THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST
Continued

            The proof that Jesus Christ arose from the dead is abundant in the New Testament. Jesus speaks of his own death and resurrection. In his early ministry, when the religious leaders in Jerusalem desired proof that he had the authority to cleanse the temple, He said: “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (Jn. 2:19). Later, when they sought a sign from heaven, He said: “None will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt. 12:39,40). He told his own disciples over and over that He was to suffer death, and on the third day would raise from the dead (Matt. 16:21; 17:12); (Lk. 24:26). Later, the disciples and the Holy Spirit, as well as Christ—all alike speak and act on the understanding that the one fact to be proved true is that Jesus did arise from the dead.

            No one witnessed the actual resurrection in the process, but each of the evangelists tell the story of how the unbelief of the disciples changed when Jesus appeared to them and convinced them that he was risen. Later, Luke recorded the Lord’s ascension back to the Father in heaven after forty days following his resurrection in which he appeared alive to his disciples upon many occasions.

            Following these appearances, the disciples were beginning to grasp this chief proof of His deity—the resurrection. They now proceeded to choose one to take the place of Judas. It must be someone who had known Jesus during His ministry and who could be a viable witness with them of His resurrection.

            As Peter stood up with the eleven on the day of Pentecost, he reminded them of what the Old Testament prophesies had said about the Resurrection, and they were witnesses to the fulfillment in Jesus: “This Jesus did God raise up, whereof we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32). Later, on Solomon’s Porch of the temple in Jerusalem, after healing the lame beggar, Peter declared to the leaders and people that “You killed the Prince of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this” (Acts 3:15). As the believers were one in heart and mind, and were sharing with one another, “with great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:32,33).

            This testimony was given within a few weeks of the death of Christ, within the very city where he was crucified, to the very people who crucified him. This is powerful testimony. If the authorities had stolen the body from the empty tomb, they could have produced it and disproved the testimony of the resurrection. If the disciples had stolen the body, they would not have risked their very lives through persecution for a lie, knowing he had not raised from the dead, but was decaying where they had hidden him. These are proofs that convince the honest searcher for truth.

-Gene A. Ellmore-