1 Thessalonians 4:14 reads, “We believe that Jesus died and rose again.”
Let’s look at some theories peddled by those who’ve tried to deny the resurrection. Some say that because the Gospels were written 200-300 years after the event, the story was either falsified or embellished. But archaeology disproves that. Now we know that the Gospels go back to the authors whose names they bear, and that the testimony of the resurrection goes back to the decade in which it took place. So there was no time for legend to develop!
Some say the disciples experienced visions or hallucinations because Christ promised to rise from the dead and they fully expected Him to. But in the history of hallucinations there is no incident where 500 people from different backgrounds ever saw the same vision at the same time.
And what about the disciples on the Emmaus Road who walked and talked with Christ after His resurrection, then ate supper with Him? (Luke 24:13). Were they hallucinating too? When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost about his “great hallucination,” he was standing only 10 minutes away from the tomb (Acts 2:24).
Thousands of people believed; others heard it and didn’t believe. Did no one think of walking down the street to check it out? Certainly those conspiring Sadducees would have taken every opportunity to show that this was simply a hallucination. On coastlines there are lighthouses shining, and attracted by the light, birds fly into them only to end up wounded or dead. That reminds us of the critics of Christ’s resurrection, doesn’t it?
© 2018 CE