Is there any proof Jesus rose from the dead?

This is a monumental question; one that has to be supported with empirical evidence. Christians do not (or at least should not) question the resurrection of Christ. Why? Our eternal destiny depends upon Him rising from the dead. Otherwise, why in the world should we bother celebrating Easter or attending any worship services on Sunday or any other day?

So, if someone were to challenge you and say, “prove Jesus rose from the grave!” What would you tell them? Here are some Biblical proofs you could give them.

1.       The empty tomb – The angel said to the two Mary’s, “Do not be alarmed and frightened, for I know that you were looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay” (Matthew 28:5-6).

2.       The ardent disbelief of the Apostles and subsequent radical conversion - The disciples’ willingness to boldly preach the gospel would have never occurred if Jesus had not risen from the dead. It would have been foolish for them to suffer persecution and death for Christ’s sake if Jesus had remained entombed.  But, by virtue of the fact that their boldness in Christ was turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6) was a clear indication that Jesus was alive, otherwise all their preaching would have been pointless, and no one would have taken them seriously.

3.       The testimony of the non-believing religious leaders -  When a crippled man was healed by the hands of Peter and John the religious leaders said, “What shall we do with these men? For a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it” (Acts 4:16).

Even the religious leaders knew the power of God was with the Apostles. Had Jesus remained dead, no power would have been given to Peter and John to perform miraculous signs like Jesus did. This once again proves Jesus had raised from the dead.

3a. Also, by virtue of the fact the religious leaders paid the Roman soldiers to lie and say the disciples stole Jesus’ body proves the resurrection (Matt 27:63-64). Why does anyone tell a lie? To cover up the truth. The religious leaders perhaps had more confidence in Jesus resurrection than the disciples who did not believe in the resurrection at all (merely conjecture on the writer’s part).  The religious leaders and the Roman soldiers who fell down as dead when the angel came down and rolled away the stone had to save face (Matt 28:2-3); the leaders had to make sure word did not get out to the masses that Jesus actually rose from the dead or else that would have ruined their reputation and influence on the people. For the soldiers, the lie was good for them because for a Roman soldier to fall asleep at their post, and to lose a dead prisoner from a sealed tomb (which obviously never happened before ever) would bring certain embarrassment at the least, and at the worse death. The Roman legions were the best-trained soldiers on earth. They would not have let a live prisoner escape let alone a dead one get stolen. This proves something miraculous happened – the resurrection. If the disciples had stolen Jesus’ body, Pilate or the religious leaders could have demanded they produce it so they could either burn it or hack it to pieces and put the matter to rest once and for all.

4.       Jesus was seen by over 500 followers – Paul declares that over 500 followers saw Jesus alive at the same time (I Corinthians 15:5). There have been critics who have made erroneous accusations saying these people were hallucinating which is ridiculous! When have that many people hallucinated the same vision? Never! The reality that many believers testified to His resurrection proves He was alive.  It would have been utter nonsense for that many people to gather together to worship a dead man.     

5.       Jesus prophesied His own death and resurrection – Numerous times in scripture Jesus predicted His own death and resurrection:

a.       From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised (Matthew 16:21).

b.      As they were gathering in Galilee Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is about to be delivered in the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day” (Matthew 17:22-23a).

c.       And taking the twelve, He said to them, “See we are going to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging Him, they will kill Him, and on the third day He will rise (Luke 18:31-33).

d.      “Just as the Father knows me, I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep. And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock and one shepherd. For this reason, the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it up again. No one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from My Father (John 10:15-18).

Jesus’ self-testimony proves His resurrection. The resurrected Lord rebuked the disciples for their unbelief for He told them numerous times that He would die and rise again (Mark 16:14). Another clear proof of His death and resurrection were the marks of Jesus’ humiliation in His body; the pierced hands and feet along with His pierced side which Jesus invited His disciples to examine (Luke 24:36-43).

The resurrection is absolutely central to the gospel. Without it, there is no good news; no one could ever be saved without Jesus raising from the dead. No resurrection, no salvation, and no hope. We all would die in our sins and spend eternity in the lake of fire. It’s tragic and utterly blasphemous to disbelieve in the resurrection! Anyone who does not believe the testimony of Jesus’ resurrection will spend eternity without Him.

All of the above is obviously from the written Word of God. It gives the most vivid accounts of Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection. All four gospels testify to the resurrection along with every NT book (27 infallible proofs).

Paul argued in I Corinthians 15:12-20, “Now if Christ is preached that He has risen from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up – if in fact the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And, if Christ is not risen, then your faith is futile, you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep (a euphemism for death) in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and we have become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

And finally, when Jesus met up with two disciples on the road to Emmaus they did not recognize the Lord. They were discussing with Jesus the things that happened leading up to his crucifixion. Jesus rebuked them for not believing in the resurrection (Luke 24:25-27).

As a result, Jesus had to give these two men an OT Bible study. In Luke 24:27 it says, “And beginning at Moses, and all the prophets, He expounded to them all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

With the reality that Jesus is alive and standing at the right hand of the Father in heaven (Acts 7:55-56), His resurrection proves without doubt that He is also God. For only a God-Man could raise 

Himself from the dead.

No other religious leader at any time in human history has ever raised themselves from the dead.