Jesus was publicly executed and buried in a known tomb, yet three days later, that tomb was found empty. This discovery was first made by women, whose testimony was not highly valued in the ancient world, making it unlikely that the story was fabricated. The tomb was heavily guarded by Roman soldiers and sealed with a massive stone, making theft of the body improbable. If Jesus’ enemies had stolen His body, they would have easily disproven the resurrection by displaying it. Yet no one could, because the tomb was truly empty.

After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to numerous individuals and groups, proving He was alive. He was seen by Mary Magdalene, His disciples, two men on the road to Emmaus, and more than 500 people at once, many of whom were still alive when Paul wrote about it (1 Corinthians 15:6). These were not fleeting glimpses or spiritual visions—Jesus spoke, ate, and allowed people to touch Him. With so many eyewitnesses from different settings, the claim of resurrection could not be dismissed as mere hallucination or wishful thinking.

Before the resurrection, Jesus' disciples were fearful, hiding in terror after His crucifixion. Yet afterward, they became bold and unstoppable, openly proclaiming His resurrection despite threats of imprisonment, torture, and death. Peter, who had denied Jesus three times, suddenly preached to thousands on Pentecost with fearless conviction. Thomas, the skeptic, demanded physical proof, and upon seeing Jesus, declared, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28). Such radical transformations are inexplicable unless they genuinely encountered the risen Christ.

A movement based on a crucified leader should have died out immediately—especially under heavy persecution. Yet Christianity exploded across the Roman world. This was not due to wealth, political power, or military force, but the unwavering conviction of those who had seen the risen Jesus. The very city where He was publicly executed, Jerusalem, became the center of the Christian message. Within a few decades, Christianity had spread to Rome and beyond, proving that the resurrection was not just a myth but a movement driven by real events.

For centuries, the Jewish people held sacred traditions given by God, yet after the resurrection, thousands of Jews abandoned key practices. They shifted their day of worship from Saturday (Sabbath) to Sunday, the day Jesus rose. They stopped offering animal sacrifices, recognizing Jesus as the final sacrifice for sin. Even Jesus' own skeptical brother, James, became the leader of the Jerusalem church. These changes were so drastic that only an undeniable, world-shaking event—the resurrection—could explain them.

Skeptics have attempted to explain away the resurrection, yet every alternative theory collapses under scrutiny. The idea that the disciples stole Jesus' body is absurd—they had nothing to gain and were too afraid to challenge the Roman guards. The “swoon theory” (that Jesus merely fainted and later revived) ignores the brutal reality of crucifixion, where Roman executioners ensured death. The hallucination theory is impossible, as mass hallucinations do not happen to entire groups. And the myth theory fails since belief in the resurrection spread instantly, not over centuries, with people willing to die for it. The simplest and most logical conclusion is that Jesus truly rose.

Even ancient historians outside Christianity recorded the impact of Jesus and the belief in His resurrection. The Jewish historian Josephus mentioned Jesus' crucifixion and the claim of His resurrection. Roman historian Tacitus confirmed that Jesus was executed under Pontius Pilate and that His followers rapidly grew, even under persecution. Pliny the Younger, a Roman governor, wrote about early Christians who worshiped Jesus as God. If the resurrection were merely a myth, it is unlikely that non-Christian sources would acknowledge its impact.

Skeptics argue that the Gospels contain minor variations in details, but this actually strengthens their credibility. If they had been fabricated, they would have been carefully harmonized. Instead, the core facts remain consistent: Jesus was crucified, buried, and then seen alive by many. His tomb was empty, His followers were transformed, and the message spread worldwide. The resurrection is not just an article of faith—it is a historical event with overwhelming evidence, standing as the foundation of Christianity.