Bob Tamasy
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 to 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 in 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!
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Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor, and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 20 books. These include ”Marketplace Ambassadors”; “Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace”; “Tufting Legacies,” “The Heart of Mentoring,” and “Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart.” He writes and edits a weekly business meditation, “Monday Manna,” which is translated into nearly 20 languages and distributed via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for Bob's blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net.