Respond Podcast Episode 3 - “The Curious Evidence” Presenter: Stuart Gray, @stuhgray

Guest Presenters: Jill Parkinson Andy Gatt Roniel Bulacan Joe Blake

There are three occurrences that need to be explained.

1. Jesus’ Tomb was Empty 1.1 Reported in the earliest sources. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Mark’s gospel)

1.2 The story is simple and lacks legendary development.

1.3 Christianity was birthed where the tomb was.

1.4 The earliest Jewish reactions presuppose the empty tomb.

1. Jesus Made Post Mortem Appearances to his Friends 2.1 Reported in the earliest sources (1 Corinthians 15:3-8, Luke’s Gospel)

2.2 James, the brother of Jesus, moves from skeptic to Christian leader (Acts 1, 21)

2.3 Saul turned from persecutor to Christian evangelist (Acts 9)

1. The Christian Church Existed in the First Century 3.1 The apostles understanding of “Messiah” was changed after the resurrection

3.2 The Christian church was launched.

All the historical evidence for the resurrection of Jesus agree on these three facts.

References for this episode: Sean McDowell, The Fate of the Apostles Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus, (NewYork:Routledge, 2015).

Michael R. Licona, The Resurrection Of Jesus A New Historiographical Approach, (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2010).