Resurrection Evidences: Introduction

"The apostolic faith of the Church is based on the reality of the resurrection of Christ. As St. Paul says: 'Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the death, how can some of you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised, and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation has been in vain and your faith is in vain.' (1 Corinthians 15:12-14) Viewed as the ultimate victory over the powers of sin and death, the resurrection of the Lord is not only an historical event but also the sign of God's power over all the forces which can keep us from his love and goodness. It is a victory not only for Christ himself but also for all those united with him (1 Peter 1:3f). It is a victory which marks the beginning of a new era (John 20:17). The resurrection is the ultimate expression of the Father's gift of reconciliation and unity in Christ through the Spirit. It is a sign of the unity and reconciliation which God wills for the entire creation." Statement of the World Council of Churches / Middle East Council of Churches Consultation, 1997.

"Jesus...was...placed into a common grave, and covered over...in a very short time only some unmarked bones remained. Even the bones were gone before too long. Nature rather efficiently reclaims its own resources." John S. Spong, "Resurrection: Myth or Reality?," P. 241

Some years ago now I graduated from Central Christian College of the Bible in Moberly, Missouri. One of the requirements for my degree was the preparation of a publishable paper on a given subject. This series of articles is a condensed version of that work…The Resurrection.

It has been said that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone upon which the Christian Church is built. In reality, its importance to the faith is more along the lines of the center beam that runs from foundation wall to foundation wall under the house. If it is solid and sure the house will stand. If it is termite infested and rotten the house will fall. To the men who made the first statement above the timber is strong and sure. To John Shelby Spong, the author of the second opinion, the beam is a hollow shell eaten by insects. Both statements are made by men who sincerely believe what they say. But one of them is sincerely wrong! Which one? How can we tell?

To determine that we will examine the known facts surrounding the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. First we will examine the eye witness testimony of those who knew Jesus and ministered with him every day of the last 3 ½ years of His life. Then we will examine the testimony of one who once considered himself an enemy of Christ and everything that He stood for. Finally, we will examine the claims of men such as John Shelby Spong to see if the facts substantiate their objections and doubts.