Most of the theories to explain away the resurrection are based on an antisupernatural bias(If God exists miracles are possible). These therories are all easily shown to be absurd.
"Jesus swooned he didn't really die"
1. How could he have survived?(See my blog Jesus Death and Resurrection).
2. And if he did survive,how could a weak man seeking medical attention:
A. move the 2 ton rock up and away,then get by the Roman guards,and then
B. fool the scared,scattered,skeptical disciples and 500 others into faith to the death(Jonh 20:19)?
3. In light of his teachings,could Jesus have been such a charlatan?
"Witnessess hallucinated his resurrection"
1. How could 500 hallucinate at different places and different times over 40 days,especially people who were NOT predisposed to it?(They were disbelieving,not anticipating a resurrection).
2.Why was the tomb empty?
3. Why didn't the Jews or Romans produce the body to squash Christianity?
"The disciples stole the body"
1. Why would they later die for a known lie?
2. They denounced lying(Ephesians 4:25),were they charlatans?
3. What did they possibly have to gain?
4. How did they get past the elite Romans who guarded the tomb with their lives?(Besides,the disciples were cowards before the resurrection(John 20:19).
"Witnesses went to the wrong tomb"
1. Did everyone do this for 40 straight days and ever since?
2. Why didn't the Romans or Jews go to the right tomb and produce the body to squash Christianity?
3. What about the 12 appearences and 500 witnessess?
"Jesus didn't die;Judas(or someone else)was substituted for Jesus on the cross"
1. The Old Testament predicted Jesus would die(Isaiah 53).
2. Jesus predicted He would die(Matthew 26:1-2).
3.The Jewsish Talmud claims that Jesus practiced sorcery,led Israel astray and was thus was killed by "hanging"(crucifixion).
4. How could everyone present at the crucifixion have been mistaken(including his enemies,Pilate,John,the women,and even his own mother)?
5.An angel claimed Jesus died by crucifixion(Mark 16:6).
6. Jesus displayed his crucifixion wounds(Luke 24:39;John 20:27).
7. Why didn't the Jews claim the disciples stole the body if he hadn't really died(Mathew 28:11-15)?
"It was a case of mistaken identity"
1. How could people who spent 3 years with Jesus day and night continue to mistake someone else for him for 40 straight days?
2. If it was a case of mistaken identity,then who performed the miracles and ascended into heaven?
3. Again,why didn't the Romans or Jews go to the right tomb and produce the body to squash Christianity?
The most outstanding proof that Jesus rose from the dead is that he was seen by more than 500 people on 12 occasions. the creed-like statements recorded in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 are from very early in the life of the church,being formulated within a few years of the death of Jesus. Hence,it has great historical reliability.
He rose in a physical body that had flesh and bones(Luke 24:39),ate fish(Luke 24:42-43),and challenged doubters to touch him and see(Luke 24:39). To Thomas,he said,"Put your finger here;see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side"(John 20:27). This kind of contact makes it impossible to suggest that the disciples saw a spirit or an illusion.
Beyond this several people saw him on more than one occasion,some alone,and some with large groups,sometimes at night and sometimes at daylight. Paul challenged any who doubt the report to simply ask any of the witnessess who were still alive to be questioned(1 Corinthians 15:6). Also the apearences were long enough to be sure of the identity of the Man. He walked and talked with some(Luke 24:13),ate with others(John 21:1),and stayed long enough to teach them concerning God's kingdom(Acts 1:3).
With this kind of testimony,there can be no doubt as to it's truth.
God bless!
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