He Has Risen!

Sometime after the resurrection of Jesus, the men who had been guarding the tomb started a rumor that accused the first disciples of stealing the Lord's body during the night. The chief priests offered the soldiers money to start spreading the lie and promised that they would answer any questions the governor, Pontus Pilate, might ask about the whole affair. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that this story was "widely circulated" amongst the people of that time, leaving the impression that the physical resurrection of Jesus was just a big hoax. But was it a hoax? Did the resurrection of Jesus really happen as the Bible says it did?

Well, just for a moment, let us consider the possibility that the resurrection didn't happen as the Bible describes. This would have meant that all the first-century disciples would have given their lives in vain. Just think of it! The early Christians were hunted down, imprisoned, beaten, tortured and many were eventually killed. This would seem absolutely ridiculous if what they were dying for was just a big hoax. In fact, one might well ask, why would anyone die for such a story?

We all know that people can only live with a lie for so long. Sooner of later the truth ends up being exposed for all to see. Charles Colson makes this point when he shares about his Watergate days in the 1970s. He tells of how one by one all the people involved in the scandal came forward to "save themselves" from possible incrimination. Likewise, the first disciples would have faced a similar situation that Colson describes if the resurrection of Jesus were not true. And yet, to their dying days, the united confession of those very brave men and women simply was this: "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact" (Acts 2:32, NIV). They also went on to say, "God has made this Jesus...both Lord and Christ" (v. 36). Indeed, He has risen!