Richard Dawkins was asked, “What do you think happened to the body of Jesus, and how does that tally with the accounts of the resurrection?” His answer: “Presumably, what happened to Jesus was what happens to all of us when we die. We decompose. Accounts of Jesus’ resurrection and ascension are about as well-documented as Jack and the Beanstalk.” Is he correct? Are the gospel accounts simply fairy tales? Are Christians naïve for believing that Jesus rose from the grave? Dawkins’ doubts are entirely understandable, especially considering who the original resurrection sceptics were.
Richard Dawkins’ doubts are entirely understandable.
This article will consider selected historical events that occurred on the first resurrection Sunday. We will reflect on the startling account of Jesus’ closest friends’ initial scepticism and unbelief regarding his bodily resurrection. Thereafter, we will briefly consider objections raised against the resurrection—and a strong argument that the teaching of the resurrection, and perhaps even the specific formulation of the creedal tradition in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7, dates to 30 AD! We will end with an opportunity for personal reflection.
Understandable Scepticism
On the Sunday after Jesus’ burial, we read that several women returned to the tomb (Luke 23:55-24:7). They intended to anoint his body with spices—even though they didn’t know who would roll the stone from the mouth of the tomb (Mark 16:3). When they arrived, the stone had been moved to the side, and the tomb was empty (Matthew 28:2-6). Only the linen clothes remained (John 20:5). Angelic messengers told these astonished, trembling women that Jesus had risen from the dead. They immediately went to the eleven remaining disciples.
If they’d made up the resurrection, they certainly wouldn’t have made women the primary eyewitnesses.
What was the response of the men who had walked and talked with Jesus for three years? Celebration? Praise? Delight? No. They didn’t believe these faithful women. They were distrustful and viewed their account as nonsense (Luke 24:11; Mark 16:13). Perhaps we could call theirs a reasonable scepticism? Understandable? To their credit, Peter and John immediately sprinted to the tomb (John 20:10). Yet they still didn’t understand. It didn’t help that a woman’s testimony was not credible in that society and time; it was actually inadmissible in court. If the early church had made up the resurrection story, they would certainly not have had women as their primary eyewitnesses.
The Original Doubters and Cynics
Jesus’ Disciples: Broken
The disciples still weren’t out declaring Jesus’ victory over death that evening after the women had come to them. Not at all! Instead, they were fearfully huddled in a locked room in Jerusalem (John 20:19). The remarkable fact is that the original resurrection sceptics were Jesus’ disciples: Peter, John, James, Matthew, Thomas, and their friends. They knew Lazarus and what had happened in Bethany (John 11:44). They had seen countless miracles and heard Jesus’ extraordinary teachings. Yet they didn’t believe the women’s testimony. Their devastation following Jesus’ brutal death cannot be overstated.
The original resurrection sceptics were Jesus’ disciples.
Yet, the disciples should have anticipated Jesus’ resurrection. After Peter confessed that he believed Jesus to be the Messiah, Jesus explained to the disciples that he had to suffer, be rejected, be killed, and rise again after three days (Mark 8:29-32). Later, he repeated these words, but the disciples still didn’t understand (Mark 9:31-32). As they approached Jerusalem for the final time, Jesus told them that he would be condemned to death, mocked, spat upon, flogged and killed, but—after three days—he would rise (Mark 10:33-34). What was the disciples’ response? James and John asked for prominent seats in heaven (Mark 10:35-37)!
Jesus’ disciples were not very different from us; they were doubting, slow to understand, and self-promoting. The original resurrection sceptics! The glorious nature of Jesus’ resurrection only dawned on the downhearted disciples when he ate with them and invited them to place their hands on his wounded side (Luke 24:39-43; John 20:27; John 21:12-15).
The Apostle Paul: Bitter
Perhaps the most radical first-century resurrection cynic was Paul, also known as Saul. He was leading the persecution of the early church, even approving the stoning to death of Christ’s followers (Acts 8:1-3; Acts 9:1-2). How did the most vigorous opponent of the early church become one of its foremost ambassadors? It took a blinding encounter with the risen Christ (Acts 9:3-19).
The church didn’t invent the resurrection; instead, the church was created by it.
In one of Paul’s letters, he later wrote that there were over 500 eyewitnesses of the resurrected Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:4-8). As we consider the historical accounts of Jesus and the resurrection—not only in the Bible but also recorded by first-century secular and Jewish historians—it is evident that if Jesus had not risen from the grave, the frightened, confused disciples would never have emerged from behind their locked door to become fearless preachers and even martyrs (1 Corinthians 15:13-16). The church did not invent the resurrection; instead, the church was created by the resurrection.
Arguments for the Resurrection
Various conspiracy theories discounting the resurrection—such as the swoon, theft, hallucination, and wrong-tomb theories, or that the Jews or Romans moved Jesus’ body—have been well refuted. The tomb was sealed, secured, and guarded to prevent his disciples’ theft of Jesus’ body (Matthew 27:62-66).
It isn’t an allegory or a blind leap of faith in a kid’s story.
When Jesus was resurrected, there was a great earthquake, and an angel rolled the stone away. The Roman soldiers trembled with dread (Matthew 28:2-5). After the guards reported what had happened, instead of marvelling at this spectacular miracle of reversal, the religious leaders birthed the original resurrection propaganda theory (Matthew 28:11-13)—which is profoundly ironic because they had requested that Pilate place the guards at the tomb to prevent Jesus’ disciples from inventing the very story which they created (Matthew 27:62–66).
We should, therefore, not be surprised when friends, family, colleagues, or neighbours are sceptical of the Christian hope of resurrection. Perhaps you have your own doubts and questions. Realise that the hope of life beyond the grave is not a fairy tale, fantasy, fiction, or fanciful. Nor is it an allegory; or a blind leap of faith in a kid’s story, akin to Jack and his beanstalk.
Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and post-resurrection appearances are historical facts. Gary Habermas helpfully demonstrates that the resurrection account was not copied from other religions, myths, or legends. Rather, he shows that critical scholars (i.e. unbelievers but experts in this field of study) agree that the specific formulation of the creed that Paul presented in 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 dates to 30 AD.
An Astounding Claim, and Invitation
Jesus unequivocally claimed to be God, the ultimate source of truth and life (John 14:6). Why else would the Jews have wanted to stone him for blasphemy (John 10:31-39)? Ironically, after raising Lazarus from the dead, the chief priests and Pharisees made plans to put him to death (John 11:53). At that time—before he raised Lazarus from the dead—Jesus laid down the gauntlet for Martha (Lazarus’ sister), and us! He boldly declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:25).
It requires a radical response.
This is what it comes to: an astounding claim. A glorious offer of spiritual life and a timeless hope. It requires a radical response. Do you believe this? Today is the day of salvation. Not tomorrow! It is prudent to doubt up to a point. But you should consider the plausible claim of the God-man who defeated death and sin. Will you trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins and the joyful hope of future glory?
