Is Easter True?

Millions of Christians, all over the world, just celebrated the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  If Jesus did, in fact, bodily rise from the dead, then it is the most significant event in human history, and one's response to it has eternal implications.

This week take the opportunity to use this as a conversation starter with non-believing friends.  First note that the celebration took place, then ask, "I was wondering, do you think Easter is true?"  If they respond in the negative, they are in good company, because in the beginning, the women at the tomb and the disciples did not believe it either.  Ask, "How did you come to that conclusion?"  More importantly, listen to the answer, as it will reveal a lot about their thought process.

A good follow up question to any non-believer is, "What if you are wrong?"   Some will get defensive and ask you, the believer, "Well, how do you know you're right?"   Scripture says that we must always be ready to give an answer for the hope that is within us and to do it with gentleness and respect.  The proper response is, "Well, what proof would you accept?"  An answer of, "There is no proof", indicates that you are wasting your time, but a positive response, opens the door for you to explain your reasons for believing.

When we are talking to non-believers, we have to remember that while we can introduce scripture at some point, they will not be familiar with the Bible or necessarily look at it as an authority, so our arguments must  sometimes appeal to them on another basis.

One of the best defenses is to look at Scripture as history, (there are extra-Biblical sources to back it up) and explain that the best evidence of the truth of the resurrection is the changed lives of the apostles.  Immediately after Jesus was crucified, they went into hiding in Jerusalem in fear of their lives.  On the third day after the resurrection, they emerged as the boldest witnesses the world has ever seen, proclaiming that they had seen, touched and talked with the risen Christ. 

Were they lying?  A reasonable man would say no.  Every apostle except John, who was exiled to Patmos, went to his death never changing his story.   Now a man may die for a lie, but a man will never die for what he knows is a lie. 

Chuck Colson, one of the Watergate conspirators, likes to say that he knows a thing or two about conspiracies.  Some of the most powerful men in the world were involved in the Watergate cover up, yet it only took two weeks for John Dean to break and confess to the crime, implicating the others and they weren't even threatened with death.  If the resurrection of Jesus had been a conspiracy, one of the disciples would have broken and spilled the beans.  None did.  All went to their deaths proclaiming the risen Savior.  Christ changed their lives and He has been changing lives ever since.

Remember, no matter how the conversation with your friend turns out, the goal is to get them to meet Jesus, not convert them to your opinion or even to win the argument.