6-The resurrection of Jesus Christ

Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection go to the heart of Christianity. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then no rational person should follow him, but if he did rise from the dead, that event confirms his radical claim (to be God come to earth as a man). These issues are not matters of “faith” but of historical fact—either he did or he didn’t—and can be investigated and assessed as such.

In this lecture I consider the historical evidence, which indicates, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Jesus bodily rose from the grave, just as he said he would. The alleged alternative explanations which I discuss are: Jesus’ resurrection is only a “legend” that developed later; psychological explanations; Jesus’ resurrection was only “spiritual”; the disciples were hallucinating or had visions; and the body was moved or taken.