1. Jesus’ resurrection proves that he was the Christ and savior of sinners.
Jesus’ resurrection vindicated his mission:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:16—18)
2. Jesus’ resurrection shows that Christianity is a historical religion.
It is a religion founded on historical fact. What we believe is based in reality, grounded in history, and open to investigation:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life–the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us–that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. (1 John 1:1—3)
3. Jesus’ resurrection pictures our hope.
The Christian’s hope is based on a factual event in history:
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Rom. 8:18—23)
4. Jesus’ resurrection gives us an idea of what is coming.
The resurrection gives us a preview of our future with God:
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. (Rev. 21:1—4)
As someone who once thought that Christians had to have a blind faith without reason or evidence, Josh McDowell investigated the Bible’s claims and found them to be undeniably true. He then wrote More Than a Carpenter to serve as a tool for sharing the truth of Jesus Christ that includes the same evidence that convinced him. With 15 million copies in print, see for yourself how these proofs have convinced so many of the truth of the Bible and Jesus Christ. Get your copy today for a donation of any amount!
