Easter is a joyful season of the year when Christians celebrate the good news of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Non-believers think we're crazy for holding to such a belief. Bill Maher stated that Christians have a neurological disorder and claimed that we "do not believe in science and rationality." Yet, if Maher really had an open mind and examined the facts, he would discover that many of the world's great scientists and countless other great thinkers have been Christian in their religious orientation.

Furthermore, anyone who is rational and truly open minded will not discount Christianity outright without first dealing with the question, "What happened to the body of Jesus after he was buried?" Many non-believers rationalize their unbelief with the "missing body" theories. Scripture informs us that this rumor started with the chief priests and other Jewish elders. Immediately after the resurrection, the guards reported the missing body to the chief priests. The priests and elders gave the guards some bribe money along with instructions to spread the word that some of Jesus' disciples stole the body during the night and hid it in an undisclosed location (Matthew 28:11-15).

There are several problems with this theory though. Throughout his ministry everyone acknowledged that Jesus was a good and moral teacher. Jesus had taught his disciples to be honest and full of integrity. Stealing the body of Jesus and then perpetuating a hoax would go against everything they had been taught and believed.

Of further note is the fact that the disciples did not initially understand why Jesus submitted to the brutality of the cross. They themselves did not believe in the resurrection when they were first informed of it. It was not until after they saw the risen Christ that they became believers. There are at least 24 references in the Gospels recording the appearances of Jesus after the resurrection and before he ascended into heaven. He variously appeared to individuals, as well as small and large groups of people. On one occasion he appeared to more than 500 people in Galilee (1 Corinthians 5:6). None of these eye witnesses recanted their story.

Yet modern day scholars such as religion professor emeritus from DePaul University, John Dominic Crossan, have written extensively to refute the miracles of Jesus' ministry including his bodily resurrection from the dead. Crossan believes that Jesus was probably eaten by dogs after his execution. If that is true, then how do we account for the dramatic change in the lives of those who were eyewitnesses to the resurrection? Many of them were greatly persecuted and some even executed for their belief and testimony of the resurrection of Jesus. It is difficult to conceive of someone willingly dying for a cause they knew to be a lie.

Furthermore, we must remember the disciples did not understand why Jesus so willingly suffered and died. They certainly did not understand that the Old Testament Scriptures teach that the Messiah would suffer and then rise from the dead (John 20:9). But after they encountered the risen Lord, their lives were radically changed. They went from being cowardly to being bold witnesses. Their preaching and teaching centered on their eyewitness testimony of Jesus Christ of Nazareth having risen from the dead. The bold and assertive proclamation of the early Christians was credited for having turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6). It is doubtful that there would be so many ardent "believers" in the world today if it were hoax, myth, legend or lie. Belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ has radically transformed my life and countless others down through the ages.

If you are still unconvinced, I challenge you to prove through scientific investigation, or reason, that Jesus has not risen. Let me issue a caution, however, your open-minded investigation into the facts just might make a believer out of you.

Happy Easter!

Clark Killingsworth is pastor of College Avenue Baptist Church in Normal, Ill. He is a licensed and certified Church consultant available for consultation in the areas of prayer and fasting, church health, strategic planning and church growth. He can be reached at cskillingsworth@insightbb.com.