1. The Empty Tomb
Why was Jesus’ tomb empty?
Did the disciples steal Jesus' body? The tomb was guarded by soldiers, making it impossible for the body to be stolen. Moreover, the disciples had fled in fear when Jesus was crucified—why would they then risk their lives to steal His body?
Did the women go to the wrong tomb? The women had personally witnessed Jesus’ burial. Both the disciples and the Pharisees knew the tomb's location. Jesus was not buried in a public cemetery but in Joseph’s private tomb, and Joseph would not have mistaken the location.
Did Jesus not die but only faint? Roman crucifixion was extremely brutal. Jesus was flogged, nailed to the cross for hours, and finally pierced in the side by a soldier. The Roman soldiers, the centurion, Joseph, and the Jews all confirmed His death. His body was tightly wrapped in burial cloths with about 100 pounds of spices. The tomb was sealed with a large stone. If Jesus had only fainted, how could He have escaped in such a weakened state?
All these facts lead to one conclusion: Jesus truly died and rose again!
2. Jesus’Appearances After Resurrection
Were Jesus’ appearances just hallucinations?
Jesus appeared to many people, including the eleven apostles, Paul, Mary, two men on the road to Emmaus, and even to over 500 people at once. Could all these people have hallucinated the same thing?
Jesus appeared in various occasions—inside a locked room, on the road, by the lake, and on a mountain—at different times of the day. Hallucinations do not occur in such diverse circumstances.
Jesus interact with people. After His resurrection, Jesus ate, walked, and talked with people. He invited Thomas to touch His wounds. His presence was real and tangible, not an illusion.
For 40 days. Jesus appeared for 40 days after His resurrection and then ascended to heaven. If Jesus’ appearances were mere hallucinations, why did they suddenly cease after 40 days? Clearly, Jesus' resurrection was a real event.
3. The Transformation of the Disciples
The disciples' radical transformation proves Jesus’ resurrection:
Peter – Once afraid and denied Jesus three times, but after the resurrection, he became a bold leader of the church, preaching fearlessly and ultimately dying as a martyr.
Thomas – Initially doubted the resurrection, but after seeing Jesus’ wounds, he became a firm believer and spread the gospel courageously, even facing martyrdom.
James – Jesus’ brother, who had once doubted Him, became a pillar of the church after witnessing the risen Christ and was eventually stoned to death because of Him.
Paul – Once a fierce persecutor of Christians, he encountered the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and was completely transformed. Despite immense suffering, he boldly preached the gospel and was martyred in Rome.
Among Jesus’ twelve apostles, nearly all fearlessly faced persecution and martyrdom for proclaiming the gospel. Throughout history, countless missionaries have given their lives to testify to the living Christ. Their transformed lives testify to a great truth—Jesus Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised from the dead.
Dear friend, would you like to know this Savior who died and rose again for you?
