the driving force
man who had earlier denied behind the church.
that he knew Jesus now
called Him the “Prince of Observation 7:
life, whom God raised from THE EXPECTATION
the dead” (Acts 3:15). After OF CHRIST’S
hearing of Peter’s testimony, RETURN
the rulers and priests in
Jerusalem put him on trial.
Even when he faced the
wrath of the religious
leaders, Peter stood by
his story that “the God
of our fathers raised up
Jesus whom you murdered
by hanging on a tree”
(Acts 5:30). One of the most important
These are the kinds of activities of the early church
statements that led to the was to share in what we
start of the church. No one now call the communion
could hedge on the reason service. It was a time to
for Peter’s fervor. He was remember Jesus’ death and
not preaching a creed nor to reflect on His sacrifice.
advocating a philosophy. It was a time of celebration.
He was telling people that But what would the early
23
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
Christian have had to where I am, there you
celebrate if Jesus were still may be also (Jn. 14:3).
dead? These people were Paul emphasized the
living in Jesus’ generation. same theme when he said:
They would have known if Our citizenship is in
the resurrection story were heaven, from which we
not true. Yet they listened also eagerly wait for the
and obeyed when Paul Savior, the Lord Jesus
said: Christ (Phil. 3:20).
As often as you eat this And John said:
bread and drink this cup, Behold, He is coming with
you proclaim the Lord’s clouds, and every eye will
death till He comes see Him (Rev. 1:7).
(1 Cor. 11:26). Without the resurrection,
This verse makes it these claims would all be
obvious that the first-century useless, frivolous,
believers were eagerly unfounded lies. No one
awaiting Jesus’ return. They would dare predict such an
could not have believed in event as Jesus’ return if He
His second coming without were in fact lying in a tomb,
first knowing that He was or if His body had been
alive. Otherwise, how would taken away and hidden.
He be able to come back? No, John and Paul knew
This idea that Jesus exactly what had transpired
would return to be with His on that resurrection day.
people again was taught What would have been
throughout the New the purpose of telling
Testament. Jesus Himself about His return if they
taught it when He said: were harboring the
I will come again and knowledge of a dead
receive you to Myself; that Jesus?
24
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
WHAT THE Jesus’ body? Who was it
OPPOSITION who appeared to all those
people later? How did the
SAYS disciples sneak past the

A
premise that cannot guards? Why would an
stand up against angel lie about the reason
opposing views is for the tomb being empty?
not worthy of our trust. THEORY: The
Therefore, it is only fair authorities took
that we mention some of the body. Knowing
the theories that have been that the disciples had an
proposed to explain away unusual interest in Jesus,
the resurrection. Looking the authorities—both
carefully at the logic of governmental and
these ideas, we will be able religious—made sure
to see how they fare when they would not see Him
stacked up against the again. They opened the
evidence already presented. tomb and took the body.
THEORY: The body OBJECTIONS:
was stolen from the Why didn’t the authorities
tomb. In this theory, the produce it to disprove the
disciples are the culprits. claims of Peter and
They sneaked up to the others just a few weeks
stone, rolled it away, and later? What turned the
walked off with Jesus’ body. disheartened disciples into
That’s why it wasn’t there fiery proponents of a new
when the women, John, and cause if they had not seen
Peter arrived at the tomb on Jesus again?
the first day of the week. THEORY: Jesus’
OBJECTIONS: Why friends went to the
would the disciples want wrong tomb. It had
25
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
been a terrifying week for notice that Jesus wasn’t
the disciples and the others dead when he wrapped
who had grown so close to Him in linen? How did
Jesus. Therefore they Jesus, who had been nearly
became disoriented and dead just days before, push
went to the wrong grave. away the stone and walk
That’s why they found an about town in perfectly
empty tomb. good health?
OBJECTIONS: THEORY: Jesus’
Whose graveclothes did friends saw
John and Peter find? hallucinations. The
What was an angel doing resurrection makes a nice
at someone else’s gravesite? story, says this theory, but
Is it possible that they all the disciples never saw any
forgot their directions at of the things they thought
the same time? they saw. In fact, some say,
THEORY: Jesus they hallucinated, seeing
only fainted. This theory images in their minds that
says that Jesus didn’t die on corresponded with what
the cross. Instead, He fell they wanted to see.
into a deep swoon. Then, OBJECTIONS:
when He was placed in the Is there evidence that
tomb, He was revived by suggests that 11 people
the cool, damp air. That can hallucinate the same
explains His later image? How about 500
appearances. simultaneous, identical
OBJECTIONS: hallucinations? Can people
What caused the soldiers drag out hallucinations over
to misinterpret the evidence 7 weeks, in many locations,
and certify that Jesus was and under various
dead? Why didn’t Joseph circumstances?
26
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
ALL THE few days off because
SAVIOR’S MEN President Nixon was in Key
Biscayne, Florida. My phone
Former presidential counsel that was connected to the
Charles Colson tells how his White House rang. It was
Watergate experience can John Erlichmann. He told
be used to support the me that some burglars had
testimony of the first-century broken into the Democratic
men who said they saw the National Headquarters in
resurrected Jesus. Washington. I started

H
ow do we know laughing hysterically
that Jesus was because I thought to myself,
resurrected? “Of all the ridiculous places
We have the eyewitness for anybody to break into
accounts of the 11 apostles in Washington, DC.”
who were with Him and, of I went away from that
course, the apostle Paul who phone call shaking my head
saw Him. They were with and feeling a little despair.
Him before His crucifixion I thought, “Now we have a
and for the 40 days between campaign issue, but it will
His resurrection and His go away after the election.”
ascension. They lived for as Well, as you know, it didn’t!
long as 40 years thereafter, The log showed that in
never once denying that the months immediately
they had seen Jesus raised following the 1972 election,
from the dead. I was with President Nixon
What does that have to more than any other aide.
do with Watergate? I’ll tell Watergate never came up.
you. In June 1972, I was We first started to discuss it
home on a weekend with my in February 1973, when the
wife and children. We had a Ervin hearings started. On
27
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
March 21, 1973, John Dean New York Times. Everybody
walked into the Oval Office started to scramble for
and said, “Mr. President, cover. The Watergate
there is a cancer growing coverup was actually
on your presidency.” That’s over because Mr. Nixon’s
the first time the President presidency was doomed.
really knew there was a Now, if you stop and figure
conspiracy in the White it out, you will see that the
House. That’s the first time Watergate coverup actually
it became a criminal act lasted 3 weeks or less—from
inside the White House. March 21 to April 8, 1973.
John Dean’s memoirs Now put yourself in our
record that 3 days after that position. Here we were, the
meeting in the Oval Office 12 most powerful men in
he began to get nervous the United States. All the
about his own role. That’s power of government was at
when he hired a lawyer. On our fingertips, but we could
April 8, Dean went to the not keep a lie together for 3
prosecutors to bargain for weeks. The most powerful
immunity so that he would men in the world could not
not be prosecuted. In turn, hold on to a lie. So weak is
he would testify against the man that we couldn’t do it.
President. Later, he said, Are you going to tell
“I did it to save my own me that those powerless
skin.” When he went to the apostles who were outcasts
prosecutors to bargain for in their own land could be
immunity, it was all over. stoned, persecuted, and
Then the other aides beaten, some for 40 years,
started to go in. I took a never once denying that
lie detector test, and my Jesus was raised from the
lawyers leaked it to the dead? Impossible, humanly
28
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
impossible—unless they survived the persecution
had seen the risen Christ of the apostles and the
face to face. Otherwise, the purge of the first-century
apostle Peter would have believers who were cast by
the thousands to the lions
z
“Here we were,
for refusing to renounce
Christ? Is it not probable
that at least one apostle
the 12 most would have “confessed”
powerful men in rather than being beheaded
the United States. or stoned? Is it not likely
that some “smoking gun”
All the power of document might have been
government was produced exposing the
at our fingertips, “Passover plot”? Surely
one of the conspirators
but we could not would have made a deal.
keep a lie together If Jesus was raised
for 3 weeks.” from the dead, as I am
Charles Colson absolutely, intellectually
z positive that He was—and
the evidence of history is
been just another John overwhelming—it’s not
Dean. He’d have gone in only a matter of faith
to turn state’s evidence. but a matter of deepest
He had already done it intellectual conviction.
three times.
Is it likely, then, that a
Taken from a speech by
deliberate coverup, a plot to Charles Colson and from his
perpetuate a lie about the book Loving God, Zondervan,
resurrection, could have ©1983.
29
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
WHY IS THIS SO history. The Civil War.
IMPORTANT? The Fall of the Bastille.
The American Revolution.

T
hink of the key The discovery of the New
world events of World. The invention of the
the last couple of printing press. The signing
decades. The fall of the of the Magna Carta. The
Berlin Wall. The Persian Battle of Hastings. The
Gulf War. The conflict Fall of the Roman Empire.
in Bosnia. The El Niño Each of these events had
weather events. The extraordinary historical
terrorist destruction of significance. But none of
New York’s Twin Towers them has the kind of
and attack on the Pentagon. monumental, worldwide,
Or go back to an eternal effects that one
earlier era. Watergate. The event almost 2,000 years
oil crisis of the 70s. The ago claims to have. This
Vietnam War. Man landing event? The resurrection
on the moon. Perhaps of Jesus Christ.
you’ve been around long The Bible says that God
enough to recall the came to earth as a man to
assassination of President pay the penalty of death
Kennedy. Hiroshima. The for the sins of the world
Holocaust. Pearl Harbor. (Jn. 1:1-29; Rom. 6:23).
Whatever comes to mind, But the Bible also says that
you can be sure of this: No if Jesus did not overpower
event in the last 100 years death’s grip to escape that
has affected every human cold, rocky tomb, He would
on earth—no matter where not be able to provide us
he or she lives. with victory over death
Now think back through (1 Cor. 15:12-19).
30
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
 The implications of the because He has
resurrection of Jesus Christ appointed a day on
which He will judge the
z
“If Jesus is, as the
world in righteousness by
the Man whom He has
resurrection asserts, ordained. He has given
assurance of this to all by
God Himself who raising Him from the
has come to our dead (Acts 17:30-31).
rescue, then to According to the Bible,
the eternal destiny of every
reject Him, or even human is at stake. Because
to neglect Him, is of what Jesus did, each of
sheer folly. That is us has two choices. We can
live forever under God’s
why Jesus is not, blessing in heaven, or we
never has been, can be separated from Him
and never can be eternally in the torment of
hell. It all depends on our
just one among the response to Jesus’
religious leaders resurrection.
of mankind.” Our destiny is in God’s
Michael Green hands. He alone must be

z
must be considered
satisfied. Not scientists.
Not philosophers. Not
educators. That’s why
honestly. Everything what you believe about the
depends on it. Here is resurrection is a matter of
what Paul said: eternal life or eternal death.
[God] commands all
men everywhere to repent,
31
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
IT’S YOUR in a prison called hell.
DECISION Why? You are the
defendant. You have

P
erhaps the most been charged with sin
tense moment in a (Rom. 3:23), and you
courtroom trial is the face a sentence that is
reading of the verdict. irreversible (Rom. 6:23).
The judge calls on the But here’s the switch.
jury foreman as he stands You are also the jury. You
nervously before the jury, get to make the decision
the judge, the gallery, the based on the evidence.
lawyers, and the defendant. So now it is time to
No sound is heard except make your decision. Do
the wrinkle of paper as he you believe that Jesus died
unfolds the jury’s decision. as a sacrifice for your sins?
With hesitation in his Do you believe that He
voice, he reveals to the rose from that garden tomb
breathless crowd the fate to prove His deity and to
of the accused. establish Himself as the
After reading the only mediator between
evidence in this book, God and you?
you too stand ready for a It’s your choice. You’ve
decision. But the Judge who read the evidence. You’ve
awaits your choice is not a seen the historicity of the
fellow human who has Bible’s claims. Are you
worked his way to the ready to put your faith in
bench. The One who Jesus? Are you willing to
wants to know your accept His gift to you? He
decision has the authority is waiting for your answer.
to sentence you to an
eternity of confinement
32
© RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.
Get your free Bible
Resources catalog!
Discovery Series
booklets can be
valuable guides to
help you learn what
the Bible says about a
broad range of topics.
Each 32-page booklet
can be used in your
personal Bible study
or in a small-group
setting.

Your free Bible

Resources catalog
includes a brief
description of each Discovery Series booklet.
To get your copy, write to us at the address below
and ask for a catalog. Or follow the link below to
request your copy today.

www.discoveryseries.org/catalog
USA: PO Box 2222, Grand Rapids, MI 49501-2222
Canada: Box 1622, Windsor, ON N9A 6Z7