“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.”
— John 20:1
The Cornerstone of History
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the single most pivotal event in human history.
It is not merely a religious claim—it is the cornerstone of reality, the bedrock upon which all Christian faith, hope, and meaning rest.
If Christ did not rise, then Christianity collapses.
But if He did, then nothing else matters more.
1. The Empty Tomb
All four Gospels testify that Jesus’s tomb was found empty on the third day.
After His crucifixion, His lifeless body was laid in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, a well-known member of the Sanhedrin. The tomb’s location was public knowledge. Three days later, the women who came to anoint His body found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
Had the body been present, Christianity would have been disproved instantly.
Even the Jewish leaders didn’t deny the empty tomb—they tried to explain it away (Matthew 28:11–15).
The empty tomb is not merely a theological symbol; it’s a stubborn historical fact that demands explanation.
2. The Roman Guards
Roman soldiers guarded the tomb under the authority of the Empire.
They were disciplined, armed, and sworn to protect the seal placed over the stone. Breaking that seal was an act of treason against Rome—punishable by death.
Yet, despite the seal, the watch, and the threat of execution, the tomb was found open and empty.
The soldiers’ report to the chief priests and their acceptance of bribe money (Matthew 28:12–15) only strengthens the case—they didn’t deny what happened; they simply tried to hide it.
No Roman guard would risk death for a fabrication. The simplest, truest explanation remains: Christ rose from the dead.
3. The Faith of the Followers
The disciples’ response to the resurrection is one of the most powerful evidences of its truth.
• Post-Resurrection Appearances
The risen Christ appeared to men and women, to individuals and groups, indoors and outdoors, to believers and skeptics alike.
He invited Thomas to touch His wounds (John 20:27) and ate with His followers (Luke 24:42–43).
These were no hallucinations. Hallucinations are private, not shared by multiple witnesses across multiple settings.
• Martyrdom
These same disciples who fled in fear on Friday stood boldly before rulers and mobs after Sunday.
They were beaten, imprisoned, tortured, and killed—yet not one recanted.
People will die for what they believe to be true, but not for what they know is false.
• Transformed Lives
Peter the denier became Peter the preacher.
James, the skeptic brother of Jesus, became a leader of the church in Jerusalem.
Saul the persecutor became Paul the missionary.
The resurrection didn’t just change their beliefs—it changed their entire existence.
4. Historical and Theological Anchors
• Early Creeds
Paul cites a creed in 1 Corinthians 15:3–7 affirming the resurrection.
This creed dates within a few years of the crucifixion—too early for legend to form.
The resurrection was not a later addition; it was the heartbeat of the earliest Christian proclamation.
• Cultural Impact
Within a few decades, the gospel spread across the Roman world.
No political power, persecution, or opposition could stop it.
The message of a crucified and risen Savior turned the world upside down.
• Failed Counter-Theories
Theories of body theft, wrong tomb, or “spiritual resurrection” all collapse under scrutiny.
The tomb was guarded, publicly known, and empty.
And a merely “spiritual” resurrection would never have inspired the disciples’ courage—or Christianity’s explosive growth.
5. The Implication: He Is Risen Indeed
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a fable to admire; it is a fact that demands a response.
If He rose, then He is who He claimed to be—the eternal Son of God, the Judge of all, and the Savior of those who believe.
The evidence compels us to confess with Thomas:
“My Lord and my God!” — John 20:28
The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is available to transform our hearts, forgive our sins, and grant eternal life.
“Because I live, you also will live.” — John 14:19
The Invitation
Whether you approach this truth as a skeptic, seeker, or believer, the empty tomb still speaks.
The stone has been rolled away—not just from a grave, but from every heart that turns to Him in faith.
He conquered death so that all who trust in Him may never die but live forever.
This isn’t wishful thinking. It’s the most historically attested, theologically consistent, and spiritually transformative reality the world has ever known.
He is risen. He is risen indeed!
Blessings & love,
Kevin M. Kelley
Pastor
BigIslandChristianChurch.com
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