The very core of what Christians believe is the death and resurrection of Jesus. The Bible teaches that Jesus really died, was buried, and rose again from the dead. The eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ resurrection (such as Matthew 28:1-15
) describe what the disciples discovered – an empty tomb. We are told that even back then, some people came up with other explanations of what actually happened.
Some think enemies of Jesus took his body. But if this is true, it is hard to understand why they also unwrapped the body and did not produce it again when the apostles started preaching. Some think the disciples took the body. But this is not consistent with the boldness of the apostles in their preaching. If they knew deep down that it was not true, they would not be willing to suffer as they did. Some think Jesus wasn’t really dead, but experienced Roman soldiers declared him to be dead and allowed him to be buried. A more subtle modern explanation is that Jesus didn’t really rise, but the disciples believed it so much he rose ‘in their hearts’ rather than in body. But this doesn’t explain the empty tomb and the boldness of the apostles either.
The best explanation, however improbable we might naturally think it is, is that Jesus actually was dead and rose again. This showed he had really paid for sins and we could be right with God. This affects everything – how to connect with God, how to live now as dead to sin but alive to Jesus (Romans 6:1-14), and it gives us future hope. Let’s make sure we consider this carefully, especially as Easter approaches.
(Based on Bible Cafe teaching, 19 March 2010)