The resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most significant events in human history, and its impact can still be felt today. But what makes it so compelling is the amount of evidence that supports it, both from the Bible and from extra-biblical sources.
One of the most well-known pieces of evidence for the resurrection is the empty tomb. The Gospels all testify to the fact that on the third day after Jesus' crucifixion, the tomb was found empty by a group of women (Matthew 28:1-8; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-9). But there is also extra-biblical evidence for the empty tomb. In the early second century, the Roman historian Tacitus wrote that;
"Christus... suffered the extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus, and ‘a most mischievous superstition’, thus checked for the moment, again broke out not only in Judaea, the first source of the evil, but even in Rome" (Annals 15:44).
Notice that Tacitus mentioned ‘a most mischievous superstition… again broke out’; this reference is very likely talking about the coming in of early Christians who spread the gospel from the confidence they had after learning that Jesus had risen. This piece from Tacitus also confirms that Jesus was indeed executed under Pontius Pilate, and that his followers continued to spread their beliefs even after his death.
Another piece of evidence for the resurrection is the appearances of Jesus to his disciples. The Gospels describe multiple appearances of Jesus to his disciples after his death, including to Peter, the twelve apostles, and more than five hundred people at once (1 Corinthians 15:5-8). Again, there is extra-biblical evidence for these appearances. In his work Antiquities of the Jews, the first-century Jewish historian Josephus wrote that;
"About this time there lived Jesus, a wise man... For he was one who wrought surprising feats and was a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly... Pilate... condemned him to be crucified and to die. And those who had become his disciples did not abandon his discipleship. They reported that he had appeared to them three days after his crucifixion" (Antiquities 18.3.3).
This confirms that Jesus was seen by his followers after his death, and that they continued to follow him even though he had been crucified.
Finally, we have the changed lives of the disciples. Before the resurrection, the disciples were scared and unsure of what to do next. But after the resurrection, they were transformed. They became bold and fearless, willing to suffer and even die for their faith. This is significant because people don't just die for something they know to be a lie. The fact that the disciples were willing to die for their belief in the resurrection is powerful evidence that they truly believed it to be true. And this is confirmed by extra-biblical sources as well. The first-century Roman historian Suetonius wrote that;
"Punishments were also inflicted on the Christians, a sect professing a new and mischievous religious belief" (Lives of the Twelve Caesars, Nero 16).
This confirms that Christians were being punished for their beliefs in the early days of the church, and that they were willing to suffer for their faith.
In conclusion, the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ is overwhelming, both from the Bible and from extra-biblical sources. The empty tomb, the appearances of Jesus to his disciples, and the changed lives of the disciples all point to the fact that Jesus truly rose from the dead. And this is something that we can all be thankful for. As the apostle Paul wrote, "If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain" (1 Corinthians 15:14, KJV). But because Christ has risen, you and I can have faith that death has been conquered and that we too will rise to new life. This is a message of hope that has changed the lives of countless individuals throughout history, and it continues to do so today. So hold fast to this unshakable evidence for Jesus Christ's resurrection and live your lives in the light of his victory over death.
According to the power the raised Jesus without any limitation, I remove every and anything limiting your life now. Receive God’s abundance in your home, finances, health, and work in the name of Jesus.
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