HOW DO WE KNOW JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD?
KEY POINTS
- Bible is clear that Jesus died, was buried and raised back to life.
- Outside of the disciples, over 500 witnesses saw Jesus after the crucifixion.
- There are also outside biblical accounts of Jesus' life and resurrection.
This is one of the most important questions someone can ask. Christianity hinges on the fact that Jesus rose from the grave. It solidifies and certifies that Jesus was who he said he was. It validates his entire ministry and gives believers certainty of the atoning work on the cross which paid for our sins and gives us salvation.
But If there is no resurrection then scripture says “Let us drink for tomorrow we die”. But how do we know the resurrection is true? We will start with the Bible and then move into what history and historians say about this event.
But what does the bible say about the resurrection of Christ?
John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
Luke 24:1-11 - On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:6 - Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
Scripture is clear that Jesus died, was buried, and raised back to life.
There are also outside biblical accounts of Jesus' life and resurrection such as Tacitus, Pliny the Younger to the Roman Emperor Trajan, and Herodotus.
But at the end of the day, believing Jesus as the Messiah is going to require a step of faith. Thankfully as christians we can have reasonable faith in the resurrection of Jesus.
But If there is no resurrection then scripture says “Let us drink for tomorrow we die”. But how do we know the resurrection is true? We will start with the Bible and then move into what history and historians say about this event.
But what does the bible say about the resurrection of Christ?
John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.
Luke 24:1-11 - On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 - Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:6 - Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
Scripture is clear that Jesus died, was buried, and raised back to life.
There are also outside biblical accounts of Jesus' life and resurrection such as Tacitus, Pliny the Younger to the Roman Emperor Trajan, and Herodotus.
But at the end of the day, believing Jesus as the Messiah is going to require a step of faith. Thankfully as christians we can have reasonable faith in the resurrection of Jesus.
BIBLICAL REFERENCES
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. John 11:25
The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again. Then they remembered his words. Luke 24:1-11
For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:6
1 Corinthians 15:6
TRUE NORTH COLLEGE COURSE
New Testament Survey | Biblical Studies 101
A general survey of the New Testament covering the Gospels, the book of Acts, the Pauline Epistles and Hebrews, the General Epistles, and the book of Revelation. Special attention will be given to the key issues and teachings of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount with a focus on the sermon’s Beatitudes.
Doctrine of Salvation & the Church | Biblical Studies 114
A systematic study of the doctrine of salvation (soteriology) and the doctrine of the Church (ecclesiology). Special attention will be given to the plan of redemption and the contents of the gospel message as it is seen in the incarnation, life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus Christ. Special emphasis will be on the nature and working of the kingdom of God. The Gospels and Jesus’ teachings will serve as the specific source of the study.