Bible Basics

Overwhelming Evidence

Early on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb of Jesus. Seeing that the stone had been rolled away she ran and told Peter and John. They then ran to the tomb only to find the burial clothes there but the body gone. What had occurred was exactly what Jesus said would happen: He had risen from the dead! (see John 20) Many theories have been advanced attempting to show the resurrection of Christ as a fraud. But the direct evidence is far to strong and clearly refutes all of these theories. Consider for instance, the eyewitness testimony of those who saw the risen Christ. Paul refers to this eyewitness testimony pointing out that Peter and the apostles had seen Him. “After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present” (1 Cor. 15:5-6). By reminding the Corinthians that most of these 500 people were still alive, Paul invites a cross examination of their testimony. The fact is, if these 500 witnesses who saw Jesus alive after His death and burial were placed in a courtroom and given only six minutes to testify concerning what they saw, including cross examination, you would have an amazing 50 hours of eyewitness testimony. Add to this the testimony of many other eyewitnesses and you have overwhelming direct evidence of Christ’s resurrection.

                                                                                                               -- Clark Dugger

Bible Basics