Jesus’ resurrection was not a conspiracy concocted by a dozen fisherman, scared in the hours after their Rabbi had been framed and murdered. That’s how critics of the Truth like to frame it, but they do so in defiance of common sense.

Why, if they were liars, would they boldly preach their lies to the very people who just killed their master. What reason would they have for such bravery? Why would they suffer, bleed and ultimately die, knowing they were dying for a lie? That defies logic.

Beyond that, the criticism that the resurrection of Jesus was just a myth perpetrated by a few of His disciples betrays history as well. Consider the words of Paul…

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

It was never said, never claimed and never preached that Jesus was seen by only Peter and the other Apostles. They didn’t tell people “take our word for it!” They preached what they saw and what literally hundreds of others saw. The resurrection of Jesus was seen by the women at the tomb, by the Apostles, by over five hundred other believers, and eventually by Paul himself (who was not a believer and in fact had no practical reason to change his faith).

The reason Christianity spread so quickly in the days and years immediately following Jesus’ death is because a strong foundation was already laid. He was seen! People saw Him. They believed. And all they needed after that was someone to help them with what to do with their faith (which the Apostles did).

I wasn’t there. I didn’t see him with human eyes. But hundreds of witnesses did and they were willing to die telling others what they saw. That’s a great source of encouragement and faith for me.

How about you?