There are those who would deny that Jesus' resurrection took place. There are theories out there such as the swoon theory, and the theory that Jesus’ disciples stole His body and lied about the resurrection. The truth is the soldiers who guarded the tomb saw everything and reported it to the chief priests. They were paid off and instructed on what to say.
“So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.
And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.”
Matthew 28:15
For the entire case that proves the resurrection did take place, I point you to Lee Strobel’s book Case for Christ. Evidence that proves Jesus rose from the dead includes the fact that there was an empty tomb. Not only was the tomb found to be inexplicably empty, but there were strips of linen laying there that Jesus’ body had been wrapped in.
“Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the
stone had been removed from the entrance.
(The other disciple) bent over and looked in at the
strips of linen lying there but did not go in.
(Simon Peter) arrived and went into the tomb.
He saw the strips of linen lying there,
as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head.
The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.”
John 20:1, 5-7
Even though the tomb had been guarded by two Roman guards, and there had been a huge stone rolled in front of the opening to seal the tomb, this was not enough to prevent the resurrection from happening!
“There was a violent earthquake,
for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and,
going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
His appearance was like lightening, and his clothes were white as snow.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.”
Mark 28:2-4
Yes, even those who wish they didn’t know Jesus rose from the dead could not deny the truth of what they saw. Cover it up later? Yes. But deny it to themselves? Impossible!
Unlike Westley’s fictional re-awakening, Jesus’ resurrection was bona fide. He indeed physically rose from the grave.
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