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Evidence ID: HIS-EV36
Evidence: Eyewitness Accounts of Jesus' Resurrection
Summary: We observe from the New Testament that Jesus was resurrected with a human body that proved immortal. He appeared to a great number of people, many of whom were alive when Paul and Peter made claims of a physical, bodily resurrection.
Description: Many theories abound regarding the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus. One theory that emerged during the nineteenth century was the hallucination theory [REF-HAL01]. This theory alleges that people merely experienced visions of Jesus after his death. Proponents argue this was the natural response for Jesus' followers who were in a state of bewilderment and depression. This theory is in stark contrast to the teaching of the New Testament [REF-HAB04], [REF-HAL02].
The timeline of Jesus' appearances is summarized in the following table.
| # | New Testament Reference |
Time | Tp Whom | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mark 16:9-11 John 20:11-18 |
Resurrection Sunday | Mary Magdalene | Golgotha, Jerusalem |
| 2 | Matthew 28:9-10 | Resurrection Sunday | Other Women | Jerusalem |
| 3 | Matthew 28:11-15 | Resurrection Sunday | Two Disciples | Road to Emmaus |
| 4 | John 12:23-24 1 Corinthians 15:5 Acts 2:32 Acts 3:15 Acts 2:32 Acts 10:41-42 |
Resurrection Sunday | Eleven Disciples, Peter Present | Jerusalem |
| 5 | Mark 16:14 Luke 24:36-43 John 20:19-25 |
Resurrection Sunday | Ten Disciples, Thomas Absent | Jerusalem |
| 6 | John 20:26-31 1 Corinthians 15:5 |
One Week Later | Eleven Disciples, Thomas Present | Jerusalem |
| 7 | John 21:1-25 | Weeks Later | Eppearance to the Seven Disciples Fishing | Sea of Tiberias |
| 8 | Matthew 28:16-20 Mark 16:15-18 |
Weeks Later | Eleven Disciples | Mountain in Galilee |
| 9 | 1 Corinthians 15:6 Acts 13:31 |
Weeks Later | 500+ Disciples | Galilee Surrounding Area |
| 10 | 1 Corinthians 15:7 | Weeks Later | James, the Brother of Jesus | Unknown |
| 11 | Luke 24:44-49 Acts 1:3-8 |
Weeks Later | Disciples | Jerusalem |
| 12 | Mark 16:19-20 Luke 24:50-53 Acts 1:9-12 |
40th Day Jesus' Ascension |
Disciples | Mount of Olives, Jerusalem |
| 13 | 1 Corinthians 15:8 | After Jesus' Ascension | Paul | Unknown |
Table 1: Post-Resurrection Accounts
These post-resurrection appearances are summarized by Luke in the Book of Acts:
During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. (Acts 1:3 NLT)
Even though Jesus appeared to different people in a variety of locations and contexts, their testimonies corroborate common truths regarding Jesus. It is unanimous from these testimonies that Jesus' resurrected body was physical.
Although many have disputed the nature of Jesus' resurrected body. Was his resurrected body physical or was it merely spiritual? Did he really rise from the dead as a human being?
In 1 Corinthians 15:42-44 , Paul teaches that the resurrected bodies of believers are both physical and immortal. This is exactly what we observe in the resurrected body of Jesus. In the preceding passages, Jesus resurrected body exhibits the following characteristics:
From the many appearances recorded in the New Testament, Jesus appeared to a wide cross section of people in the Jerusalem and Galilee areas. He made both private and public appearances. This preponderance of evidence dispels the idea that Jesus appearances were mere hallucinations or visions.
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