To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. – Acts 1:3
Jesus is unique for many reasons, but the most distinguishing factor is without question His resurrection. The whole Christian faith rises and falls on the truth of the resurrection.
The resurrection is intellectually feasible, and there is proof for the resurrection of Christ that can stand up to any amount of scrutiny. First, there is the empty tomb. Doubters have come up with several theories to try to explain why the tomb was empty. Some say Jesus wasn’t really dead; He just “swooned,” or went unconscious, and then resuscitated in the cool of the tomb. But according to John 19:31-34, the soldiers made sure Jesus was dead.
Other people hypothesize that Jesus’ body was stolen. But the tomb was sealed with a two-ton rock and guarded by Roman soldiers.
Another proof of the resurrection is the transformation of the disciples. Peter denied knowing Christ the night before the crucifixion, but after Jesus’ resurrection, he preached to thousands at Pentecost. Paul persecuted the church and murdered Christians for their faith, but after meeting the resurrected Christ he became one of the greatest leaders in Christianity and wrote this:
He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and … He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as one untimely born, He appeared to me also (1 Corinthians 15:4-8).
The resurrection of Christ happened in history. And the power of that resurrection affects us today.
