“If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Cor 15:14). For Christians, the resurrection of Jesus constitutes the cornerstone and foundation of the faith. Apart from the resurrection there is no gospel, no “good news,” no eternal hope. Yet the Bible assures us “that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”

We live in a world of skepticism and doubt. Modern people today routinely deny and reject the Christian claim that Jesus rose from the dead. But they should not doubt that claim because it is true.

The entire Christian faith hinges on the reality of one historical event—Jesus’ resurrection. He predicted his death and resurrection, he claimed to be the resurrecting and the life (Jn 11:25), and he announced that he would lay down his life and take it up again (Jn 10:18). Christians have good reasons to believe these claims.

Christians support the historicity, the “true fact” nature of the resurrection. The facts of the case are on our side. Belief in the resurrection of Jesus is both biblical and reasonable.

Many people don’t believe in Jesus’ resurrection because they don’t want to believe it. If it is true, the resurrection verifies Jesus’ claims. And if Jesus is whom he claims to be, then those who deny it are in serious trouble. People often deny the resurrection because they don’t want it to be true, not because it lacks historical evidence.

This morning I’d like to consider the question, Was the Tomb Really Empty?