Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?
Bob Forrest
What does the Bible say?
All four Gospels record the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul makes the stakes incredibly clear in 1 Corinthians 15:14: "And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith." The biblical claim is not that Jesus lived on in the memories of his followers, but that he bodily rose from the grave and was seen by hundreds of witnesses (1 Cor 15:6).
What does it mean?
Christianity is uniquely falsifiable. It hinges not on abstract philosophy, but on a historical claim. If Jesus remained in the tomb, the faith is a fraud.
Historians—both secular and Christian—generally agree on four minimal facts regarding the aftermath of Jesus' crucifixion:
- Jesus died by Roman crucifixion.
- His tomb was found empty shortly afterward.
- His followers sincerely believed they saw him alive.
- The Christian movement originated in Jerusalem, the very city where he was executed.
Alternative theories (the disciples stole the body, they hallucinated, Jesus swooned) simply require more faith to believe than the resurrection itself because they fail to comprehensively account for these established historical facts.
What should I do about it?
- Know why you believe: Do not settle for blind faith. Study the historical arguments for the resurrection (starting with resources like Gary Habermas or N.T. Wright).
- Engage skepticism with confidence: When friends ask for evidence of your faith, point them to the empty tomb. It is the linchpin.
- Live differently: If the resurrection is true, death is defeated. This changes how we grieve, how we risk for the gospel, and how we view our eternal future.