Statements of eyewitnesses often play a vital role in verdicts in court cases.
A man once robbed a bank. As he fled out of the building, he ran across a stage at a nearby event with more than 500 people attending. Everyone was looking at the bewildered robber on the stage. The police quickly reached the man and cuffed him. A few days later, the 500 eyewitnesses were in court to testify in the case. All 500 pointed to the robber as the guilty person in the crime. The judge rightly declared the man guilty because of the abundant evidence.
Of course. What person in his right mind wouldn’t believe 500 eyewitnesses? One witness is shallow. Five witnesses are ok. Twenty witnesses are pretty good. But 500 witnesses—case closed.
We find a similar scenario in the New Testament. The Bible tells us that more than 500 people saw Jesus alive after his resurrection.
1 Cor 15:3-8 says: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
500+ Eyewitnesses – That’s a Lot of People
It’s easy to lose sight of how many 500 people are. But imagine we could go back and see a long list with the real names of the 500 men and women who saw Jesus alive after his resurrection.
NAMES OF THOSE WHO SAW JESUS AFTER HE HAD RISEN FROM THE DEATH:
- Julius
- Maria
- Carpus
- Matthew
- Martha
- Simeon
- Hannah
- Tychicus
- Philemon
- Onimeous
- Jason
- Aquila
- Sosipater
- Timothy
- Prisca
- Aquila
- Johannes
- Junia
- Demas
- Priscilla
* 25 similar lists = 500 people
This article will be too long if I added a list with 500 names, but doesn’t it help put it into perspective?
Didn’t They Fake It?
You might object, “Oh, these people were Jesus friends, so they just said it because they didn’t want Jesus to look bad.”
These men and women had nothing to gain from their testimony about Jesus resurrection except hatred, persecution, exclusion, execution. Some are willing to die for what they believe to be true, but no one is willing to die for something they know is a lie.
If you do some more digging, you will find that the evidence for Jesus resurrection is undeniable. And no good judge today would turn a blind eye to 500 reliable witnesses—neither should you. You have everything to gain or all to lose.
The evidence for Jesus resurrection has changed the hearts and minds of some of the greatest skeptics in the world throughout history.
Why Jesus Lived, Died and Rose Again
The truth is that 2000 years ago, God became a man. He was fully man and fully God. He lived a sinless life. He was completely perfect in thoughts, words, and deeds, and fulfilled all of God’s laws that we have broken. Jesus went to the cross voluntarily, where He suffered and died to save sinners. He was laid in the grave and three days later, he rose from the grave, where he forever defeated sin and death. Then he ascended to His Father. The Bible teaches that Jesus will return in power and glory to judge the living and the dead.
Please don’t turn a blind eye to the evidence of Jesus resurrection. But believe the truth of the gospel. And seek forgiveness for your sins in Christ while He still may be found.
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