Sunday, April 5, 2015

The Resurrection of Jesus

Here's an excellent series of short videos on the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus, along with responses to common objections. The videos feature William Lane Craig, Gary Habermas, Mike Licona, Amy Orr-Ewing, and N. T. Wright.

The Resurrection of Jesus: Why It Matters


Does Science Show That Jesus' Resurrection Is Impossible?


How Can We Know about Jesus' Resurrection When It Happened So Long Ago?


Did Belief in Jesus' Resurrection Arise through Legend?


Was the Resurrection Story Copied from Pagan Myths?


Did Jesus Die by Crucifixion, or Did He Merely Pass Out?


Did Jesus' Followers Lie about Seeing Him?


Did Jesus' Followers Hallucinate?


Was Jesus' Tomb Found Empty?


What Difference Does Jesus' Resurrection Make?


What about Contradictions in Biblical Narratives of the Resurrection?

19 comments:

Andy said...

Good stuff from some great scholars

Unknown said...

Miracles happen. It happened in the past, and it will happen in future also. Science can’t explain as well as repeat in laboratory. Only recently it was in national news of America that a baby of only one and a half year old was saved while baby’s mother was killed when the car plunged into a ditch on a roadside. Baby was rescued about 10/12 hours later after the accident. This is miracle science cannot repeat it in laboratory. Only witness proves miracle happened.

In the miracle of our Lord Jesus’ resurrection, He appeared to 500 people as evidence of His Resurrection. Four Gospels written in different time by different writers bear witness of this historical event.

But alas, 1.2 billion Muslims believe Muhammad without evidence or historical documents. Muslims believe Muhammad by his words only, by blind faith. History says original Quran written by Abu Bakr after death of Muhammad, was rewritten by Caliph ‘Uthman 19 years after death of Muhammad burning all Quran written by Abu Bakr. Surely it lost its holiness and accuracy if it had anything from beginning, by burning original Quran. What truth can we expect from Islam a religion of peace where killing Christians around the world randomly is their part of faith??

Devil must have downfall we know it, like Hitler. God will punish Muslims when it is His time.

Mahsheed said...

Nojmul,

God will judge all of us and may we all receive His mercy, including and especially Muslims. Just remember:

47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. (Luke 12:47-48)

Unknown said...

@Mahsheed,

You are absolutely right the more one have, the more one have responsibility to do for other, and would be judged accordingly by God. God’s mercy is for everybody who follows footstep of Jesus Christ; no other person has that quality as our Lord Jesus Christ have.

Foolishness or ignorance are no excuse from God’s punishment. All people of the World knows about Jesus Christ, His sacrifice for mankind and Resurrection. Muslims know: 1) God is Justice, Righteous, Kind and Merciful, then how does Muslim believe the same God of Righteous allow Muslims to kill non-Muslims as commanded in Quran? The Quran must be wrong.

Interestingly there is no strong protests from majority Muslims when a Christian/non-Muslims is killed by the name of Almighty God. This is true blasphemy.

Unknown said...

This may be a question that is easily answered, but:

For what reason do Muslims believe that anyone died on the cross? If Jesus did not claim to be the Messiah, then what begat such a punishment, even if it would not be Him who suffered it?

Mahsheed said...

Nojmul,

My impression from reading your multiple comments to different posts is that you are saying God will punish "all Muslims", which I take issue with.

For the record is it your belief that all non-Christians will go to Hell or just Muslims? Buddhists? Hindus? Jews? Atheists/humanists/nones? Please clear that up for me.

Mahsheed said...

Clint,

Interesting question that never occurred to me, and I'm an ex-Muslim...I guess it's just assumed, as I did, that the cross is a heinous punishment reserved for criminals and rebels. If you had asked me then, I might have replied that he was a threat to the status quo. Or that he claimed to be king.

Unknown said...

Mahsheed,

Thank you for your response. Could you maybe flesh it out a little more? Sorry, I just would like to know a little more.

Unknown said...

Well, what exactly is the reason that Jesus was arrested, from the Roman Guards' perspectives? Why did they claim to arrest him? Because He was causing a great commotion?

Unknown said...

In the Gospels, Jesus is arrested and taken to the Sanhedrin, where multiple witnesses are brought before Caiaphas, many bringing false evidence against Him until one He responded to Caiaphas' demand to know if He were the Messiah:

“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

In the morning, He was handed to Pilate. Pilate did not find any fault in Jesus, and did not wish for Him to be crucified. However, the Jews insisted on His crucifixion. In the end, He was crucified because they believed He claimed to be the Son of God. So, then He either did claim to be so, or He didn't, regardless of whether or not He actually was crucified, which is another topic.

So, then does the very fact He was to be crucified prove He claimed to be God?

Unknown said...

“For the record is it your belief that all non-Christians will go to Hell or just Muslims? Buddhists? Hindus? Jews? Atheists/humanists/nones? Please clear that up for me.”- Mahsheed

@Mahsheed,

We know that Jesus will judge and punish those who do not wear wedding dress according to parable Wedding Feast Matthew 22:1–14. We also know that we know God the Father thru eyes of Jesus Christ, John 14:9. No other person in the world has seen God, other than Jesus Christ. So those who do not believe Jesus cannot serve true God who created this world.

Some verses are given for your justification:

1) 2 Thessalonians 1:8 “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.”

2) Romans 2:8
But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger.

3) Galatians 4:8
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods.

4) 1 Peter 4:17
For it is time for judgment to begin with God's household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?

5) Jude 1:7
In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

I hope this answer your question. Thanks.

Mahsheed said...

Clint,

I think what you have is a subtle argument for the divinity of Jesus. I don't know if it works to persuade Muslims, why not try it on the field?

As for me I don't think it might because Muslims tend not to know scriptures very well. It wouldn't occur to me wonder why Jesus was crucified, the Scriptures puzzled me in those days and it seemed pretty clear the Pharisees had it in for Jesus for a long time and Pilate did what he did to put down a rebellion. Everyone had their motives and it's common knowledge that prophets aren't treated well.

Mahsheed said...

Nojmul,

I appreciate the verses but you actually didn't answer my question.

Shall I take it you are saying all non-Christians will go to Hell? All those groups yes or no?

If that's your belief just own it. I'm not offended, just want to know where you are coming from.

Secondly, what is your denomination and for how long?

Mahsheed said...

Triune God (Christianity vs. Islam)

There is nothing in the least liberal or akin to reform in the substitution of pure monotheism for the Trinity. The complex God of the Athanasian Creed may be an enigma for the intellect; but He is far less likely to gather the mystery and cruelty of a Sultan than the lonely god of Omar or Mahomet. The god who is a mere awful unity is not only a king but an Eastern king. The HEART of humanity, especially of European humanity, is certainly much more satisfied by the strange hints and symbols that gather round the Trinitarian idea, the image of a council at which mercy pleads as well as justice, the conception of a sort of liberty and variety existing even in the inmost chamber of the world. For Western religion has always felt keenly the idea “it is not well for man to be alone.” The social instinct asserted itself everywhere as when the Eastern idea of hermits was practically expelled by the Western idea of monks. So even asceticism became brotherly; and the Trappists were sociable even when they were silent. If this love of a living complexity be our test, it is certainly healthier to have the Trinitarian religion than the Unitarian. For to us Trinitarians (if I may say it with reverence)—to us God Himself is a society. It is indeed a fathomless mystery of theology, and even if I were theologian enough to deal with it directly, it would not be relevant to do so here. Suffice it to say here that this triple enigma is as comforting as wine and open as an English fireside; that this thing that bewilders the intellect utterly quiets the heart: but out of the desert, from the dry places and the dreadful suns, come the cruel children of the lonely God; the real Unitarians who with scimitar in hand have laid waste the world. For it is not well for God to be alone. (Chapter 8) GK Chesterton

Unknown said...

Mahsheed,

Yeah, that's true. Thank you much for your insight on it. You're right - I think it might not work as well, just because we know it's more of a heart problem than a lack of evidence. I just wanted to ake sure it's logically sound.

Thank you much.

Unknown said...

@Mahsheed,

According to the Bible, to my understanding of the Bible, historical non-Christian good people such as Mahatma Gandhi of India, English physicist Stephen Hawking, Buddha of Nepal, and Muhammad of Mecca etc. though good people to many people of the world won’t pass thru narrow gates of God's Kingdom of Heaven. They may pass 2nd test, loving neighbor but they fail the 1st test loving True God of Heaven. Their God is unknown god/s, not the same Father of Jesus Christ, God of Abraham, Isaack, Jacob. Their original sins transmitted from Adam and Eve plus value added with time to original sins has not been forgiven. Therefore they are not eligible for citizenship of Kingdom of Heaven.

I believe denomination is irrelevant as long Church teaches according to the Bible. Nobody knows God and His Kingdom other than Jesus Christ. Competition raised by different denominations is healthy for propagation of Kingdom of Heaven. Experience in Christianity is also irrelevant as long believe Christ with bottom of one’s heart.

What's your opinion? Thanks.

Mahsheed said...

Nojmul,

Thank you for your answer.

The variety of Protestant denominations have different doctrines and beliefs which is why I always like to ask so I know if they are following their denominational teaching vs. their own private opinion. Bible-only Christians tend to disagree on many if not all important issues.

Generally it puzzles me why I often get evasions from a simple question and don't understand why people would try to witness when they won't be candid about their beliefs? Isn't it because you know on some level it's not an attractive belief? Do you get that you're basically saying that everyone I love, my mother, my father, my ancestors, everyone! is going to Hell because they lived and died Muslims? Do you have non-Christian family and neighbors and do you go around telling them they're going to Hell? I have some personal experiences of Christians who told me that and I would say if that's true, that makes me dislike Jesus for punishing people for being born in the wrong religion while you get a pass and don't even need "works" to back you up.
Plus I don't see what His role is, other than a cosmic traffic cop since you already know what he's going to do you could do the judging for him. :) Just saying He might as well automate the whole process and not bother since apparently it's so simple anyone can do it.

I never liked the idea that people go to Hell just because they were born in the wrong religion, even when I was Muslim. A personal story: Many years I stopped by a Hindu temple to visit as a tourist. When I was going in I made a mental note to myself to signal my disdain for idols in some discrete fashion. But when I finally saw the temple holy man (don't know what are they called?) it occurred to me that he might have a secret line to God that I, a Muslim, don't have and shouldn't judge.

Fortunately the catechism of the Catholic Church is available online to all. The Catholic Church canonizes saints but takes no position on who goes to Hell. We can't even be sure that Judas is in Hell, Scripture notwithstanding. It's not a contradiction to believe that anyone who is saved is saved through Jesus since it could happen at the moment of death.

Mahsheed said...

Clint,

It is sound and compelling argument imo and am borrowing it for my own use.

I think not necessarily a heart problem, it could be an ignorance of Scripture type of problem. Some arguments will resonate more than others because of Muslim presuppositions.

Mahsheed said...

BTW my GK Chesterton quote was meant for another post. Will try to repost in the appropriate thread.