TRUE!

Loch Ness. Home of the legendary monster, “Nessie”—one of the best-known cryptids, along with other fanciful, fabled, and fabulous creatures such as Big Foot, Yeti, centaurs, gremlins, hippogriffs, basilisks, etc. Cruises offer tourists the chance to look for Lady Nessie.

But despite all the endeavors to locate her, Nessie has evaded detection. An extensive investigation launched by the BBC a few years ago found no trace of any monster of any kind in the murky waters of the loch. Nessie simply does not exist.

To many it is likely that Jesus Christ and His resurrection are in that same category of unverifiable myths. And today being the Sunday after Ascension (40 days after Easter was last Thursday), perhaps a look into this matter of validity is called for, especially regarding the Resurrection. Fact or fiction?

… He [Jesus] also presented
Himself alive
after His suffering,
by many convincing proofs,
appearing to [the disciples]
over a period of forty days ….
Acts 1:3

Did He rise from the dead? There is no question Jesus’ tomb was empty. Is it possible He never died, and simply revived and walked away? Not after all the agonies He suffered. And certainly not under the watchful eyes of Pilate’s guards. Was His body stolen by His compatriots? By those Galilean fisherman scared out of their wits by the whole episode? Impossible! (Of course, the sleeping guards assure us that it happened while they were fast asleep!) Well, then, were the disciples lying about the Resurrection? The accounts we have, with the painful details of their doubts and cowardice, don’t read at all like works of fiction. I suppose they could have been hallucinating, but 500 of them at once? Mass hallucination? Likely story!

For I delivered to you
… what I also received,
that Christ died for our sins
… and that He was buried,
and that He was raised
on the third day
according to the Scriptures,
and that He appeared
… to the twelve.
After that He appeared to
more than five hundred brethren
at one time ….
1 Corinthians 15:3–7

But the most powerful evidence for the truth of all this is that lives were changed as a result of the Resurrection. The disillusioned, disheartened, and demoralized group of people at the crucifixion became, after the resurrection of their Lord, courageous men of fortitude and tenacity, with a vision and a boldness beyond comprehension. The disciples not only preached the Resurrection, they were ready to go to prison and even die for the truth of what they proclaimed. And they did: Paul and James—beheaded; Peter, Andrew, Philip, Jude, Simon the Zealot, and Bartholomew—crucified; James the Less—stoned; Matthew and Thomas—stabbed to death (the latter in India). Perhaps only John died a natural death. While some may die for what they believe in, thinking it true, nobody—nobody—will die for what they know to be false. Hypocrites and martyrs are not made of the same stuff. The disciples lives were changed.

Changed lives. And lives continue to be changed even today as believers place their trust in Christ for salvation from sin.

Not a figment of imagination like Miss Nessie. The true story of Christ and His Resurrection is a demonstration of the grace of God, the payment for our sin, and the assurance of eternal life. Life as it was meant to be. Victory!

The sting of death is sin,
and the power of sin is the law;
but thanks be to God,
who gives us the victory
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:56–57