checking the foundations

Did Jesus really die and come back to life? Seeing such a thing is not part of our everyday experience, so it can be hard to believe. But if the death and resurrection of Jesus are the foundations of Christian faith, it's important to check that these foundations are solid and our faith isn't based on wishful thinking.

There are many theories that Jesus didn't really die, or that he didn't rise from the dead, so how can we begin to sort through what happened? One starting point would be to consider the circumstances surrounding Jesus' death on the cross. Witnesses record the presence of Roman soldiers throughout the crucifixion. Professionals at their task, it is unlikely these soldiers would allow anyone to "swap" the man for someone else, as they risked losing their own lives if they failed their duty. In addition, any possibility that Jesus merely swooned can be cast aside, as witnesses record the soldiers, surprised at how quickly Jesus died, spearing him in the side to make sure he was dead. Only then did they hand over his body for burial. The tomb itself was under the watch of a Roman guard of soldiers, who placed a seal over it, so it is unlikely that someone could steal the body without them noticing.

We must also consider what Jesus said about his death. This record of Jesus' words, from Matthew's account:

When they came together in Galilee, he said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life."

Taking a look at Jesus' life and character, he does not appear to be someone who is out to deceive. Those who knew him and walked with him, trusted him with their lives, even leaving behind family and livelihood to follow him. Following his death and resurrection, Jesus appeared many times to these men and women, and up to 500 witnesses at one time. Many of these witnesses were convinced of what they had seen, and were willing to go to their deaths for what they believed.

So where does this leave us? It seems that there is much we can gather from the accounts of those who were there. For what we are unable to have seen ourselves, we are left to take a step of faith. It may be different from the decision faced by those who saw Jesus and touched the holes in his hands, but just like us, they had to weigh up what they knew and decide from there.