| Many people today assume that the Resurrection | | | | in the Resurrection account, the men who were |
| of Jesus Christ is a legend and not a historical | | | | central to the event were hiding because they |
| event, but are you aware of certain facts that go | | | | were so frightened. If the Resurrection is a |
| against the Resurrection being a myth? | | | | legend, whoever concocted it made women look |
| If you're a skeptic, I want to challenge you to | | | | like courageous heroes, while the men were |
| read the rest of this article. Something amazing | | | | portrayed as wimps! This would not have fit in |
| just might happen to you! | | | | with acceptable societal standards of that day and |
| Please consider the following seven points: | | | | age. |
| 1. It takes time for a myth to develop, but belief | | | | 6. The first appearance of Jesus Christ to one of |
| in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ sprang up | | | | his followers, Mary Magdalene, was not described |
| instantly. | | | | in superlative terms. In fact, when Mary first saw |
| A myth gradually develops over a period of time | | | | Jesus, she assumed He was a gardener and didn't |
| as one person after another adds his or her own | | | | even recognize Him! If the Resurrection is a myth, |
| view to the original story. Thus, it really takes a | | | | the description of the legendary death-overcoming |
| number of generations for a legend to become | | | | hero would have been written in a much more |
| stabilized in its final form. | | | | dramatic way. As you are aware from watching |
| However, in the case of the Resurrection, it | | | | movies and reading about Greek and Roman |
| happened in a particular place at a particular time | | | | gods, the stories glorify these supposedly |
| in history -- in Israel during the rule of Pontius | | | | superhuman characters. |
| Pilate. Then the news rapidly spread over the | | | | The Gospel accounts lack the essential elements |
| entire Roman empire. | | | | of describing a mythical superhero. |
| 2. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was not | | | | However, the New Testament records what |
| hidden in a corner, but there were over 500 | | | | actually happened. |
| credible witnesses of this stupendous event! Many | | | | 7. Would the entirely Jewish original church have |
| of these people lived for a long time and were | | | | wanted to worship as their Messiah a crucified |
| available to give their eyewitness accounts of | | | | criminal? |
| their encounters with the risen Jesus Christ of | | | | Something tremendously impressive must have |
| Nazareth. | | | | happened to cause those Jews to follow to the |
| One of these witnesses had originally persecuted | | | | death someone who was considered by Rome to |
| Christians. He felt it was his God-given duty to | | | | be an enemy of the state! |
| eliminate the infant church. This enemy of Christ | | | | An event of monumental proportions did occur! |
| was Saul of Tarsus, who later had his name | | | | Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead! |
| changed to Paul. The Lord Jesus Christ appeared | | | | The Resurrection does not quality as a myth |
| to him as he was on his way to Damascus to get | | | | because it sprang up instantly and there was no |
| legal documents that were needed in order to | | | | time for a legend to develop. Over 500 |
| persecute Christians in that area. Everything | | | | eyewitnesses encountered the living Christ and |
| changed for Saul when suddenly the Lord Jesus | | | | were on hand to tell of their experiences. The |
| encountered him and changed his whole life. | | | | original church was entirely Jewish and Jews don't |
| In our court system today, eyewitnesses are | | | | believe in more than one God. Why would Saul, |
| significant to the outcome of a trial. If over 500 | | | | who later became known as Paul, give up |
| eyewitnesses to a murder showed up to give | | | | everything -- including his life -- to preach the |
| their testimony of what they saw, there would | | | | Gospel when he had been the chief persecutor of |
| be no doubt as to the outcome of the trial. | | | | the first Christians? Why would thousands of |
| 3. It's a well-known fact that Jews do not worship | | | | believers be willing to be martyred for a lie? |
| pleural gods. They worship one God instead of | | | | These early believers were thrown to the lions, |
| many. However, the first church was composed | | | | covered with oil and lit as human torches to light |
| entirely of Jews. What's so significant about that? | | | | up Caesar's garden at night, and met other cruel |
| Since Jews believe in only one God, the death and | | | | deaths. |
| resurrection of mythical gods is totally foreign to | | | | The Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth from the |
| their way of thinking. | | | | dead is a historical fact. Many people through the |
| 4. There is a strange lack in the Bible of a record | | | | centuries have been encountering the living Christ! |
| of the actual Resurrection event itself. If the | | | | As a result, their lives have been transformed. |
| Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead was a | | | | Those who trust Him receive the gift of eternal |
| legend, His actual Resurrection would be described | | | | life... plus joy and peace in this present life -- no |
| in glowing details. | | | | matter what problems they face. |
| 5. Women were the first witnesses of the | | | | What about you? You can meet the living Savior |
| Resurrection of Jesus Christ. However, in that day | | | | too! |
| the testimony of women did not count in courts | | | | "For God so loved the world, that He gave His |
| of law. So why would anyone want to invent a | | | | only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him |
| legend when women were the first witnesses and | | | | should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John |
| their testimony didn't even count? | | | | 3:16). |
| In that day the society was patriarchal. However, | | | | |