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Ask Father Paul 03/24/10

Father Paul Massey's picture

Answers to your questions about life, religion and the Bible



The resurrection of Jesus from the dead, our Easter celebration, is the central tenant of the Christian faith. His resurrection, not his teachings or even his miracles, is the reason why Christianity spread from a handful of disciples to include the vast majority of people in the world in a short 300 years. Many historians have called the Resurrection the greatest single event in human history. Others, like your professor friend, say it’s a myth.

No serious historian would ever claim that Jesus never lived. Or that he wasn’t a great teacher, prophet and miracle worker, or that he wasn’t crucified; there is just too much historical evidence to the contrary. But was he in fact resurrected? Did he rise from the dead? What is the truth?



Finally, if we’re to believe that he was placed in his tomb still alive after his horrible ordeal, we have to believe that he could survive in the tomb for three days without food, water or medical attention, that after three days he was strong enough to roll away the stone weighing several tons that sealed the tomb, that upon leaving the tomb he fought with and overpowered several armed Roman soldiers guarding the tomb, and finally, that he walked the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus with two of his disciples as recorded in Mark 16 and Luke 24. Not very likely.

The problem with the scenario of either the Roman or Jewish authorities stealing then hiding the body of Jesus is that it would have been simple and easy to merely produce the body for inspection as proof that Jesus was still dead when his disciples started claiming that he had risen from the dead. They didn’t produce Jesus’ body because there was no body to produce.


Finally, the most compelling pieces of evidence for the actual resurrection of Jesus are the six independent, eye-witness, written accounts of his post-death appearances by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter and Paul. These men record a total of 11 separate appearances of a risen Jesus over a period of 40 days. And, if that isn’t enough, it’s recorded in I Corinthians 15:6 that Jesus appeared to over 500 people at one time. It isn’t very likely that all of these witnesses were hallucinating is it?

No, Anthoney, I believe that any open-minded person, who looks at all the evidence, will conclude as I and over 1.5 billion people have concluded, that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead, and that he really is the Son of God.

Why not make this short prayer your own this Easter? “Father God, I declare and believe that Jesus is your only and eternal Son. That He was crucified, dead and buried. On the third day He rose again from the dead and is alive now, today. Because He lives, I live in the hope of His soon return, and in my eternal life with Him in heaven. Because of His victory over death, I too have victory over death, hell and the grave. Amen.”

Hallelujah!! Happy Easter.

Send questions to me at paulmassey@earthlink.net.

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