Transformation of the Disciples – Evidence of the Resurrection

There are many places and people who have confirmed that Jesus lived and died. When something changes, a fact or event usually goes along with it. For the disciples, their changes happened because they saw the resurrected Jesus Christ. Before Jesus came back to life, they were scared and hid behind closed doors. They saw Jesus die on the cross. Even though Jesus said he would rise again, they didn’t believe him. It’s hard to find evidence of what the disciples felt, but we can look at their behavior after the resurrection. Michael F. Kuhn said in his book, “In Quest of the Rock: Peter’s Transformative Journey with Jesus,” that God works on the human soul like an artist.

The disciples were able to touch Jesus, see his wounds, and even eat with him, proving he was alive and not a ghost. Jesus helped the disciples understand the Scriptures, showing themhow his  death and resurrection fulfilled prophecies. Luke 24:31 says, “Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.” God does this for all believers who truly seek him. Matthew 7:7-8 says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be  opened to you.”

After the resurrection, Jesus spent 40 days with his disciples, teaching them about the kingdom of God. During these 40 days, the disciples understood who Jesus was and what had happened. They used the power Jesus gave them. In their book “Evidence for Jesus,” Dr. Josh and Sean McDowell said that the apostles’ willingness to suffer and die for their faith shows they truly believed Jesus appeared to them after his death. Bart Ehrman also said that no one would die for a lie, so the disciple’s clearly believed Jesus was raised from the dead.

The disciples died for their belief in the risen Jesus. They believed that no matter what happened to them, a better place awaited them. Josephus, who lived close to the time of the resurrection, testified about Jesus. Tacitus, a Roman historian, also wrote about what happened to Jesus. He mentioned that Nero blamed the Christians for the fire in Rome and tortured them. Tacitus said, “Their name comes from Christ, who, during the reign of Tiberius, had been
executed by the procurator Pontius Pilate.”

Apologist William Paley agreed with Tacitus and listed other testimonies about the resurrection. Bart Ehrman suggested that more context is needed to make the narrative true. However, people closer to the actual event provided no other details that would change the historicity of the events. Philosopher William of Ockham said that the simpler explanation is usually better. Every believer should remember that God said through Paul, “But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.”