Conclusion of Jesus Christ Our Questions Answered

Question:
Can we really believe that Jesus was resurrected from the dead?

Answer:  Yes, Jesus fully expected to be raised from the dead.  (Matthew 16:21)  It is important to  note, however, that neither Jesus nor the Bible writers ever claimed that he would rise from the dead by natural means.  Such a notion would be beyond  belief.  Rather, the Bible says: "God resurrected him by loosing the pangs of death."  (Acts 2:24) If we accept that there is a God and that he is the Creator of all things, then we have every reason to believe that he could raise his Son from the dead. -Hebrews 3:4.

Is there credible evidence that Jesus was resurrected? Consider the following.

*  Eyewitness testimony.  About 22 years after Jesus died, the apostle Paul wrote that there had been upwards of 500 witnesses who saw the resurrected Jesus and that most of them were still alive when Paul was writing.  (1 Corinthians 15:6) One or two witnesses might be easy to dismiss, but who could refute the testimony of 500 eyewitnesses?

*  Credible witnesses.  Jesus' eagerly disciples -who were in a unique position to know what really happened-boldly proclaimed that Jesus was resurrected.  (Acts 2:29-32; 3:13-15) In fact, they viewed belief in his resurrection as essential to the Christians faith.  (1 Corinthians 15:12-19)  Those disciples were willing to die rather  than renounce their faith in Jesus.  (Acts 7:51-60; 12:1, 2) Do you know anyone who would knowingly and willingly die for a lie?

We have considered the Bible's answer to six key questions about Jesus.  Those answers clearly tell us who Jesus is.  But do the answers really matter?  (they matter to me)  In other words, does it make a difference what you choose to believe about Jesus?

Next time:Do the Answers Matter?

The Watchtower, 2012