Without a doubt, Christ’s resurrection is a most crucial event in Christianity. Every essential Christian doctrine, even the cross, stands or falls on the validity of Christ’s resurrection. Apostle Paul says, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith” (1 Cor. 15:14). “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Cor. 15:18).

What, then, are the negative implications if, indeed, there were no resurrection of Christ? First of all, death would be declared as victorious, and the Devil would have the final say. As a result, Christ would be discredited as the divine Son of God and Redeemer of humanity. The spectacular claims of Christ’s life (virgin birth, miraculous deeds, sinless life, and sin-bearing death) would all be discredited, apart from the climactic demonstration of his resurrection. Christ’s crucifixion would be considered meaningless and its saving value would be invalidated. Thus, our faith would be based on some sentimental memory of a martyr’s death. Our preaching of the reality of the risen Lord would be regarded as a lie. And our worship on Sunday as the Lord’s Day (based on Christ’s resurrection) would be a hypocrisy. Moreover, our eternal destiny would become uncertain since the promise of eternal life would be questionable. Finally, without Christ’s resurrection, there would be no resurrection and hope for us at the end. Therefore, all that we value and consider as essential elements of Christian faith would be invalidated, if the resurrection of Christ can be proven to be false.

However, there are an overwhelming amount of evidences, especially in terms of the numerous individuals claiming to have witnessed the resurrection of Christ: Mary Magdalene and other women at the tomb; Peter and other apostles in the upper room; two disciples on the Emmaus Road, the crowd of 500 who witnessed Christ’s ascension; and Saul/Paul (who once persecuted Christians) who claimed to have witnessed the resurrected Lord. Moreover, there is the powerful reality of transformed lives of Jesus’ disciples: Mary Magdalene (from sorrow to joy), Thomas (from doubt to assurance), Peter (from fear to courage), and other disciples (from despair to purpose). Yes, the numerous disciples of Christ were so certain and convicted that they had witnessed the resurrection appearance of Jesus that they went out to boldly proclaim the gospel and to lay down their lives for Christ’s cause.

Now, people rarely die for half-hearted belief, and surely never for a known hoax or fraud. But people may radically embrace a cause if, indeed, it is a cause based upon the greatest reality . . . the reality of resurrection of a man who claimed to be the Son of God, the Redeemer of humanity. Yes, Christ’s resurrection is a historical fact. Our faith is based on factual reality. If Christ had not been resurrected, then our faith and witness would indeed be useless, and we are to be truly pitied for our blindness and deception. But, as Apostle Paul declares, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Cor. 15:20).