Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

It amazes me what passes for journalism these days. Tonight I’m watching an episode of 20/20 that questions whether Jesus really rose from the dead. These so-called men of God are suggesting that Jesus didn’t physically rise from the dead. It was metaphysical, they suggest, Jesus became the equivalent of a ghost.

Is this true? Absolutely not. And if you believe this, you do not believe the Bible. Period.

Biblically, what happened is telling. When Jesus was arrested, all of his followers fled. John followed, but at a distance. Let me repeat that: all of the disciples fled. These aren’t men who totally, completely believe – they fled from men arresting God, who could have easily protected them. Then, after His crucifixion, they basically remained in hiding. Doing nothing. Then Christ appeared to them after being raised from the dead. Was it a physical resurrection?

John 26:24-29. Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and place my finger in the mark of the nails, and place my hand in his side, I will not believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. The doors were shut, but Jesus came and stood among them, and said “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Here in the passage, we have Jesus suggesting His resurrection was physical: Thomas could stick his finger in Jesus’ wounds. The book of Acts takes the proof even further when the disciples who fled earlier were suddenly completely unafraid. So faithful now, that all but John suffered martyrdom for their beliefs. In other words, their lives radically changed once they saw the risen Christ. Would they do this without a resurrection? Could a ghostly Christ allow Thomas to feel His wounds?

If you believe that Christ wasn’t physically resurrected, you obviously believe the Bible is also in error or that Christ was lying. If you believe the Bible, particularly the Gospels and Acts, then you believe Christ physically rose from the dead. We believe that Christ was physically resurrected and that we will be physically resurrected. Yes, we will have glorified bodies, but they are still our bodies – the same ones we sin in today. As Jesus told Thomas, “do not be faithless, but believing.” And don’t believe anyone who purports to follow Christ and then ignores basic tenants of Christian belief. If Christ wasn’t physically raised from the dead, then our faith is in vain.

God bless,
Jay