5 Reasons the Resurrection is a Historical Fact

The Empty Tomb

Perhaps the most immediate and undeniable evidence for the resurrection is the empty tomb itself. On the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion, the women who came to anoint His body found the tomb stone rolled away and the sepulchre empty. This was not a secret or hidden event; the tomb was sealed by Roman authority and guarded by Roman soldiers, specifically to prevent His disciples from stealing the body and claiming a resurrection, as the chief priests and Pharisees feared.

Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matthew 27:62-66

Despite these precautions, the tomb was found empty. If the body had been stolen by the disciples, they would have had no motive to die for a lie, nor could they have overcome the Roman guard. If the Jewish or Roman authorities had taken the body, they would have produced it to quash the burgeoning Christian movement. The absence of the body, acknowledged even by those who opposed the Christian message, stands as a powerful testament to the resurrection.

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

Luke 24:1-3

Eyewitness Testimonies

The New Testament records numerous appearances of the resurrected Christ to various individuals and groups over a period of forty days. These were not fleeting visions or hallucinations but tangible encounters with a physical, albeit glorified, body. He ate with them, allowed them to touch Him, and conversed with them.

The Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians, provides a succinct summary of these appearances, emphasizing the sheer number of witnesses:

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8

These witnesses included women, disciples, the eleven apostles, and even a large crowd of over 500 people, many of whom were still alive when Paul wrote his epistle, allowing for cross-examination. Even skeptics like James, Jesus' half-brother, and Saul (who became Paul), a persecutor of Christians, were converted by their encounters with the risen Lord. The diversity, number, and character of these eyewitnesses provide overwhelming cumulative evidence that cannot be easily dismissed.

Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.

John 20:19-20

The Transformation of the Disciples

Before the resurrection, Jesus' disciples were a fearful, confused, and scattered group. After Jesus' crucifixion, they were hiding behind locked doors, terrified of the Jewish authorities (John 20:19). Peter, their outspoken leader, had denied Jesus three times. Their hopes were shattered, and their movement seemed utterly defeated.

However, something dramatic happened that utterly transformed these timid men and women into bold, fearless evangelists willing to face persecution and even death for their message. That transformative event was their encounter with the risen Christ. The book of Acts vividly portrays this change.

But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words... This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

Acts 2:14, Acts 2:32

Peter, who had denied Jesus, now stood before thousands in Jerusalem, boldly proclaiming the resurrection. The disciples who had fled now preached openly in the temple courts, enduring beatings and imprisonment with joy (Acts 5:40-42). This radical shift in their character and courage, from despair to unwavering conviction, is inexplicable apart from a real, physical encounter with their resurrected Lord. They were not propagating a lie; they were testifying to a truth for which they were willing to give their lives.

The Birth and Rapid Growth of the Christian Church

The Christian church exploded onto the scene in the first century, originating from a small band of disheartened followers of a crucified leader. Within a few decades, it had spread throughout the Roman Empire, converting thousands and challenging established religious and political powers. This rapid and unprecedented growth is historically inexplicable without a powerful, catalyzing event at its core.

The central message of the early church was not merely the teachings of Jesus, nor His miracles, nor His death, but overwhelmingly His resurrection. The apostles constantly preached that God had raised Jesus from the dead:

And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 4:33

The resurrection provided the divine vindication of Jesus' claims, the assurance of eternal life, and the power for transformed living. It gave hope to the hopeless and courage to the persecuted. No other historical event can adequately explain the sudden emergence, rapid expansion, and enduring resilience of the Christian church, which began with no political power, no military might, and no social prestige, but only the message of a risen Christ.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.

Acts 5:29-32

The Shift from Sabbath to Sunday Worship

For centuries, the Sabbath (Saturday) had been the sacred day of worship for Jews, a commandment deeply embedded in their law and identity (Exodus 20:8-11). Yet, the early Jewish Christians, devout in their adherence to the Law, began to gather for worship on the first day of the week, Sunday. This profound shift in a deeply ingrained religious practice is a powerful indicator of a momentous event that occurred on that day.

The consistent pattern in the New Testament is that Christians met on the first day of the week, the day of Christ's resurrection.

And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

Acts 20:7

Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

1 Corinthians 16:2

This change was not arbitrary; it was a direct commemoration of the day Christ rose from the dead. The resurrection transformed the day of rest from the Sabbath into the Lord's Day (Revelation 1:10), signifying a new covenant and a new creation inaugurated by Christ's victory over death. Such a significant and widespread alteration of a fundamental religious practice would only occur in response to an event of unparalleled historical and theological importance – the resurrection of their Lord.