Is there any evidence of Jesus’ resurrection?

“We have confirmation of the words of the prophets”—2 Peter 1:19 NJB

Is the story of Jesus’ resurrection true? If so, how can we be sure? Let’s begin by examining four lines of evidence: that Jesus was really dead, his tomb was found empty, he then appeared to many witnesses, and finally, eyewitness accounts of encounters with the resurrected Jesus.

1.       Jesus was really dead.

a.       Publicly executed before A large crowd. (Matthew 27:39-44; Matthew 27:54-56; Mark 15:29-32; Mark 15:40-41; Lk 23:26-32; Luke 23:35-38; Luke 23:47-49; John 19:19-26)

b.     Certified as dead.

                                                               i.      By the centurion in charge of execution – a professional whose job it was to determine that death had taken place (Matthew 27:54; Matthew 15:39; Luke 23:47.)

                                                             ii.      By regional Roman governor Pontius Pilate, who sent to have Jesus’ death confirmed. (Mark 15:42-45) – He granted the corpse to Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 28:57,58; Mark 15:42-45; Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38).

2.       The tomb was found empty.

a.       Buried in new tomb, never used before (Luke 23:52-53.) Jesus’ body could not have been confused with someone else’s, since it was the only body there.
In perfect condition, easy to locate (John 19:41-42).

b.      When friends came second morning after, the body was gone. (Matthew 28:1-7; Mark 16:1-8; Lk 24:1-7; John 20:1-2)

c.       Sealed tomb with enormous boulder and posted guards by enemies. (Matthew 27:62-66)

d.      Who emptied the tomb? Humans or God?

                                                               i.      Not his enemies, who would have produced his body to prove he was dead (not resurrected).

                                                             ii.      Not his disciples, who were very demoralized (Mark 16:8; Luke 24:4-5; Luke 24:9-11; John 20:11-16).

3.       Jesus appeared to many witnesses in his resurrected state on earth prior to going back to heaven (Acts 1:3; Acts 2:32; Acts 5:31-32). Just hallucinations? No way, since it is impossible for over 500 people to have the exact same hallucination at they are time, for example. (1 Corinthians 15:4-8)

4.       Countless people have encountered the living Jesus and been changed by him (Acts 9:1-30).

In this article, we have seen four lines of evidence of Jesus’ resurrection.