12 Historical Indisputables for the Resurection

No serious contemporary historian will argue the historical existence of Jesus; evidence supporting His 33 years of life is indisputable. His resurrection is another matter entirely, one that has been disputed since the death of Jesus. Below is a list of 12 Indisputables as so titled by Dr. Gary Habermas in his book The Risen Jesus and Future Hope and The Case for the Resurrection of Christ; this list is a set of historical indisputables that support the existence of Jesus. These also work to support His resurrection from a historical and non-biblical point of view.

1. Jesus Died by Roman crucifixion.
2. He was buried, most likely in a private tomb.
3. Soon afterward, the disciples were discouraged, bereaved, and despondent, having lost hope.
4. Jesus' tomb was found empty very soon after His interment.
5. The disciples had experience that they believed were actual appearances of the risen Jesus.
6. Due to these experience, the disciples' lives were thoroughly transformed, even being willing to die for this belief.
7. The proclamation of the resurrection took place very early, at the beginning of church history.
8. The disciples' public testimony and preaching of the resurrection took place in the city of Jerusalem, where Jesus had been crucified and buried shortly before.
9. The Gospel message centered on the death and resurrection of Jesus.
10. Sunday was the primary day for gathering and worshipping.
11. James, the brother of Jesus and a former skeptic, was converted when, he believed Jesus was raised.
12. Just a few years later, Saul of Tarsus (Paul) became a Christian believer due to an experience that he believed was an appearance of the risen Jesus.

Much of the significance of these points is very understandable and can be derived directly from the statement, but there are a few I believe will be beneficial to focus on for the purpose of illumination.

#11: When Christians read the Bible we see the book of “James” and think of the dynamic persona of the author. A Christian dynamo, filled with enthusiasm and passion for the gospel, but at one time James the half brother of Jesus was more a skeptic of the message of Christ then an advocate. I believe this to be one of the most significant statements in the list authenticating the resurrection. At one point and time the brother of Jesus, a skeptic and non-believer, and now after the resurrection a passionate and willing disciple of the savior, what better testimony of the resurrection then a skeptic changed to proponent and follower? And even more so a relative of Jesus, someone who grew up with Him and experienced every worldly emotion and jealously we would at having God for a half brother. Changed from a brother to a servant laying down any negative mental history at the feet of his finale epiphany at, the feet of his savior.

#10: With just a basic understanding of the historicity of the Jewish people we can understand the nature of the legalism that dictates Judaism. Traditions that are still very evident today in the life of Jews ruled and rule their day-to-day activities. These traditions would never be changed for anything short of the booming voice of God commanding them so and sometimes not even then as we see in the life of many Pharisees. The change of the traditional worship service from the day of the Sabbath to Sunday is a change of religiosity that would have required an event that would shake the world of the Jewish people, and noting that the change occurred after the claimed resurrection of Christ leads us to a conclusion supporting the validity of the disciples’ testimony.

What is the significance in acknowledging that Jesus is risen? When we acknowledge that Jesus has risen we acknowledge His divinity, that He was God in flesh and nothing less, and as God He was sinless and holy. We also recognize that Jesus contained two natures, one divine and one human. Jesus was God and man, two natures united as one. He experienced every temptation and struggle that humanity experiences (Hebrews 4:15). He can and does sympathize with the pain of His children, and provides escape routes during our temptations (I Corinthians 10:13). Though He is God and can be Father like no other, and His death was the only possible way to atone for our sin. When we believe that Jesus is risen, we find validity in the totality of the gospel, proof of the resurrection gives sufficient evidence that Jesus can be trusted and we can put our faith in him. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, and the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name… (John 20:31)