Introduction : In world history, there is no other religion than Christianity claiming that its founder died, rose from the dead on the third day, and accomplished the gospel of salvation. The gospel of Christianity is focused on the death and resurrection of Jesus. Without these events, Christianity and the gospel of salvation are false. That´s why the enemies against Christianity have been claiming that the death and resurrection of Jesus have been fabricated. Let us look at their claims.
1. The false claim that it was not Jesus but Judas Iscariot that had been crucified 1) A great man like Jesus could not have been crucified. They falsely reported that Judas Iscariot the zealot, who insisted on the independence of Israel, was crucified. 2) This claim is not reasonable, unrelated to the Bible and history. - Jesus was crucified in conspiracy of the Jews and Roman politics as it was written in the Bible and history. (Jn 19:12)
2. The false claim that Jesus was put into the tomb at the state of swooning only to be resuscitated - It was rumored that since Jesus was in a cool tomb, He rose from the dead. 1) Jesus died on the Cross, and as a Roman soldier speared His side, water and blood flowed out. 2) If Jesus had fainted and woken up in the tomb, He must have been killed again. (Jn 19:32-34, 39-40)
3. The false claim that the disciples of Jesus stole the body of Jesus and spread the false rumor about His resurrection 1) Even Peter, the best disciple, abandoned the living Jesus on the Mount of Olives, ran away, and denied Him three times in the courtyard of Annas and Caiaphas. How could the discouraged disciples steal the dead body of Jesus? (Mk 14:29-31, 14:71) 2) If the disciples would steal the dead body of Jesus, they must have fought with the world´s strongest Roman soldiers who watched the tomb, and some of the disciples would have been killed and others captured. (Mt 26:53-54) 3) If the disciples hid the dead body of Jesus, could they lie that He was resurrected and be martyred for that lie? (Php 3:10-11)
4. The false claim that the disciples of Jesus saw the risen Lord Jesus through the group hypnosis phenomena 1) It is not possible that the group hypnosis phenomena could take place simultan- eously for forty days. (Ps 16:10) 2) After Jesus rose from the dead. (1) He appeared to Mary Magdalene at the tomb. (Mk 16:9) (2) Other women disciples met Him on their way back from the tomb. (Mt 28:9-10) (3) He appeared to the two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus. (Lk 24:13-16) (4) He appeared to Peter. (Lk 24:34, 1 Co 15:5) (5) He appeared to the ten disciples who hid themselves in the room - He even ate fish. (Lk 24:38-43) (6) He appeared to ten disciples and Thomas a week later. (Jn 20:28-29) (7) He appeared at the Sea of Tiberias in Galilee early in the morning. (Jn 21:4-6) (8) Forty days later He appeared to 500 saints when He ascended to heaven at the Mount of Olives. (1 Co 15:6) (9) He appeared to Saul who was strongly against His church on his way to Damascus. (Ac 9:3-5)
5. Jesus resurrected and ascended into heaven and sent the promised Holy Spirit 1) He poured the Holy Spirit upon His disciples on the Day of Pentecost as He promised (Ac 1:3-5, 1:8, 2:32-33) 2) Fifty days after Jesus was crucified, the gospel of the resurrection was spread throughout Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and swept over the Roman Empire 300 years later. (Ro 4:25, Heb 7:25, Rev 1:17-18)
Conclusion : No enemy attack could change the truth of Jesus´ resurrection. The Good News of Jesus´ death and resurrection has changed world history, and now it is changing our lives. "He arose! He arose! Jesus rose again!"
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