By the Numbers

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Christ's Historical Resurrection.

                         Christ's Historical Resurrection

If Jesus never arose from the dead, biblical Christianity is a myth, a deception, a lie! Then, there's no reason to believe Jesus incarnate is our God and Savior. No reason to believe the New Testament. No objective or empirical reason to believe life exists after death. No objective reason to believe in heaven, hell, or judgment. No reason to believe in any absolute wrong or sin--only conflicting human opinions leading to chaos and tyranny. And we humans have no great value, dignity or purpose. Whoever gets or whatever has the greater power can eliminate us. These are serious issues we need to fully understand in our own minds and hearts. Consider the following.
.  
Can Honest Thinking Persons Believe Jesus Is Our Risen Lord? The resurrection is among the best historically documented events. Philosopher Bertrand Russell doubted Jesus' existence which only showed his anti-Christian prejudice. Consider these important  facts upon which both believing and unbelieving historians agree.
.
1. Both historians agree that people of Jerusalem knew Jesus' burial cite and could have prevented Christianity simply by producing Jesus' dead body. For good or ill, all Jerusalem at Passover was alerted as to who Jesus was claimed to be. The superscription above his cross in three languages read: This is Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. The  Jewish authorities protested to Governor Pilate to no avail. Pilate even allowed Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man, disciple of Jesus, and member of the ruling Jewish council (Sanhedrin) to bury Jesus nearby in his own new tomb. Joseph was no disciples invention. Mention of his name and tomb site was well known. Hostile persons would quickly discredit such a claim if false.
.
Further, both Jewish and Roman authorities testify that the tomb was found empty on the third day after Jesus' crucifixion (Matt. 28:11-14). The chief priests invented the story that Jesus' disciples at night stole his body while the soldiers slept and bribed them to tell the Roman authorities. This lie shows  both that the tomb was empty and that Jesus' disciples could freely preach his resurrection throughout Jerusalem and on throughout the world. All the hostile authorities had to do to prevent Christian beginnings was produce Jesus' body, but they could not. Their deafening silence against  Jesus' resurrection and his being Israel's Messiah, God's Son, and our Savior is really strange--that is unless it's true!
.
2. Both agree that the transformed lives of Jesus' disciples requires explanation. The disciples fled during Jesus' trial, cringed in fear and despair in the upper room. But three days after his crucifixion these cringing cowards became courageous preachers. Why? They knew this message could bring them suffering, persecution, even tortures death. Ten of the remaining apostles were killed and John was exiled and persecuted until his death. Would they have undergone all that for what they knew was a lie? Then a risen Jesus is the most reasonable explanation possible. And since millions more have given their lives for the Jesus they love, say truly loves them, and assures them of eternal life.
.
3. Both agree there was a massive transformation of Jews becoming Christians. Jews of Jesus' day were strict monotheists. They knew their history and warnings from Moses and the prophets that when they forsook their God things didn't go well for them (Deut. 28). They were God's uniquely chosen people with the one true religion. They alone were given God's covenants, laws, temple, and sacrificial system--it was all taught them from childhood and was not likely given up easily. But suddenly and freely, thousands of priests and people abandoned basic tenets and practices of their faith. They began worshipping on the first day of the week, the day Jesus is said to have been raised from the dead. They abandoned temple sacrifices believing Jesus was the real sacrificial Lamb without blemish to take away their sins forever. They no longer felt obligated to fulfill the law being declared just and forgiven by faith in Christ.  What other possible explanation can explain this but the risen Christ as their promised Messiah and Lord?
.
4. Both agree that the church from its beginning preached the resurrected Christ.  On the Day of Pentecost just fifty days after Passover, the church was born of the Holy Spirit. Peter addressed the men of Israel with these words: "Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know--Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have by wicked hands, have crucified, and put to death whom God raised up" (Acts 2:22-23). Peter further mentions that King David predicted Christ's resurrection (verses 31-32; Ps. 16:10). At the conclusion of Peter's sermon three thousand souls were saved and the church began and continued in the apostles doctrine, fellowship, and prayer. But there are many other predictions of Jesus' resurrection we need to notice.
.  
Old Testament predictions of Israel's Messiah were fulfilled in Jesus. Isaiah 53,  written 700 B.C.,  predicted Messiah would be innocent, rejected, silent before accusers, beat with strips, tried, imprisoned, die with sinners, for sinners, to justify many, and be buried with the rich.  Such things can't speak of Israel but of Israel's Messiah, and can only apply to the historical Jesus.
 .
Jesus progressively predicted his own death and resurrection. He said, destroy this temple and he will raise it up (John. 2:18-22). He will be in the earth as Jonah was in belly of the fish three days (Matt. 12:38-40). He will voluntary lay his life down and take it up again (John 10:18). He will be betrayed, killed, and raised from the dead (Matt. 17:22-23). The chief priest, scribes, Gentiles will scourge and crucify him, but he will be raised third day (Matt. 20:18-19). Jesus would be a  liar and false prophet if things didn't happen exactly as he predicted.
.  
Jesus fulfilled the Psalms predictions of Messiah. Jesus told disciples on road to Emmaus that the Scriptures spoke of him (Luke 24:44-49).   Messiah will be betrayed by a friend (Psalm 41:9). Forsaken by God (22:1).  Hands and feet pierced (22:16). Soldiers will gamble for his clothes (22:18). No bones broken (34:20). Given vinegar and gall (69:21). Betrayer replaced (109:8).  Be resurrected (16:10). Ascend to heaven (68:18). These details were written centuries before Jesus. There is no such predictions like this in other religions. Chances of these predictions of Messiah being fulfilled by accident  are simply impossible. They plainly show Jesus alone is Israel's Messiah. And when Jesus returns Israel will accept him (Romans 11:25-27).
.
Recent Theories to Refute Jesus' Resurrection. Former theories are shown ridiculous by both believers and skeptics. Let me mention some of the theories attempting to explain away Jesus' resurrection--swoon theory, wrong tomb theory, somebody stole the body theory, hallucination theory, apostles fraud theory, telegram from heaven theory. These theories have been shown impossible by Christians, honest atheists, and skeptics who in examining the evidence became Christians. They are attempts of desperation. Now let me briefly discuss some recent ones equally absurd.
 .
Recent theories are shown equally absurd. John Dominic Crossan eaten by dogs theory. Jesus' body was thrown into a shallow grave and later dug up and eaten by wild dogs. There's nothing to support this  but his bias against Christianity and his wild imagination. He is a member of the Jesus Seminar, a group of atheists and skeptical professors who meet to decide how much of the Bible they can believe. They are out of the mainstream of Bible scholarship, but write books and quote each other as experts who they claim prove Christian faith false.
.
Muhammad mentions a substitution theory (Sura 4:157).  Historians  don't believe the angel Gabriel revealed this to Muhammad. Only Muslims do who are taught it from childhood and aren't allowed to think or read otherwise. It is that Jesus, the son of Mary and Apostle of God, never died on the cross as someone was crucified in Jesus' place. Some say perhaps Judas or Simon of Cyrene. Then Allah took Jesus to heaven. This theory is not really new but newly considered since Islam is again seeking to force other nations to submit to its religion, government and law.
.
The facts are that Jesus' mother, Apostle John, and others who knew him well saw him die on the cross. The Jewish and Roman authorizes made certain it was Jesus who died and was buried in Joseph's tomb. Three days later Jesus appeared to his disciples for forty days under all kinds of circumstances eating with them and talking of the kingdom of God (Acts 1:1-3). And five hundred persons later saw Jesus alive (1 Cor. 15). See also articles: Jesus' Resurrection Is Humanity's Only Hope!; Is There Life After Death?; Did Jesus Arise from the Tomb?
.
As mentioned in the introduction, there can hardly be any more serious issues facing humanity. So much of human well-being depends upon Jesus dying for our sins on the cross and arising from the dead. Not only is there excellent evidence for it but it is the very basis of human dignity, value, morality, rationality, life now and promise of Heaven later. No other world view can compare with the risen Lord Jesus Christ who promises life eternal. Won't you say, Lord, I trust you this minute to forgive my sin, come into my life as my Savior, Lord, and Guide to live according to your will from now to eternity. Praise God!! Thank You, my Lord.

1 comment:

  1. These articles help Christians, non-Christians. In Christ we have a real basis for faith, love, life, dignity, freedom & Heaven found nowhere else. Be diligent in telling others about them. Some use the computer for the devil. Let's use it for God.

    ReplyDelete

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.