Case For The Resurrection Of Christنموونە

Extra Evidence for the Resurrection 

While sifting through the evidences in favour of the resurrection of Christ, a question that is very often raised is that, “Are there any evidences or facts apart from the Bible that can be offered to answer the question whether Christ rose from the dead or not?” or are we to consider it as merely a matter of ‘blind faith’? To answer this question, Paul E. Little presents three important pieces of historical evidence that one needs to consider.

First is the existence of the Christian Church. Its origin can be traced back to Palestine where it first began during the first century (AD 32). A relevant question to be considered at this point is, ‘what was the cause for its existence?’ It is important to note that these first century disciples who were first called Christians at Antioch (Acts 11:26b) turned the world of their time upside down through their preaching (Acts 11:20-21). The resurrection was the basis not only for their preaching but their lives too. In other words, the Church, back then and now, which is worldwide in scope, rests only on one foundation i.e., the resurrection of Christ and nothing else.

Secondly, there is the truth of the Christian day. Sunday is being observed as the day of worship for Christians beginning in AD 32. Going back to the first century, the shift in the calendar was monumental. Something cataclysmic must have happened to effect this change in the day of worship from Jewish Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, to Sunday which was the first day according to the Jewish calendar! This happened in order to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Let us not forget that the first Christians were originally Jews. Therefore, apart from the resurrection of Christ nothing else can make sense of this change.

Finally, the existence of the New Testament, the Christian book. Throughout its pages, it contains independent testimonies or eyewitnesses, accounting for the fact of the resurrection. They faced the test of torture and martyrdom for their testimonies and beliefs. Apart from the resurrection of Christ, I know of no better reason to account for the commitment of these disciples. Batsell Barrett Baxter in his book, ‘I Believe Because…’ summarizes this point well, “They had everything to lose by being Christians, nothing of worldly significance to gain. Yet, they ultimately paid with their lives in order to be true to their convictions that Jesus was the Christ, the divine Son of God – dead, buried and resurrected.”