Reason 5 of 13
They saw Him risen, and it changed everything
Individuals and groups were convinced they had met the risen Jesus. Frightened men who had fled at His arrest became bold witnesses who would not stop preaching it, even under threat of death.
Many witnesses, many settings
The New Testament reports appearances to individuals (Mary Magdalene, Peter, James), to small groups on a road and by a lake, and to large groups. The early creed names more than five hundred people at once, most of them still alive when Paul wrote, as if to say: go and ask them.
5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
1 Corinthians 15:5-8 (WEB) · context
13Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem. 14They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened. 15While they talked and questioned together, Jesus himself came near, and went with them. 16But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
Luke 24:13-16 (WEB) · context
1After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way. 2Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. 3Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing. 4But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus. 5Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.” 6He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish. 7That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around himself (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea. 8But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish. 9So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, with fish and bread laid on it. 10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.” 11Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of one hundred fifty-three great fish. Even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn. 12Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast!” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord. 13Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise. 14This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples after he had risen from the dead.
John 21:1-14 (WEB) · context
Transformed lives
At the arrest the disciples scattered and Peter denied knowing Jesus. Weeks later the same men were preaching the resurrection in Jerusalem and refusing orders to stop. Early Christian writers, including 1 Clement (about AD 96), say Peter and Paul suffered and died for their witness.
People die for lies they believe are true. But the apostles were not passing on something they had heard; they claimed to have seen it themselves, and they were in a position to know whether it was true.
50They all left him, and fled.
Mark 14:50 (WEB) · context
18They called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, judge for yourselves, 20for we can’t help telling the things which we saw and heard.”
Acts 4:18-20 (WEB) · context
1Now about that time, King Herod stretched out his hands to oppress some of the assembly. 2He killed James, the brother of John, with the sword.
Acts 12:1-2 (WEB) · context
The strongest objection, stated fairly
The appearances could have been hallucinations or visions produced by grief.
How it answers
Hallucinations are private experiences; they do not happen to groups in the same way at once, and they do not account for the empty tomb. The appearances also convinced people who were not grieving and not expecting them, such as James and Paul.
36As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” 40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43He took them, and ate in front of them.
Luke 24:36-43 (WEB) · context
Where Christians disagree
- Sceptical scholars generally grant that the disciples sincerely believed they saw Jesus alive (for example Bart Ehrman, How Jesus Became God, 2014) but explain the experiences as visions. Christians argue that the bodily, group and repeated character of the appearances fits a real resurrection better.
Sources
- 1 Corinthians 15:5-8; Acts 4-5; Acts 12:2
- 1 Clement 5 (about AD 96)
- Bart D. Ehrman, How Jesus Became God (HarperOne, 2014)
- Gary R. Habermas and Michael R. Licona, The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (Kregel, 2004)
Why the evidence matters
If Jesus rose, His offer is real
God loves you and gave His Son so that whoever believes in Him should not perish.