IS CHRIST’S RESURRECTION HISTORICAL?

By Christina M Wilson

Sometimes Christians will hear a so-called “scholar” or nay-sayer proclaim that the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb is not “historical.” Yes, it is historical, and here’s why.

In 2004 I had the blessed experience to accompany the mother of a close friend back to her home on a commune near Haifa. Towards the end of my trip, I had a few days on my own. I visited Jerusalem.

When it was time to leave, I wandered around the streets just outside the old city walls looking for a bus stop. I happened upon a quiet sign that read, “Garden Tomb.” A short while later, I sat alone in a dug out portion of rock in the face of a small cliff.

I sat for some time waiting for a “spiritual message” as I read various Scriptures posted on the wall. One said, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.” –Matthew 28:6. All else lay quiet, including my heart.

Eventually, the message broke through to me, “He is not here.” Indeed, except for myself, the tomb remained quite empty. So, I also left. What is the point?

What this “doubting Thomas” learned is that Jesus is not in his tomb. I saw it with my own eyes. And this whole experience has remained with me over the years. It is part of my “history” with the Lord—a personal interaction he and I experienced together. There are many, many more.

This Easter, ask your friends who claim to know the Lord what their history is with him. Everyone who claims to know the Lord has such a history. It’s called their testimony. Maybe someone might want to share theirs below.

The first photo below is what the tomb looks like, a la Wikipedia. I lost the photo taken of me by some passersby. (But I was still wearing a long black jacket and carrying a black backpack purse–just like today!

The second photo is one I took inside the city walls. It reminds me that Jesus said, “I am the bread of life.”