Jesus' Resurrection: What Should Convince Even the Biggest Doubters That It Is True
People who are out to discredit Christianity have long been trying to raise doubts on the faith's primary foundation: the resurrection of Jesus.
They claim, among others, that the story of Jesus' resurrection was made up by the people close to Him, and that He did not literally rise from the grave.
Renowned Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias offers a devastating answer to these doubters that could turn even the most recalcitrant of them into believers if they only open their minds.
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He said there is just one striking detail that they have to bear mind. "If Jesus were just posturing, pretending to be some messianic figure, do you know what he would've really said? 'You kill me, and I will spiritually rise again.' How do you falsify that?" he said, as quoted by Faithwire.
But Jesus didn't say that. Instead, He said, "I will bodily rise again," Zacharias pointed out.
Based on that statement, Jesus' resurrection could be proven untrue if it didn't actually happen. But His physical resurrection did happen—with plenty of witnesses to attest to that fact.
"I think that claim alone of Jesus Christ shows the legitimacy of where He was coming from; otherwise the whole thing would've literally died with his crucifixion. But, his resurrection changed history, ultimately conquered Rome, and the transformation of Saul of Tarsus to Paul, and the change of the apostle Thomas. Saul went west, Thomas went east. Remarkable transformation because of the evidence of the resurrection from the dead," Zacharias said.
In the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries website, the Christian apologist also points out that "no other worldview or religion is founded upon a living founder" except Christianity.
"Buddhists do not and cannot claim that Buddha rose from the dead. The same applies for Muslims. Tradition says Muhammad died June 8 in AD632, and guess what? He's still dead," Zacharias says.
"Christians have no tomb to venerate or such pilgrimage to make. Christians believe their founder is alive and well and still in charge of everything. Jesus is the only one who is still able to care for his followers," he continues.
Jonathan Morrow, another Christian apologist, also provides a compelling reason to believe in the resurrection of Jesus.
Quoting the apostle Paul in Corinthians 15, Morrow says, "Look, you can test this: if the Resurrection didn't happen, Christianity is false. Whether you believe it or not, whether you're sincere about it, if the Resurrection didn't happen, Christianity's false—go to the next religion," as quoted by CBN News.
Morrow, the author of "Questioning the Bible," cites at least three historical facts that prove the resurrection of Jesus did happen.
First, "there was an empty tomb three days after Jesus' body had been placed in it, though it had been constantly guarded by Roman soldiers";
Second, "Jesus appeared to hundreds of people in numerous places for almost seven weeks after His crucifixion".
Third, "something huge did happen to suddenly and forever turn all the cowering, cowardly disciples into bold believers, proclaiming a risen Messiah they were willing to be tortured and die for."
