74. The Resurrection; A Hoax?

The Testimony of the Women:
“Any evidence which a woman [gives] is not valid (to offer), also they are not valid to offer. This is equivalent to saying that one who is Rabbinically accounted a robber is qualified to give the same evidence as a woman” (Talmud, Rosh Hashannah 1.8).
In all four gospels, the recorded account mentions that the first to give testimony of the resurrection were the Women (Matt 28:8; Mark 16:8; Luke 24:10; John 20:18). Had this been some big hoax, choosing women in this culture was not the way to win converts. Even the disciples thought the women were nuts at first, But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Luke 24:11

The Guards and the Body:
Matt 27 tells us that Pilate placed a roman guard to watch over the tomb. This is not singular as some text describe, a Roman guard consisted of 4-16 trained and armed soldiers. Acting cowardly and failing to uphold ones post was punishable by death. The glory of the Roman soldier was to die honorably, not as a coward, so it is unlikely to say that a few scarred fishermen overpowered them. And can it even be conceivable that the apostles had enough money to bribe the guards to risk their lives?

Furthermore, the early testimonies and eye whiteness accounts were to the Jews. Had the Jews wanted to refute the apostle’s claims, all that was needs was a body, but a body could not be produced; it wasn’t there.

The Transformation:
When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. Matt 28:17

When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen Him, they did not believe it. Mark 16:11

But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Luke 24:11-12

Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it." John 20:24-25

Tell me, what causes men who were terrified of persecution; who ran away from their teacher when He was arrested; who denied even knowing Him when asked; who locked the doors and ate is secret fearing death by having associated with Jesus; who strongly doubted the resurrection; and even doubted that He was the alive thinking He was some sort of ghost (Lk 20:37); to completely change composure and direction of will and mind to announce Christ and His being risen to a hostile and unbelieving people facing certain persecution and rejection; suffering economic, familial, social, and religious difficulties and ultimately facing death for the sake of your story... your lie... your hoax?

The disciples had nothing to gain; we see that in there teachings throughout the early church. Giving up everything they had to serve the lord in obedience. They taught others to love and to be charitable, to care for the needy; they taught against hypocrisy (like Jesus had) and against the love of money, and fame, and power. They lived their lives in the service of others and most of all they lived and died for the sake of sharing Christ and Himself crucified and risen. Moreover Paul, the feared and zealous persecutor of the early Christian church was on his way, with orders, to arrest and drag these followers back to Jerusalem for punishment; claimed to had seen this resurrected Jesus. His life would never be the same! Paul hated Jesus, and all Christians for the “lies” he believed they proclaimed. So what changed him; A seizure? What could possibly turn such a man in an opposing direction if not the Lord Himself? Even Paul mentions what it would be like if it were not true,

And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:14-17

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. 15:19

This is not a mid eastern myth produced by fanatical followers who concocted the story to satisfy an agenda and overthrow their Jewish brothers. Neither can it be said that the apostles told a lie or mistakenly took an empty tomb for a resurrection and spent their lives deceiving others for selfish gain, money and popular acceptance. These men and the ones to follow their claims had their lives changes by a person, a person they witnessed come back from the dead, giving them hope in future glory to the level of producing willingness for self-sacrifice and death.

This person is Jesus, He is the Christ, and He is risen indeed.

Believe it.