Was Jesus resurrected? How can you prove Christ's resurrection?

from the old testament

• While Jesus’ resurrection is described in the New Testament, the Old Testament hints at it.
• For example, David wrote, “you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption” (Psalm 16:10). David’s own body did decay, but he pointed beyond himself to the “holy one” whose body would not rot in the grave. That one, known as the Messiah in the Old Testament, was connected to Jesus in the New Testament (cf., Acts 13:35).
• Other passages support this. Isaiah said that the Servant would be crushed (killed), yet he would “prolong his days” and would see the results of his work after dying (Isaiah 53:10–12). The implication is that He would die and then come back. Other passages, such as Hosea 6:2 and Jonah 1:17, also set the expectation of a resurrection on the third day.
• These Old Testament texts do not, by themselves, prove Jesus’ resurrection, but they prepared readers to expect God’s Servant to overcome death.

from the new testament

• The New Testament claims that Jesus rose bodily and appeared to many people. The writers did not present a courtroom-style argument in support of it. Instead, they reported what they saw and heard.
• For example, Luke reported that Jesus “presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them for forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God” (Acts 1:3). He was saying that over the next month and a half, Jesus made regular appearances to groups of believers.
• Paul listed reliable witnesses: “...he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep [they died]. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me” (1 Corinthians 15:5–8). He pointed out that many were still alive (not yet “asleep”) when he wrote, allowing others to verify his claim.
• The burial and the empty tomb also confirm the resurrection. Jesus was placed in a known tomb by respected leaders (Mark 15:42–47; John 19:38–42), in a location that could be verified. The earliest preaching in Jerusalem affirmed that God raised Jesus, something easily falsifiable by others in Jerusalem by visiting the tomb (Acts 2:32; Acts 3:15).
• Additionally, even the opponents knew that Jesus claimed He would resurrect, and stopped anyone from faking it by sealing the tomb and placing guards (Matthew 27:62–66). In those days, if a guard fell asleep or otherwise failed in his duty, he would be killed (cf., Acts 12:19), so they had every reason to protect the tomb. After Jesus vanished, the Jewish leaders knew the impossible had happened. Rather than claim Jesus was not resurrected, they bribed the soldiers to lie about what happened: “While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, ‘Tell people, “His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.” And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble’” (Matthew 28:11–15).
• Even minor details confirm the reality of the resurrection. For example, women were recorded as the first to discover the empty tomb and report it (Luke 24:1–11; John 20:1–18). In that culture, women were not considered reliable witnesses, and a fabricated account would not have made them the first witnesses. Additionally, Jesus ate with his disciples and invited them to touch him, demonstrating that He was real (Luke 24:39–43; John 20:27). Each of these details underscore the bodily resurrection.
• Additionally, the witnesses were transformed by the resurrection. Before Jesus died, Peter was timid, embarrassed to be known as Jesus’ disciple (Luke 22:57). Yet afterward, with the threat of death in the air, Peter publicly declared, “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses” (Acts 2:32). That bold testimony became the core message of the early church. Many willingly endured threats, beatings, imprisonment, and death rather than deny what they had seen (Acts 4:18–20; Acts 5:29–32; Acts 12:2).
• Not only did people change, but all of the apostles shared their testimony as firsthand and publicly verifiable accounts. Near the end of the first century, as the last surviving Apostle, John wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us—that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you” (1 John 1:1–3a). He was saying that they knew and saw the risen Jesus up close and personal. He based his entire argument in the rest of the letter on his first-hand, eyewitness testimony.
• Similarly, Peter had earlier insisted, “For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty” (2 Peter 1:16). They all saw the resurrected Jesus and lived and died proclaiming what they had witnessed.
• Even after all the testimonies, one disciple, Thomas, demanded direct evidence. This is similar to demands made today. While he finally believed after seeing Jesus’ wounds, Jesus chided him for his lack of faith. He said, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed” (John 20:29). Scripture does not teach that salvation comes from resurrection proof, but from faith in what the Bible teaches about Jesus, including His resurrection.

implications for today

If you struggle with doubt, you're not alone. However, salvation isn't achieved by gathering evidence and proving what Scripture says. Ironically, that actually shows a lack of faith. This doesn't mean you need to believe in something illogical—Scripture presents the resurrection as completely logical—but that trusting in Jesus means trusting what Scripture states. Since it says that Jesus was resurrected, in order to be saved, you must believe that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9). The resurrection is that crucial!

Because Jesus rose from the dead, death is defeated, and sin can be forgiven. His resurrection proves that His sacrifice on the cross satisfied God’s wrath for sin (Romans 3:25), so those who believe are justified and reconciled (Romans 4:25). It establishes Him as Lord, exalted in glory and worthy of worship (Philippians 2:9–11). It guarantees that those united to Him will also be resurrected, sharing in His victory over the grave (1 Corinthians 15:20–23). The resurrection also confirms that history is moving toward a final renewal, when Christ returns to judge and to make all things new (Acts 17:31; Revelation 21:1–5).

If you have not trusted Christ, come to Him today. Turn away from sin’s false promises and rely on His death and resurrection for mercy and new life. If you belong to Him, rest assured that your faith is not in vain. The risen Lord intercedes for you now, reigns over all creation, and will raise you on the last day.