JESUS CHRIST: GOD-MAN - Vital Christianity

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can give credible evidence as to whether a man named Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead
outside Jerusalem nearly two thousand years ago. Thus while the meaning and significance of
the resurrection is not attainable through historical investigation, the event itself, is.
By downplaying this role of historicity, though it has its limitations, Barth leaves himself
vulnerable to liberal attacks and slips dangerously close to the very subjectivism of Rudolph
Bultmann which he so vigorously fought.
Jesus' uniqueness to Christianity is so in a historical sense. Frank Moore Cross of
Harvard put it:
"It is not the idea of redemption through suffering but the 'event' of the crucifixion
understood as the atoning work of God that distinguishes Christianity. It is not
the doctrine of resurrection but faith in the resurrection of Jesus as an eschatological
event which forms the basis of the Christian decision of faith. It is not faith that a
Messiah will come that gives Christianity its special character, but the assurance
that Jesus rules as the Messiah who has come and will come. It is not the hope of
a New Creation that lends uniqueness to Christianity, but the faith that Jesus is the
New Adam, the first of the New Creation. Finally, it is not a 'love ethic' that
distinguished Christianity from Judaism—far from it. The Christian faith is
distinguished from the ancient faith which brought it to birth in its knowledge of a
new act of God's love, the revelation of His love in Jesus' particular life and death
and resurrection.12
These historical claims are true, these events took place in time and space, regardless of
the truth claims of Christianity, which are bound up with the "person and work" of Jesus, who
He was and what He did.13
Consideration, therefore, will be given to three broad areas of evidence for the
resurrection: the empty tomb, the resurrection appearances, and four key features of the early
church which seem to presuppose the resurrection. Then consideration will be given to alternate
explanations of the evidence.
Credibility of Resurrection
The credibility of the resurrection of Christ has to do with the evidence capable of being
believed and substantiated. It must be examined by the same criteria as is any other past event
in history.
The resurrection of Christ as a miracle meets the kind of evidence needed to prove this
fact in the same way as that which we need to prove any other miracle. Inasmuch as all miracles
are not to be proved by reference to such laws. They have valid proof of their occurrence, but it
is not proof such as the naturalist insists upon as necessary. The following are evidences of the
physical resurrection of Christ.