What's the Greatest Evidence for the Resurrection?

We’re entering the pivotal weekend for Christianity. Annually, Christmas receives more attention, but if it were not for Good Friday and Easter, there would be no reason for Christmas. And if it were not for the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there’d be no need to commemorate Good Friday and His crucifixion.

However, skeptics often pose the question: How do we know the resurrection was real? How do we know it wasn’t some elaborate hoax or a myth that’s been perpetuated through the centuries? We could cite much verifiable evidence for the resurrection, along with conclusions of both Christian and secular historians. But perhaps the greatest proof of the resurrection is changed lives.

 

Jesus’ closest disciples, who had become fearful after Jesus was arrested, and doubtful after witnessing His crucifixion, suddenly became courageous after seeing the resurrected Christ firsthand on numerous occasions. These formerly timid followers of Jesus never wavered again, suffering torture and death as they continued until their final breaths to boldly proclaim the Gospel of salvation through Christ to anyone and everyone who would listen.

 

Would they have risked their lives to defend a lie they had made up? Definitely not. If the disciples had all conspired to falsely claim Jesus had risen from the dead, don’t you think when their lives were at stake, they would have admitted their false claim?

 

For a contemporary parallel, consider the infamous Watergate scandal that occurred in 1972, culminating in President Richard Nixon’s resignation in 1974. Also implicated were his closest advisors. When confronted, they were quick to confess their roles in the notorious cover up to minimize their punishment.  

 

Among them was Charles Colson, who as special counsel to Nixon had become known as his "hatchet man." Colson was the first member of the administration to serve time in prison on Watergate-related charges. However, in the midst of the sordid affair, he gave his life to Christ as become a transformed person. To the point where he devoted the rest of his life to prison ministry, apologetics, and writing a number of acclaimed books on the Christian faith. One of the factors that influenced his conversion was the resurrection.

Years later Colson explained, "I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it for me. How? Because 12 men [Jesus' disciples] testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one of them was beaten, tortured, stoned and put into prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world - and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible." 

For another example, consider Saul, the highly regarded Pharisee who had zealously persecuted Christians – until he encountered Jesus personally on the road to Damascus. To say that moment was life-changing is the understatement of understatements. He not only became a fervent follower of Jesus but also turned into a fearless preacher of the Gospel, seeking to tell Jews and Gentiles alike about the Lord. He too, like most of the other apostles, was martyred for being unrelenting in proclaiming the truth of Jesus’ resurrection.

 

The founders of the world’s great religions are all dead – Buddha, Muhammad, Confucius and others. Only Christianity can boldly claim that its founder, Jesus Christ, rose from the dead. And through His Spirit, He lives in each of us who trust in Him as Savior and Lord.

 

As we’re assured in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” In addition, 2 Corinthians 5:17 promises that when we receive Christ as Savior and Lord, our lives too are changed: “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

 

If the resurrection of Jesus Christ were not a reality, those verses would make absolutely no sense. Some faith traditions revere the crucifix, which depicts Jesus hanging from the cross. However, today that cross is empty – as is the tomb in which He was buried after His death.

 

When Jesus first appeared to His frightened and confused disciples He said, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at My hands and My feet. It is I Myself! Touch Me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you have seen I have” (Luke 24:38-39).

 

Over the next 40 days, Jesus appeared to His disciples on several other occasions before ascending to Heaven. “After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). 

 

Words from an old hymn point to the resurrection, expressing the hope we have as followers of Jesus: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives.”

 

We know the resurrection is real, and the changed lives of countless men, women and young people around the world are all the proof we need. As Romans 6:4 asserts, “…just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.” He has risen! Christ has risen, indeed!

It's Not Rare to Err - Or to Cover It Up

Have you seen one of those sitcom episodes where one of the main characters does something careless or foolish, but instead of ‘fessin’ up to it, proceeds to lie about it instead? That falsehood leads to another, then another, until the magnitude of the original issue is dwarfed by the dilemma it has grown into. The deception becomes far worse than the original deed.

“Why didn’t they just admit what they did in the first place?” we wonder, caught up as viewers in the fictitious circumstances. “They turned a little molehill into a mountain.” Of course, if they had addressed the situation when it occurred, it would have spoiled the TV comedy’s storyline. But sometimes we do the same thing in real life and often, unlike the sitcoms, the end result isn’t funny-ha-ha.

Walt Disney's Pinocchio, and
pal, Jiminy Cricket, are icons
for the perils of dishonesty.

And yet, “To err is human,” right? We’ve all heard somebody say that. You’ve probably said it yourself. And it’s true – nobody’s perfect. In fact, some people seem determined to turn their imperfections into a fine art. Everyone makes mistakes, so what’s the big deal?

Well, just as to err is human, so it seems the practice of trying to cover it up is, too. Think Adam and Eve and the proverbial fig leaves. Politics and politicians have provided us with countless glowing examples – consider Watergate, Monica Lewinsky, Iran-Contra, or Benghazi just for starters. Then there are scandals in business, the entertainment world, manufacturing, the sciences, education, and sadly, even in the realm of religion. For all segments of society, cover-ups are common.

Rather than stepping up immediately and admitting what was done – or not done – for whatever reason we have a tendency to try and sweep it under the rug, so to speak. (Not easy to do these days, especially if you only have hardwood floors!)

Not long ago I came across an interesting quote by somebody named Dan Heist that fits here: “When you realize you’ve made a mistake, make amends immediately. It’s easier to eat crow while it’s still warm.” Crow doesn’t sound appetizing at any temperature, but his advice has a lot of merit. Why complicate our deceptions?

Sometimes, however, admitting to our errors is difficult. Maybe it’s a matter of pride, reluctance to concede we’ve made a mistake. Or we fear the repercussions, so we unwisely choose to conceal the truth, hoping it will never be exposed so no one will ever know the difference. The problem is, if and when the truth does materialize – as is typically the case, sooner or later – consequences are generally compounded.

This is one reason the Bible places such a high premium on honesty, even including it among the Ten Commandments: “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16). This commandment not only tells us what we shouldn’t do – to be dishonest, deceptive or to conceal the facts – but also instructs us to be truthful and forthright in our dealings with others.

In Proverbs, we read repeatedly how costly it can be to be dishonest about our mistakes and wrongdoing. For instance, “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will not go free” (Proverbs 19:5).

The value of integrity shouldn’t be underestimated, we’re told. “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out” (Proverbs 10:9). Being willing to admit our mistakes is like driving on a smoothly paved highway, while deception gives a “ride” more like a bumpy, hole-filled country road: “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity” (Proverbs 11:3).

In numerous other passages the Bible addresses honesty, dishonesty and integrity, but one verse in particular uses interesting imagery to applaud the virtues of being truthful in all of our dealings: “An honest answer is like a kiss on the lips” (Proverbs 24:26).

To err definitely is human, just as it is human to sin – to miss the mark of God’s perfect standard. But as we strive to do better, the best approach is at least to be honest about when we fall short, even if it’s uncomfortable or painful. As Heist observed, if you’re going to have to eat crow, it’s best to do so while it’s still warm. 

Legacies of Two Legends

Last week we lost icons from disparate realms of American society, both of whom forged enduring legacies.

Dick Clark burst into public consciousness as host of “American Bandstand.” I remember watching groups like Danny and the Juniors (“Rock and Roll is Here to Stay”), Diana Ross and the Supremes, the Four Seasons, the Beach Boys and Paul Revere and the Raiders, as well as vocalists like Connie Francis, Chubby Checker, Brenda Lee, Frankie Avalon, Ike and Tina Turner, and Bobby Darin.

Dick Clark (AP photo)

The Philadelphia-based “American Bandstand” regulars, who had their own fans, introduced us to dances like the Stroll, the Twist, the Pony, the Monster Mash.

Clark then expanded into entertainment entrepreneurship, hosting game shows, founding awards shows, and finally, creating what many people will most remember him for, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve.

His seeming perpetual youth, prior to suffering a debilitating stroke in 2004, earned him the label of “America’s oldest teen.” Without question, Dick Clark left an indelible mark on music and entertainment.

Entertainment was hardly the genre of choice for Charles Colson, the other departed icon. Politics was his initial arena, gaining notoriety as a driving force in Richard Nixon’s administration and being convicted as a key figure behind the Watergate break-in. For many in the unforgiving media, Colson’s involvement in that scandal dominated his obituary coverage.

However, through the humiliation of that scandal and subsequent imprisonment, Colson became a changed man and, ultimately, a major voice for Christianity in the U.S. and around the world.

Charles Colson

Along with President Jimmy Carter, Colson brought the term “born again” into common conversation with his autobiography, Born Again. He went on to write many other books and countless articles about the intersection of faith with everyday life and public service. A popular and eloquent speaker, Colson cast aside the stereotype of Christians being unthinking dreamers. Instead, he helped establish Christianity as both reasonable and rational, worthy of earnest debate and defense.

I had the privilege of hearing Colson speak on several occasions and interviewed him once for a magazine article, finding him engaging, challenging, and genuine in his devotion to Jesus Christ.

Along with his role in biblical apologetics – defense of the faith – Colson also founded Prison Fellowship, a ministry to prisoners, ex-prisoners and their families. His own experiences in prison helped him to realize, “You can’t leave a person in a steel cage and expect something good to come out of him when he is released.” His focus on compassionate prisoner rehabilitation, anchored in Christ’s transforming power, was revolutionary.

Dick Clark changed how we were entertained. Chuck Colson provided evidence of how lives can be changed, turning self-driven ambition into selfless service. He also proved God can use even pride and imprisonment for His divine purposes: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).