Peering into an Empty Tomb: Revisiting the Resurrection

Talk is cheap. If you watch sports, you see it all the time – a star athlete makes a cocky prediction of victory before the big game, and reporters jump all over it. More often than not, the prediction turns out to be hollow, and the one who said it just ends up looking silly. Jesus too made a brash prediction during his ministry – that he’d be raised from the dead after three days. So it’s no wonder why people were sceptical. 

When Jesus predicted his resurrection, he put everything else he said and did on the line. If he stayed six feet under, then all his wonderful words and deeds wouldn’t matter a hill of beans. It would be clear that he wasn’t God, didn’t conquer sin through his death, and didn’t give any real hope for people. But if he did rise from the dead, then it would prove to be the crucial turning point in human history, because according to his claim, the power of sin and death would finally be conquered once and for all, and the hope he offered (see Chapter 3) would be verified as being backed by the power of God. 

All of Christianity, therefore, rests on whether Jesus was literally raised from the dead. As the Apostle Paul writes:  

Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, either has Christ been raised. If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain... you are still in your sins... If we have only hoped in Christ for this earthly life, then we are to be pitied above all men.

-1 Corinthians 15:12-19 

As Paul says, the faith of Christians hinges on Jesus actually being raised from the dead. If the Resurrection is make-believe, then Christianity is just a huge waste of time and energy. 

Reviewing biblical facts

The Bible provides many details of the circumstances that Christians believe happened after Jesus died on the cross. Here’s some of what’s documented in the Bible concerning his death and resurrection: 

Jesus was buried. Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb that was owned by a rich man named Joseph of Arimathea. A huge boulder was placed in front of the tomb to prevent someone from taking the body (Matthew 27:57-61). 

Guards stood at the tomb’s entrance to prevent theft. The next day, the Jewish authorities convinced the Romans to put a seal on the boulder and post guards in front of the tomb to prevent the disciples from coming and stealing the body (Matthew 27:62-66). 

Jesus’ body was missing on the third day. On the morning of the third day, two women followers of Jesus arrived at the tomb. After a violent earthquake, an angel appeared, rolled the stone back, and sat on it, frightening the guards beyond belief. The angel told the women that Jesus wasn’t there, but that he had risen, just like he said he would. He then told the women to tell the disciples what happened (Matthew 28:1-7). 

The guards were paid to keep silent. Upon hearing news from the guards, religious leaders paid them off with a huge amount of money, telling them to say that the disciples came during the night and stole the body (Matthew28:11-15). 

Jesus appeared to his followers. Jesus made several appearances to his followers over the next 40 days. He appeared to Mary Magdalene, a follower of his (Mark 16:9-11), two followers travelling on the road to Emmaus (Mark 16:12-13), the disciples on several occasions (Luke 24:36-43, John 20:19-25, John 21:1-14, Luke 24:34), and even to a crowd of 500 believers (1 Corinthians 15:6). 

Jesus ate. Jesus made sure his followers knew he wasn’t just a ghost or something they were imagining. So, he ate with them to prove that he was still very much a real-live person (Luke 24:40-43). 

Jesus ascended into heaven. Jesus went out with followers to a place near Bethany (a town outside of Jerusalem) and then was taken up into heaven (Luke 24:44-49).

 
Jesus’ disciples were transformed. Before Jesus died, the disciples wouldn’t have impressed anyone with their bravery and valour. When the going got tough, they fled for safety when Jesus was arrested and hid after the crucifixion for fear of persecution. However, something amazing happened when they realized that Jesus was resurrected – they became bold witnesses, testifying the truth of Christianity, and 10 of the 11 even died as martyrs for their faith. Their radically altered behaviour – from cowardly betrayal to torture and martyrdom – testifies to the fact that the disciples were certain of the Resurrection.