Dwight Fletcher | How can I know Jesus is alive?

THERE IS a popular belief among non-Christians that keeps them from finding true hope and freedom in their lives. It’s a pervasive lie that destroys any chance of truly understanding and loving God, until we expose it.

It goes something like this: “I believe that God is real, enuh, but it’s Jesus I have a problem with. Maybe He was real, but being God, rising from the dead? All of that is too much.”

You’ve probably heard something like that, or even thought something like that at some point in your life. Essentially, it’s saying that the truths about Jesus are so far-fetched, and the evidence surrounding Him is so tenuous, that I can justify not believing in His existence, His Deity or His resurrection.

Hear me when I say this: you are allowed to question and interrogate the faith. You should seek things out and not accept them blindly without facts. However, this lie tells us that our own limited logic is enough to disprove the reality of Jesus. This is dangerous territory, because your experience in eternity hinges on what you believe in this life.

I believe with all my heart that Jesus is alive. He has risen from the dead. Because He lives and because He is God, He has power over sin, sickness, death, and the grave. Because He lives, I live, and I can face tomorrow.

The resurrection of Jesus is at the heart of our Christian faith. You cannot be a Christian if you do not believe that Jesus Christ is God, and that He rose from the dead. And you cannot have an abundant life, or eternal life, without Christianity. The Apostle Paul said, “ …if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” (1 Corinthians 15:17 NIV.)

It is only because Jesus is alive that our faith is profitable, and we are now dead to sin and alive to Christ.

Because so much hinges on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, these are two of the most researched historical events by both Christian and sceptic scholars. The truth of the resurrection has been attacked from every angle by those wanting to discredit the Christian faith. However, this has worked for our good.

The more the research has proceeded, the more the validity of the resurrection has been verified. As Billy Graham said, “There is more evidence that Jesus rose from the dead than there is that Julius Caesar ever lived or that Alexander the Great died at the age of 33.”

When scholars consider historical writings, eyewitness testimonies, the commitment of His followers, the reality of Jesus’ resurrection is undoubtedly declared a historical fact. Sometimes people suggest that our faith is only based on some type of blind faith. This is far from the truth. Our faith is based on fact. Jesus is alive.

There is historical proof that Jesus suffered horribly and died. Jesus was crucified and died on the cross. The Roman soldiers were masters of crucifixion and even pierced His side to ensure He was well and truly dead.

There is historical proof that Jesus arose from the grave. His body was placed into a tomb, a stone covered the entrance, and it was guarded by soldiers. With all that security, not only was there the empty tomb, but even more convincing is that Jesus appeared to His followers. 1 Corinthians 15:6 NIV tells us that He visited more than 500 people at the same time! Many eyewitnesses could testify to the trustworthiness of this statement.

More than the straight facts, we can point to the changed lives we see as a result of His resurrection. This is an important point that I want to discuss next week, but in the meantime, would you consider asking God to confirm to you that Jesus is truly alive? I believe that is a prayer He answers with ‘yes’, every time.