Alright.. some apologetics for ya
Most historians who are worth their salt.. agree (even secular ones) that Jesus really lived.
The reason why they believe this.. is because their is so much historical evidence that He lived that it would be stupid to say He didn't.
NOW
The evidence that He lived.. is equally as strong that He died and rose again--
(1Co 15:3) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
(1Co 15:4) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:
(1Co 15:5) And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
(1Co 15:6) After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
(1Co 15:7) After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
(1Co 15:8) And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
So firstly-
Paul wrote this passage down at a time close to the death and ressurection of Jesus.. so it cannot be counted as legend/myth
-add to this the fact that this passage was handed down to him by someone else.. and it becomes something that was recorded even closer to Jesus' life and death and ressurection.
Why is this important? Because Paul was writing things that others could read and say whether it was wrong or not.. they could invalidate what he was writing.. because the people who knew Jesus.. who were eyewitnesses of Him were still around to challenge what he wrote.
But you do not see this scripture being scrapped because it isn't what happened.. but the scripture challenging people of the time to know that this Jesus is the Messiah who was to come!
But yah..
Did Jesus die? YES! The method the Romans used to crucify Jesus was, although not exact science, very brutal.. alot of people did not survive the beatings given them before they got to the cross.
Now.. Jesus' tomb is empty.. there is no body in it.. this is an historical fact.
So.. was His body stolen? No!
The disciples were dispersed abroad.. and running scared because their master was killed.. they had no motive to go and steal the body.
The tomb itself was sealed strongly.. and had guards protecting it.. who could be punished severely if anyone tried to get in to it to steal the body.
So.. did Jesus somehow survive the beating given Him- and revive in the tomb? NO!
When Jesus said to the Father.. "Into your hands I commit my spirit" .... this is when He breathed His last. To make sure He was dead.. He was stabbed in the side by a spear.. piercing the heart.
What comes out of his body when stabbed- "blood and water"
This blood and water coming out seems strange.. but matches a medical condition whereby the lungs are built up with liquid from teh constant act of Jesus trying to lift Himself up to breath in his crucified position.. and the blood being what comes out when the heart is pierced.
So.. He was beaten before the cross.. near to death.. had a crown of thorns on His head that would give pain that could lead to death.. He was nailed in parts of His wrists that would give pain that could lead to death.. He was placed in a position on the cross.. that made it very difficult to breath properly could lead to death by lungs giving up.. His joints were pulled out of place to get him in the right place on the cross.. would could lead to death.
Then in the tomb He was wrapped in a cloth that would suffocate the life of Jesus if He had any life left in him.
So He was DEAD--
Now.. if He somehow.. incredibly.. miraculously survived all this.. and woke up in the tomb..mostly dead..
how on earth could he roll away teh stone himself.. get past the guards.. and also convince the disciples.. in the state He was.. that He was risen again?
NO.. that is ridiculous.. He had to be truly risen with His newly restored body.. for the disciples to claim His resurrection.
Paul - talking to the Jews--
Act 18:4 And he
reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and
persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.
Act 18:5 And when Silas and Timothy were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and
testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
Act 18:28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing
by the Scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
Scriptures = Old Testament
Paul reasoned that Jesus was the Christ.. the Messiah.. by using Old Testament scriptures! The OT predicts the Messiah - In Isiaah 53 and other parts- doing exactly what Jesus did on the cross.
