Evidence for the Resurrection

LeadershipU ^ | Josh McDowell

[CondoleezzaProtege]

For centuries many of the world's distinguished philosophers have assaulted Christianity as being irrational, superstitious and absurd. Many have chosen simply to ignore the central issue of the resurrection. Others have tried to explain it away through various theories. But the historical evidence just can't be discounted.

A student at the University of Uruguay said to me. "Professor McDowell, why can't you refute Christianity?"

"For a very simple reason," I answered. "I am not able to explain away an event in history--the resurrection of Jesus Christ."

After more than 700 hours of studying this subject, I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted on the minds of human beings--or it is the most remarkable fact of history...

[CondoleezzaProtege]

"I tell you that the evidence for the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ is better authenticated than most of the facts of ancient history."

~ E. M. Blaiklock, Professor of Classics, Aukland University

[daniel1212]

The proof for the early church was that this was a recent event with multiple eye witnesses, and no dead body but encounters with the risen Christ. But the most powerful evidence was empirical, outright miracles as well effects that testify to a specific cause.

That is, those who, with a broken heart and contrite spirit (Ps. 34:18) turn in their hearts to Christ from sin, and cast all their faith in Him (who died for their sins and rose again) realize effects that correspond to the Object of their faith, and are contingent upon them.

I would like someone to do their own research. Go to a growing evangelical, fundamental type church (maybe like a Calvary Chapel), and ask the Pastor for a list of people you can interview. Find out what their hearts and lives were like before and after their conversion, and the manner in which it came about. Then interview those who knew them in their “B.C” days and after. What they can find is effects that overall cannot simply be attributed to psychological causes, etc. Along that line, a good documentary is: “A Venture in Faith” (History of Calvary Chapel)http://www.ccsaintpaul.org/ministries/servantsclass/A_VENTURE_IN_FAITH.wmv

Others:

http://www.cbn.com/700club/features/Amazing/ (various amazing testimonies)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3682855866783766146 (Glimpse of Eternity with Ian McCormack: stung by box jellyfish)
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4136610474021109864 (Dr Maurice Rawlings - NDE – Interviews: To Hell and Back; including an atheist)

READ
http://www.christian-faith.com/truestories.html
http://www.truthsaves.org/testimony/
http://www.miraclebook.org/reviews.html
http://www.shelovesgod.com/library/testimonies.cfm
http://www.doolittleraider.com/raiders/deshazer.htm

http://breadsite.org/topics.htm
http://www.shelovesgod.com/library/testimonies.cfm

[wendy1946]

You can get some hint as to the manner in which the resurrection was brought about from Julian Jayne’s “Origin of Consciousness”. There are no violations of physical or mathematical laws in the Bible. If you want violations of physical, mathematical, and probabilistic laws, you need to be talking to the Darwinists and evolosers; they specialize in that sort of thing.

[RightOnline]

I work with scientific study of the Shroud of Turin. “Proof” of the resurrection is right there for all to see.....even if most don’t yet realize it.

We’re working on that....

[Doe Eyes]

I work with scientific study of the Shroud of Turin. “Proof” of the resurrection is right there for all to see.....even if most don’t yet realize it.

Do you think Jesus has returned to the earth since then?

[CondoleezzaProtege]

Just a heads up to readers who might be passing by, the writer does not mention the Shroud of Turin as one of his evidences. There are plenty of archaeological discoveries and historical records outside of the Bible attesting to the accuracy of the New Testament.

[kosta50]

In 1917 no less than 70,000 people in Spain saw the Sun "dance" (change colors, shoot flames, swirl wildly, even fall towards earth and radiate increased heat)...except the cameras recorded nothing of the sort.

Here is a picture of the mass of people "witnessing" the "dancing" and "falling" Sun.

What people "see" and what really happened is often two different things. The conviction that something happened seems to grow with the crowds, and is often referred to as "mass hysteria."

This 'miracle' of the Sun was actually predicted by the "appearance" of Mary (the Mother of Jesus) to three little children in Portugal in a town called Fatima. And Mary "told" one of them, Lucia, that the Sun would do something (I guess as a sign of "authentication").

Of course, when interviewed many people, it turns out, witnessed something very different from those next to them...and some even said they saw nothing at all! All photographs of the Sun on that day show none of the "miraculous" signs predicted and duly "witnessed" not by 500 like those in Jerusalem, but 70,000, who only thought they saw something.

Using eyewitness accounts is obviously unreliable.

The author also uses a banal argument about the apostles for basically dying for their faith as a "proof" that they "saw" the risen Christ. In Mat 28:17 it says that at the end of his 40 days mingling with the disciples some still doubted Jesus.

But just because some people are ready to lay down their lives form someone is no proof that that someone is what they believe he is! Look at what Jim Jones did! He managed to convince a whole bunch of people that dying for their faith was a good thing! Look at all his followers who died for Jim Jones.

being martyred for something you believe in is no proof that what you believe in is true or real.

Sorry. Your author may be a good guy, but his arguments are not.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

If people won't believe Jesus when He tells us He was resurrected, then no amount of "proof" will convince them either.

Some people are going to find out and believe that Jesus is Who He says He is and that His Word is absolutely, 100% correct and without error after they're dead and it's too late for the belief to help them.

So, so sad.

[kosta50]

Some people are going to find out and believe that Jesus is Who He says He is and that His Word is absolutely, 100% correct and without error after they're dead and it's too late for the belief to help them. So, so sad.

So, the primary reason to "believe" is fear? What happened to love? How sad indeed.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

No it's not fear at all. The reason to believe what Jesus Christ said about Himself is so that man can have the gift of salvation, eternal life, and a personal relationship with Him.

The fact that so many refuse to accept what Christ said about Himself and His resurrection simply results in them robbing themselves of abundant life here on earth and eternal life with Christ.

It is indeed very sad and it has nothing to do with fear at all. It's strange that you would perceive what I said that way.

[kosta50]

It's strange that you would perceive what I said that way

really? You wrote: "Some people are going to find out and believe...after they're dead and it's too late for the belief to help them

That's not scare tactic? And hwat do you offer as proof?

[GiovannaNicoletta]

That's not scare tactic? And hwat do you offer as proof?

"Scare tactic"? Nope, just a fact. Why would you perceive that to be a "scare tactic"? If I tell a 16 year old that if they drink and drive and a cop pulls them over they will lose their drivers license, is that a fact or a "scare tactic"?

And "proof"?

Jesus Christ made it very clear that a person’s relationship with God in this present life will determine his destiny in the life to come (Matthew 19:16-26; 7:13-23).

In a parable on the last judgment in Matthew 25:31, Jesus brought out this truth clearly. He concluded His parable saying, “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (v. 46).

Jesus said the most sobering thing about man’s eternal destiny. Hell is the destiny of those who refuse Him. Heaven is the destiny of those who believe in Him.

Jesus spoke of hell more often than did anyone else in the New Testament. He was not mean; He dealt with reality and truth. Nowhere in the Bible is there a hint of any possible reversal of the last judgment. There is no second chance after you die physically.

There is no escape from God’s judgment for eternity. The consequences of neglecting or rejecting God’s gift of life are tragic. It is plain from God’s Word that sin will be punished (Matt. 10:15; Dan. 12:2; Jn. 5:28-29; Rom. 5:12-21). No one will be exempt. The message of the Bible is clear that there is never any indication that the punishment of sin ever ceases.

The duration of the punishment will be the same as the gift of life. It is a never-ending “age to come.” Jesus said, “Then He will also say to those on His left, ‘Depart from Me, accursed ones, into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matt. 25:41). A little later He said, “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (v. 46). The apostle Paul gave the same emphasis when he wrote, “These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thess. 1:9).

So my "proof" are the words of Christ. And it remains very, very sad and such a waste.

[kosta50]

Scare tactic"? Nope, just a fact.

A fact?

If I tell a 16 year old that if they drink and drive and a cop pulls them over they will lose their drivers license, is that a fact or a "scare tactic"?

That's apples and oranges. We don't have to "believe" that cops exist and what they might do. You are confusing faith with facts.

Jesus Christ made it very clear that a person’s relationship with God in this present life will determine his destiny in the life to come (Matthew 19:16-26; 7:13-23).

No, the Bible says that, and you choose to believe the Bible. Just because you believe it idoesn't mean it's true. Muislims believe the Koran is true, and Jews reject the NT and believe only the OT is true. It's a matter of faith, not fact.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

Well, one thing is for sure.

We'll all find out one way or another one of these days if there really is a price to be paid for rejecting Christ.

And that is a fact, by anybody's definition.

[kosta50]

We'll all find out one way or another one of these days if there really is a price to be paid for rejecting Christ

So there is a threat, after all. How sad.

And that is a fact, by anybody's definition

No, that is your belief. We really don't know what happens when we are dead, do we? But people believe all sorts of things, don't they?

[GiovannaNicoletta]

So there is a threat, after all. How sad.

It's not a threat for people who know Him as Savior- not at all. For others, it' simply a fact. And it's something they did to themselves.

But people believe all sorts of things, don't they?

Yes, they certainly do. Including the belief that there is no God and nothing to concern themselves with.

But, we will all find out one way or another if there is a God and if He is Who He says He is and if He means what He says.. There is no escape from that. And if someone takes that as a threat, it's because they choose to.

[kosta50]

But, we will all find out one way or another if there is a God and if He is Who He says He is and if He means what He says.. There is no escape from that. And if someone takes that as a threat, it's because they choose to.

There is no threat in discovering what's next. The threats come from some Christians who say "either believe in my God or else he will punish you." Sad, indeed.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

Christians don't make any "threats".

All we do is repeat what Jesus said.

The fact that the world hates Jesus Christ and what He said about eternal destiny and the fact that the world would rather not hear about it is irrelevant.

Some will hear what Christ wants them to hear and will accept His offer of salvation. And those people are why Christ wants His message getting out.

That the world hates that message is totally meaningless.

[kosta50]

All we do is repeat what Jesus said.

No, they repeat what they believe Jesus said.

The fact that the world hates Jesus Christ and what He said about eternal destiny and the fact that the world would rather not hear about it is irrelevant

Well, if he said that anyone who doesn't believe in him is going to hell that's a good reason dislike the message, don't you think? Especially if it is supposed to be all based on some kind of "love for the world."

It doesn't bring people over with love but with threats and fear. That's pretty sad.

Some will hear what Christ wants them to hear and will accept His offer of salvation

That's not unconditional love.

[GiovannaNicoletta]

Well, this isn't the first I've seen or heard rejection of Christ and His message of salvation and it won't be the last.

It's always good to get to the center of something and see what the real issue is all about.

Christ rejectors are a dime a dozen:

Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it. (Matthew 7:13, 14)

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. (John 3:17-19)

Those are the words of Jesus Christ. Reject them at your own peril.