#55: The Apologetics of Jesus: His Resurrection
Hello thinker,
We continue our discussion of the apologetics of Jesus based on the book of the same name by Norman Geisler and Patrick Zukeran. [1] Last month we examined his apologetic use of parables. They “illustrated a truth, exposed . . . false ideas, and called for a proper response.” We know, and Jesus certainly demonstrated, that people relate to stories. Propositional teaching has its place, but listeners often better recognize and remember messages disclosed in storytelling. Geisler and Zukeran believe that parables, in fact, are “an effective way to penetrate hardened hearts that are not receptive to a direct presentation of the truth.”
Two months ago, we looked at Jesus’ apologetic use of miracles. His authority over the laws of nature – over creation – confirmed his claims to be the Son of God. This month I want to focus on perhaps our most important miracle, the Resurrection - the historical centerpiece of Christianity. As Paul wrote, “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile . . .” (1 Cor 15:17). In other words, given the importance of this salvific event, we should expect it to be a major part of Jesus’ apologetic. In fact, it “was Christ’s apologetic that confirmed the claims that he made.”
In a longer essay I would discuss the historicity of the resurrection in some detail. Despite the attacks of skeptics and opponents of Christianity, “the resurrection remains one of the most well-documented ancient historical events.” Some of you have taken my class on the historicity of the resurrection where we discussed the “minimal facts” surrounding the occurrence [2] and the inadequate natural explanations offered by skeptics. [3] From a strictly historical analysis and perspective (non-theological), the resurrection remains the best explanation for the facts surrounding the event. Unfortunately, those who reject the resurrection explanation usually presuppose a naturalistic worldview that rejects miracles altogether. Let’s now briefly survey Jesus’ direct apologetic use of the resurrection.
Most of us are familiar with Old Testament prophecies predicting the resurrection of the Messiah. Fulfillment of prophecies is a powerful apologetic in and of itself. [4] But Jesus’ personal apologetic involved predicting his own crucifixion and resurrection.
· “Just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matt 12:40).
· “And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31).
· “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised” (Luke 9:22).
· “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up . . .. He was speaking about the temple of his body” (John 2:19, 21).
· “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 11:25-26)?
Thus, Jesus’ claims to be the source of life and to have power over physical death, and then proceeds to prove it with his resurrection. “The founders of all religions have died, but Christ alone predicted his death, burial, and resurrection and accomplished this feat.”
Geisler and Zukeran conclude,
These passages [and more [5]] reveal that from his early ministry to
the end Jesus predicts his death, burial, and resurrection. Making such
predictions puts Jesus in a precarious position. If these events do not occur,
he could be condemned as a liar and a false prophet, and even his wise
sayings would be discredited by a legacy of false prophecy. But his
predictions prove to be a powerful apologetic because they are indeed
fulfilled, and after his resurrection they echo in the minds of the witnesses
who recall his words.
In Christ,
Doug
[1] Most of this short essay is drawn from chapter 3 (pp. 47-63) of the book, The Apologetics of Jesus by Norman L. Geisler and Patrick Zukeran. All uncited quotes are from this chapter.
[2] According to Gary Habermas and Michael Licona, “minimal facts” (those that 95% of Christian and non-Christian historians believe to be facts) include: Jesus was crucified; the disciples believed he rose from the dead and appeared to them; and Paul’s and James’ sudden conversion as well their suffering and martyrdom in defense of the resurrection. Habermas even notes that 75% of historians believe that Jesus’ tomb was empty.
[3] These natural explanations include: the stolen body, wrong tomb, swoon, conspiracy, hallucination, imposter, and imaginary vision theories.
[4] Such prophecies include: Ps 22:14-18; Isa 52:13-53:12; Dan 9:24-27; and Zech 12:10.
[5] Other passages where Jesus predicted his death, burial, and resurrection are: Matt 16:1-4; Matt 17:9, 22-23; Matt 20:18-19; Mark 9:31; Mark 10:33-34; and John 10:18.
