Did Jesus really rise from the dead?
Most historians, Christian or not, accept a few core facts: Jesus was crucified; his tomb was found empty; many people, individuals and groups, believed they saw him alive; and the disciples were transformed from frightened people into bold witnesses willing to die for what they claimed.
Other explanations struggle. Hallucinations don’t happen to groups, or convince sceptics like James and Paul. A stolen body doesn’t explain the appearances. People rarely die for something they know they made up.
The resurrection is the best explanation of the evidence. And if it happened, it changes everything.
From the Bible
3For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
1 Corinthians 15:3–8
36As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” 37But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit. 38He said to them, “Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones, as you see that I have.” 40When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41While they still didn’t believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. 43He took them, and ate in front of them.
Luke 24:36–43