Lee Strobel

What is the— Well, we said earlier Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. He said, I and the Father are one. People recognized that was his claim. They picked up stones to kill him. But so what? I could claim to be God. John could—well, maybe not John. Anybody could claim to be God.

What is the— Well, we said earlier Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. He said, I and the Father are one. People recognized that was his claim. They picked up stones to kill him. But so what? I could claim to be God. John could—well, maybe not John. Anybody could claim to be God.

What is the— Well, we said earlier Jesus claimed to be the Son of God. He said, I and the Father are one. People recognized that was his claim. They picked up stones to kill him. But so what? I could claim to be God. John could—well, maybe not John. Anybody could claim to be God.

But if Jesus claimed to be God, died, and then came back to life on the third day, that's pretty good evidence he's telling the truth. So for me as a skeptic, the first confirmation of his claim of divinity was whether or not he fulfilled this prophecy of the Messiah returning from the dead. And I think the evidence is clear. I think it's compelling.

But if Jesus claimed to be God, died, and then came back to life on the third day, that's pretty good evidence he's telling the truth. So for me as a skeptic, the first confirmation of his claim of divinity was whether or not he fulfilled this prophecy of the Messiah returning from the dead. And I think the evidence is clear. I think it's compelling.

But if Jesus claimed to be God, died, and then came back to life on the third day, that's pretty good evidence he's telling the truth. So for me as a skeptic, the first confirmation of his claim of divinity was whether or not he fulfilled this prophecy of the Messiah returning from the dead. And I think the evidence is clear. I think it's compelling.

I look at it, I summarize it with four words that begin with the letter E. That way it's easy to remember. First E is execution. We talked earlier about all the evidence that Jesus truly died when he was crucified. Even the atheist scholar Gerd Ludemann says it's indisputable that he was dead. Even the Journal of the American Medical Association says that.

I look at it, I summarize it with four words that begin with the letter E. That way it's easy to remember. First E is execution. We talked earlier about all the evidence that Jesus truly died when he was crucified. Even the atheist scholar Gerd Ludemann says it's indisputable that he was dead. Even the Journal of the American Medical Association says that.

I look at it, I summarize it with four words that begin with the letter E. That way it's easy to remember. First E is execution. We talked earlier about all the evidence that Jesus truly died when he was crucified. Even the atheist scholar Gerd Ludemann says it's indisputable that he was dead. Even the Journal of the American Medical Association says that.

No, no. So first E is for execution. Second E stands for the word early. We have early accounts that he rose from the dead. In other words, reports that go back virtually to the cross itself. Why is that important? Because I used to think, like a lot of skeptics, that the resurrection was a legend. Gotta give you the fact he was dead. Okay, I'll give you that.

No, no. So first E is for execution. Second E stands for the word early. We have early accounts that he rose from the dead. In other words, reports that go back virtually to the cross itself. Why is that important? Because I used to think, like a lot of skeptics, that the resurrection was a legend. Gotta give you the fact he was dead. Okay, I'll give you that.

No, no. So first E is for execution. Second E stands for the word early. We have early accounts that he rose from the dead. In other words, reports that go back virtually to the cross itself. Why is that important? Because I used to think, like a lot of skeptics, that the resurrection was a legend. Gotta give you the fact he was dead. Okay, I'll give you that.

Raising from the dead, that's a legend. It must have taken a few generations to develop in the ancient world. Stories were invented, mythologies were created. That's where I thought it came from. But we have preserved for us a creed of the earliest Christians. The first Christians right there in the first century gathered around this creedal statement based on facts that they knew to be true.

Raising from the dead, that's a legend. It must have taken a few generations to develop in the ancient world. Stories were invented, mythologies were created. That's where I thought it came from. But we have preserved for us a creed of the earliest Christians. The first Christians right there in the first century gathered around this creedal statement based on facts that they knew to be true.

Raising from the dead, that's a legend. It must have taken a few generations to develop in the ancient world. Stories were invented, mythologies were created. That's where I thought it came from. But we have preserved for us a creed of the earliest Christians. The first Christians right there in the first century gathered around this creedal statement based on facts that they knew to be true.

It's kind of a rallying point. And this creed says Jesus died. Why? For our sins. He was buried. On the third day, he rose from the dead.

It's kind of a rallying point. And this creed says Jesus died. Why? For our sins. He was buried. On the third day, he rose from the dead.

It's kind of a rallying point. And this creed says Jesus died. Why? For our sins. He was buried. On the third day, he rose from the dead.

And then it mentions the specific names of eyewitnesses and groups of eyewitnesses to whom he appeared, including 500 people at once, including a skeptic like James, a half-brother of Jesus, who didn't follow Jesus during Jesus' lifetime and yet ended up dying as a leader of the church in Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus appeared to him.

And then it mentions the specific names of eyewitnesses and groups of eyewitnesses to whom he appeared, including 500 people at once, including a skeptic like James, a half-brother of Jesus, who didn't follow Jesus during Jesus' lifetime and yet ended up dying as a leader of the church in Jerusalem. Why? Because Jesus appeared to him.