08/07/2021- Saturday Apologetics Series – “The Resurrection” – Chapter 9
My text and sole quote source in this post remains: “Pocket Handbook of Christian Apologetics” by Peter Kreeft and Ronald K. Tacelli / ISBN: 978-0-8308-2702-2.
“Julius Muller challenged his nineteeth century cotemporaries to produce a single exmaple anywhere in history of a great myth or legend arising around a historical figure and being generally believed within thirty years after that figure’s death. No one has ever answered him.” (pg77)
Why is Muller’s challenge significant? Well , let’s start with the Apostle Paul who said if we christians are wrong about Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, then we are the most pathetic creatures that have walked the earth. And if his resurrection was a myth started by the disciples and his small following, someone would have called them out on it. From Jesus’ resurrection until his ascension, a span of 40 days, there were around 500 eyewitnesses to his bodily presence subsequent to his crucifixtion. (1 Corinthians 15: 3-8)
Paul even noted that many of the witnesses were still living in the present day when he wrote 1 Corinthians. That would make it extremely difficult to be perpetuating a myth or a lie. And as is pointed out in this chapter, what would be the motive of the disciples? Peter and John were imprisoned early on for testifying to Jesus’ resurrrection. And upon their release, they are told to cease and desist from such preaching.
I am just scratching the surface of the case for the risen Christ. Indeed, I don’t have nearly enough faith to be a non-believer! Soli Deo Gloria!