First we need to say something about apologetics, that is the science of arguing to prove the truth of theology. It is impossible to prove anything to those whose wills are set against believing. In fact, Jesus himself said that even resurrection from the dead would not be believed by those who would not accept the inspiration and truthfulness of the Scriptures. This was the whole point of His story about Lazarus and the rich man in Luke 16. He quoted Abraham as saying:
“If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead” (Luke 16:31).
But Jesus also promised that those who willed to do His will-who would allow themselves to be persuaded to faith-would know whether or not He spoke truth. Remember, when we studied faith toward God, we said that it was receptivity to God’s inner persuasion. Outward proofs such as these we are about to examine will add joy and confidence to those who already believe. They will also aid the honest doubter-the one who wants to be persuaded but finds it difficult. Unbelief, on the other hand, will only be hardened into cynicism when confronted with truth. Unbelief is the stubborn refusal to believe.
Among the many evidences of the factualness of the historical account of Jesus' resurrection are the following:
The empty tomb (Matthew 28:5-8; Mark 16:2-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10).
The small variations in detail make these reports all the more reliable. Human witnesses differ in their accounts of anything. We could well suspect deliberate attempt to tamper with the accounts if they were all identical. Jesus’ grave clothes were left undisturbed, but His body -gone!
Jesus’ changed appearance after resurrection (John 20:14-16; 21:4; Luke 24:16).
People see what they expect to see. Even those close to Jesus were not expecting to see Him alive. He had to speak or do some characteristic mannerism before they recognized Him. His body was the same and yet somehow different.
The sudden emergence of the New Testament Church.
From a small group of frightened and disoriented disciples huddled behind locked doors for fear of the Jews, came a Church that quickly turned the world upside down. This transformation required both the resurrection and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
God’s covenant people changed their day of worship to the first day of the week.
For centuries the Jews had observed the Sabbath as part of their covenant-keeping. But after the resurrection, the followers of Jesus came together on the first day of the week expecting to find His presence. He had risen after making a better covenant, and the older tradition was no longer relevant.
The Holy Spirit’s inspired interpretation of Old Testament Scriptures to explain the resurrection.
The Bible is always its own best commentary. If something is a type or a prophecy, it will later be spelled out in the New Testament. This is precisely what we find regarding the resurrection. Jesus, Peter, Paul, and others found new meaning as the Spirit applied the familiar Old Testament passages to the historic event of the resurrection. Some of these familiar passages were as follows:
(1) Psalm 16:8-11
(2) Psalm 2:6, 7
(3) Psalm 118:22-24
(4) Daniel 12:2, 3
It is an interesting study to take these and other Scriptures relating to the resurrection and glory of Christ and follow their development through the Old Testament on into the New Testament. Often something is added to them each time they are quoted. This was where the early Church found their sermon material.