Now if these accounts from the four gospels isn’t enough, what are some ways we can look into the Bible and receive more assurance that the resurrection is indeed true? Let’s start with the number of people who actually saw Jesus. As we will read in the scripture below, the 12 disciples and three women were not the only ones to see Jesus:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
(1 Corinthians 15:3-8 – ESV)

These are the words of Paul. Not only did Mary Magdalene see Him, but His disciples saw Him. And not only did Mary and His disciples see Him, but more than 500 Christians saw Him all at once. He then appeared to His brother James and then appeared to Paul.

When Jesus appeared to His disciples in the room where they were gathered, it is important to note that He did not appear as a spirit but as one who had flesh. This was proof of His resurrection for if He was only a spirit, then He would not have fit the requirements for a resurrection. Remember when Jesus called out Lazarus from the tomb in John 11? When Lazarus came out, he came out in the flesh and not in the spirit. This is also what Jesus did.

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.
(Luke 24:36-43 – ESV)

So Jesus appeared in the flesh to hundreds of people after His resurrection. Now when we consider Paul, we must understand that this was perhaps one of the greatest conversions ever recorded in the Bible. For those who are skeptical of the validity of Jesus’ resurrection, consider the fact that one of the greatest resistors to Christ became one of the greatest servants of the Lord.

For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
(1 Corinthians 15:9 – ESV)

What is the significance about Jesus appearing to Paul? According to the book of Acts, Paul was one of the harshest persecutors of the early church. In Acts 7, he stood in approval and watched as people stoned Stephen to death. And then he made it his calling to persecute Christians to no end. But in Acts 9, as Paul was on the road to Damascus, something fantastic happened to this Pharisee.

Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”
(Acts 9:3-6 – ESV)

This was one of the most important conversions in the early church. Here was a man who was devoted to the destruction of the church and after an encounter with the risen Lord, He became arguably the strongest advocate for the gospel during his lifetime. His testimony is evidence to the fact that Jesus came back to life for if Jesus didn’t, there would be no way he would have encountered Him on the road to Damascus or drastically changed his life. This same Paul was instrumental in the gospel being spread to the Gentiles and also became the author of several New Testament books. Could this have happened if the resurrection wasn’t true?

The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
(Matthew 27:62-66 – ESV)

These passages are interesting portions of scripture because we read that very special care was taken by the Romans and religious Jews to ensure that Jesus’ disciples could not steal Jesus’ body from the tomb so that they could declare that He was risen from the dead. For Jesus to get out of that tomb required something that was beyond the ability of man to do. First, it was shut by a heavy stone that would take many men to roll back. Secondly, it was guarded so the disciples would have been met with resistance if they stole the Lord’s body. Thirdly, the disciples and female followers of Jesus were all shocked when they found out the body was no longer in the tomb. And fourthly:

While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
(Matthew 28:11-15 – ESV)

Jesus indeed rose from the grave and came back to life as He said He would do. Not all the precautions or bribes in the world could prevent this from becoming a fact. There is so much evidence that the Bible is true in the scriptures and even out of the scriptures concerning the resurrection. Take courage in the fact that the Lord indeed conquered death and if we hold fast to the faith, we will conquer through Jesus as well.

Have you experienced the resurrected Christ in your life? Have you repented of your sins and believed in His death and resurrection for your atonement and for eternal life? And is your life changed, being conformed to a godly and holy existence? You can experience all of these things if you are willing to repent of your sins and believe in Jesus for the resurrection is true.

Jesus said to her, “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 – ESV)

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