Every word of God is tested… Proverbs 30:5

 If Jesus had resurrected and remained in secret, we might have reason for doubt.  However, with the empty tomb we also have numerous people claiming to have seen the resurrected Lord.  Some even ate with Him and touched Him after His resurrection.

 “The first fact in the history of Christendom is a number of people who say they have seen the Resurrection. If they had died without making anyone else believe this ‘gospel’ no gospels would ever have been written.”  C.S. Lewis

 J.N.D. Anderson  Most drastic way to dismiss the evidence would be to say these stories are mere fabrication.  No evidence this is so.  As many as 500 witnesses – who gave the world the highest ethical teaching ever.  Cowards cowering one day and the next are a group of men who cannot be silenced even in extreme persecution.  All based on lies? Nonsense.

 “After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.”  Paul wrote this in about 56 AD, only a couple of decades after the resurrection.  Most of these eyewitnesses were still living. Any of them could be questioned if there were any doubts. Yet we have no record of any of them recanting their testimony.

“If there were no resurrection it must be admitted by radical critics that Paul deceived the apostles of an actual appearance of Christ to him, and they in turn deceived Paul about the appearance of a risen Christ to them. How difficult it is to impugn the evidence of the Epistles at this point when they have such strong validation as authentic!”

John 20:14 – “At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus….Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’”

Including Mary His Mother? Matthew 28:1,8-9 – “…Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the grave…. And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.

Luke 24:30-31 – “When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.”

Luke 24: But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

John 20:26-28 – “After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He *said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

John 21:1 -- After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and He manifested Himself in this way…. “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat….” “Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’” Third time to manifest Himself to the apostles Lengthy conversation with Peter

1 Corinthians 15: After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles….

Acts 1:9 – “And after He had said these things, He was lifted up while they were looking on, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.” To STEPHEN after ascension Acts 7:55 – “But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God….”

Acts 22: “It happened when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I fell into a trance, and I saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste, and get out of Jerusalem quickly, because they will not accept your testimony about Me….And He said to me, ‘Go! For I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’” Acts 23:11 – “…the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.

Revelation 1:13 – “…and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man….and He placed His right hand on me, saying, ‘Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore….”

Mary Magdalene lied and convinced the apostles. Mary the mother of Jesus also lied (?). The Emmaus bound disciples lied and convinced the apostles. The apostles all lied and convinced Thomas. Thomas lied and became complicit with the other apostles. Paul lied to the apostles about seeing Jesus and they believed him. The apostles lied to Paul about seeing Jesus.

Stephen lied as he was being stoned to death about seeing Jesus. Paul lied while blinded by a light from heaven about seeing Jesus. John lied about seeing Jesus in vision while on Patmos. Peter was martyred for that lie. Paul was martyred for that lie. Stephen was martyred for that lie. James was martyred for that lie. John was martyred for that lie. They all died horribly to defend a pure fabrication.