Why does an empty tomb mean Jesus rose from the dead?

Question

If your friend died and was put in a tomb, and you came back the next day to find him missing, wouldn't you just assume someone took the body? Don't tell me "the stone was too large to roll away." Someone had to roll it there in the first place. This story was written about 10 years after the fact by Mark. Isn't it just possible that he chose to embellish the disappearance of the body into a "resurrection?"

Oh, and Jesus promised to come back "in a generation" before his 12 disciples died. Where is he 2000 years later?

No, 500 people did not witness Jesus risen from the dead. That sort of thing would have made "front page" history for the historians of the time like Josephus.

Answer 1

Yup grave robbers, and then an impostor appears an takes all the credit, and to top it the fools believe him and make him God LOL.

Answer 2

Just an empty tomb would not be proof enough. But when the friend walks into the room and lets you touch him, talks with you, teaches you, spends over 40 days with you, and appears to multiple times to over 500 people, it would be evidence enough.

The earliest writings were not those of Mark, but rather the early letters of Paul. Read through 1 Corinthians 15 some time. Paul as a listing of the appearances of Jesus after his resurrection which predates Mark. And Paul says that the majority of those people were still alive at the time he wrote.

Read again the first five verses of Luke. Having not know Jesus personally, Luke states that he took the time to read the records and interview the eyewitnesses to be sure that what he wrote it what actually happens. He includes several details and appearances not mentioned by Mark, such as the Road to Emmus appearance. So he had to have gotten that information from someone other then Mark.

What do you do with Matthew and John, who were also present at the tomb and the appearances? They confirm thje truth of Mark's writings in their own gospels. As Matthew repeats about 90% of Mark (with a lot of additional matterial) in his writings, he appears he was familiar with Mark. If Mark had created a resurrection where none existed, Matthew could easily have corrected him. Rather, Matthew supports the account and adds additional details.

Where the resurrection happened may be debatable. Whether all of the original disciples believed that it happened, and whether hundreds of people claim to have seen and talked to the resurrected Christ is not debatable. The records of that claim are too clear.

(Oh, and his resurrection is mentioned by Josephus. Try reading his writings some time. He mentioned the resurrection twice. Once in his history of Jesus and again in his history or James the Just, the brother of Jesus)

Answer 3

The empty tomb was not the only evidence - and your reaction is normal. Even Mary said "Where have they taken Him?" John 20:2 The angel told her that He was risen; and Christ was around, appearing to His disciples, etc. for a little while, before He returned to Heaven permanently.

This is too deep a concept, for me to get into much, here - but if He hadn't risen, we would have no hope. Many things would be different. This world wouldn't even still be standing. Instead, she would be utterly desolate, bleak, and without life - for Satan would have won, and had free reign to destroy this place and everything in it. It may seem he does now - but trust me, the 4 winds are being held back. God's Spirit still pleads with mankind. But not for always. One day, the Spirit of God will be withdrawn from the earth. Those who chose Christ, will be sealed - their souls salvation untouchable. Those who rejected Christ will be marked - their damnation irreversible. Then Evil will reign without a reign, for a short time. Then the end will come. Then God will deliver His people, and take them to Heaven to live with Him, forevermore.

But I sense you are looking for answers outside of the Bible. If you aren't sure about the validity of the Bible - try reading the Preface, first. So many people overlook it. It helps you to understand that the Bible is indeed valid and true. There are many good, valid points which affirm the truth of the Bible. Points such as the Bible's inspiration, cohesive unity, archeological accuracy, divine preservation, prophetic accuracy - and perhaps the most personal and touching of them all - its redemptive qualities. I sincerely hope you are able to find the truth you seek. Take care, baby.

Answer 4

An empty tomb means Jesus rose from the dead because He promised He would, and three days later His tomb is empty, so what do you think? In the bible, an angel asks the people at His tomb, "Why do you search for the living among the dead?" He is risen! He wont be in His tomb!! He isnt dead! At His tomb there is a sign that says,[[ He is not here, for He has risen]] Jesus is the only wonderful God worth following. When we follow Him, we get to follow Him into life!! If you follow Muhammed, or Buddha or whoever, they all died! None of them are alive! Why would you want to follow someone into death?? And it doesnt say when He will come, Only that He will come when He is prepared! Its not our part to understand God! I cant wait for the day that He is coming back and prepared for us!! Are you prepared???? All you have to do is repent!! Repent for the sins that you and I commit! See, thats the thing about Jesus, He didnt come to say YOU are a horrible person, YOU are a nasty sinner, the bible says ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God! Jesus died for ALL of us!!! Please accept Jesus! I want to see you in heaven!! I want heaven to be filled!! Of course there are those who dont understand... But Jesus still died for them, and He is waiting for the day that they repent!! I love you, and so does our Saviour, Jesus Christ!

Answer 5

You know Phil, some people have faith and greatly comforted by this faith, you seem to be searching and go about kicking and scratching as you try to find what you believe. I have a serious suggestion. Find a priest or minister or rabbi, make an appointment and ask all the questions you can think of. There will probably be no charge for this meeting and you might be invited back for more sessions. Your attempts to out think the New Testament make you sound like a sophomore at best. Faith is a wonderful thing, stop fighting and explore what you believe.

Answer 6

Have you ever heard of the word faith? It is not something that can be physically grasped, it is not something that can be seen, it must be felt. In the depth of your heart, it is something enlightening and viable, powerful, and provokes deep emotions from the depths of which I find endless.
The tangible evidence does not exist, in that you are correct. However, you must admit that being it was the tomb in which Jesus was laid to rest in...His body being gone does speak of something does it not? Since God is the one that deemed the time which Jesus would walk again, the people awaiting his resurrection were tangible evidence at the time. Don't pull that media card out either, things weren't as perverse then as they are now. Have you ever seen the texts the gospels of lost? Maybe you should read them. Socrates is another mind blowing man, who has thought provoking ideas about God. Do not question what you are too closed minded to grasp.

Answer 7

Phillip, How would you know the tomb was empty if not for reading it in the Bible? The same Bible says he was resurrected. Kind of a silly argument. Why not simply lie and say the tomb was empty? Why believe any of it? If part is a lie the whole point of it would be a waste of your time. Without the resurrection we are all simply dead inevitably. The argument is a waste of your time unless you believe in the resurrection isn't it? Thank God he is real and available for you to know personally.

Answer 8

He was seen by over 500 people at one time after the Resurrection. He has been back many times to earth to help people. One of the first he showed himself to was Saul or Paul of the Bible not long after he was risen. The story is not embellished in the least.

Answer 9

. He also visited his disciples in the time after he resurrected., this was witnessed by several people. I don't think that if one of my friends died he or she could come back and talk to me. The stone was rolled there by more then one person and the tomb was guarding because they were worried that someone would roll away the stone and steal Jesus' body.

Answer 10

hello, keep reading the gospels. Jesus came back after he died, walked the earth for 40 days, with hundreds of accounts and witnesses. he wasn't dead. he walking among them. disciples put their hands into the holes in his hands and side. they were just holes. not seeping or bleeding. then in front of the masses he ascended into heaven. ASCENDED, meaning went up. and while he was going up, he promised he would be back. and there are more accounts outside of just the bible. there's ?josephus? and many different others, just can't remember their names, that speak of Jesus' life and death and life again. and while if your momma was missing from the morgue, people would think there was a conspiracy. what would they think if you found her at home preparing dinner for you as usual. just with a little something different. like a lack of blood or something. yet somehow alive.

Answer 11

No. It all went down exactly as He said it would. Following His resurrection a group of about 500 people saw Him.

1Corinthians 15

As far as a schedule, God is timeless. He is not held to our linearity. A day is as a 1000 years and 1000 years is as a day to Him.

2Peter 3:8