What do these facts point to?  That Jesus Christ is no longer dead.  His resurrection explains all five facts very well.  The minimal facts give us solid evidence He has risen indeed.  However, that won’t stop the skeptic from offering other explanations.  When you encounter one, remember this:  just because an alternative explanation is possible, it does not make it probable.  Anyone can give a different explanation but we want one that best fits the facts.  

For example, some scholars suggest the disciples stole Jesus’ body.  Does that fit the facts?  No way.  It doesn’t explain the resurrection appearances of Jesus.  It doesn’t explain Paul or James’ conversions.  Indeed, if the disciples stole Jesus’ body then they knew his resurrection was a hoax.   But why would they die for something they knew was false?  They wouldn’t and thus, we can discard this possible explanation.

Facts are stubborn things.  And after looking at the cold hard facts surrounding the end of his life, the best explanation is that Jesus rose bodily from the grave almost 2,000 years ago.  

And Jesus changes everything.  Not just any Jesus but a resurrected Jesus.

First, a resurrected Jesus confirms the truth of Christianity.  Our faith is not founded on a fairytale.  It’s founded on fact.  Jesus declared Himself to be God, to be equal with the Father, to forgive sins, to be the only way to God and a host of other radical claims.  His resurrection is confirmation of the truth of those claims.  Thus, we can have total confidence Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).  

Second, a resurrected Jesus makes transformation possible.  Sin no longer has to dominate our lives.  There’s a new way to be human.  Paul, an eyewitness to the risen Jesus, explains:   “But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness.  And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you” (Romans 8:10-11).  If the power of God’s Spirit raised Jesus from the dead, cannot that same power transform you and I?  Absolutely.  

Lord Jesus, let the truth of Your resurrection bring transformation to our lives.