The Resurrection of Jesus

by Terry Wane Benton

It was evidence-based faith that drove the apostles to testify of Jesus' resurrection openly. If Jesus were only a man, then the body should have remained in the tomb guarded by Roman soldiers. If it were still there after three days, the religion of Christ would have been over, squashed by the self-evident facts. Peter testified that the Jews' own scriptures testified of One who would not see corruption and whose soul would not be left in Hades (the realm of the dead). The prophetic scriptures plus the empty tomb and missing body of Jesus, plus the eyewitness testimony of seeing Jesus alive, plus the new courage of the eyewitnesses to keep telling what they had seen and heard even upon threat of death shows us the reason the Lord's church could spring forth in the very city of Jesus' crucifixion, converting thousands, and then marching forward into all the world. Thus, their faith and mine are not blind faith. It is not blind faith, but evidence-based conviction.

The Old Testament is evidence of prophecy, prophesying of the coming Messiah. It is a powerful testimony that God is in the prophetic word. The New Testament is eyewitness testimony of Jesus being the prophesied Messiah and Savior. I would challenge all to look at the evidence fairly and carefully. There is a verdict that the evidence forces in the fair-minded (Acts 17:11).

Have you examined the evidence? I would be happy to study that evidence with you!