It is one of the most significant events in human history – the resurrection of Jesus Christ. But who said Jesus came back to life? The answer may surprise you.
According to the Bible, Jesus was crucified and buried in a tomb. Three days later, his tomb was found empty and he appeared to many of his followers. But how do we know this is true?
The first eyewitnesses to the resurrection were the women who went to Jesus’ tomb on the third day after his death. They found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.
An angel told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. The women ran to tell the disciples, who were skeptical at first but eventually saw Jesus for themselves.
The apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, also claimed to have seen Jesus after his resurrection. In 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Paul lists several appearances of Jesus to different people.
But what about non-Christian sources? There are several ancient documents that mention Jesus and his followers, but only a few refer specifically to his resurrection.
One such document is the Jewish Talmud, which mentions a man named Yeshu (a Hebrew name for Jesus) who was executed on charges of sorcery and heresy. The Talmud claims that Yeshu’s disciples stole his body from the tomb and pretended he had risen from the dead.
Another non-Christian source is Josephus, a Jewish historian who wrote about events in Palestine in the first century AD. In his book Antiquities of the Jews, Josephus mentions James “the brother of Jesus, who is called Christ” and describes how he was stoned to death by Jewish leaders for proclaiming that Jesus had risen from the dead.
So who said Jesus came back to life? It seems that both Christian and non-Christian sources agree that something extraordinary happened after Jesus’ death. While there may be debate over exactly what that was, one thing is certain – the resurrection of Jesus changed the world forever.
Conclusion
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a central tenet of the Christian faith. While there may be differing opinions on the details, both Christian and non-Christian sources attest to the fact that something significant happened after Jesus’ death. As we celebrate Easter and remember this miraculous event, let us reflect on its profound impact on our lives and our world.