At the dawn of the 16th century, a wind of change was blowing through Europe, a wind that would shake the foundations of Christianity. Amidst this turbulence, the figure of Martin Luther emerged, the German reformer whose echoes resonate to this day. Luther, along with other courageous men, raised the banner of the Bible as the supreme Word of God, proclaiming to the four winds justification by faith in Jesus Christ. His famous statement, "Justification by faith alone is the article on which the church stands or falls," remains a beacon for believers.

I fully share Luther's conviction. However, there is another truth, another pillar that sustains our faith with equal firmness: the resurrection of Christ. If we dare to paraphrase the reformer, we could say: "The resurrection of Christ is the truth about which Christians can be certain of their faith or plunged into the deepest doubt."

The Resurrection: The Heart of Our Hope

The apostle Paul, with characteristic clarity, declared in his first letter to the Corinthians: “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is in vain and your faith is also in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14). In these words lies the very essence of our hope. It is Christ’s resurrection that allows us to rest in God’s promises. The Messiah, the Son of God, lived the perfect life we could never live, and gave himself on the cross, taking our sins upon himself. His resurrection is the divine seal, the irrefutable proof that the Father accepted his sacrifice. Thanks to his victory over death, we have the certainty of eternal life.

In today's academic world, the historical existence of Jesus is a widely accepted fact. However, debate persists surrounding his divinity and the reality of his resurrection. Was Jesus really the Son of God? Did he rise from the dead?

Fortunately, faith is not at odds with reason. God, in his infinite wisdom, has called us to seek the truth with intelligence and understanding, providing us with evidence that transcends mere belief. Beyond faith, we can explore the truth of the resurrection through rational and well-founded approaches.

Exploring the Resurrection: Two Paths to Truth

1. A historiographical approach:

History, when studied rigorously, offers us powerful reasons to believe in Jesus Christ and the reality of his resurrection. Historians, both Christian and non-Christian, have documented Jesus' existence and impact in the first century. Sources such as Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, and Suetonius, along with the writings of the Apostolic Fathers and the texts of the New Testament, converge into a solid historical testimony.

1. The methodology of minimum facts:

Renowned scholar Dr. Gary Habermas has developed the minimal facts methodology, an approach based on facts widely accepted by scholars of diverse schools of thought. These facts, taken together, offer compelling testimony to Jesus' resurrection:

• The crucifixion of Jesus, an indisputable historical fact.
• The disciples' profound conviction that they had seen the resurrected Jesus, a transformation that changed the course of history.
• The conversion of enemies and skeptics like Paul and James, a phenomenon inexplicable without the resurrection.
• The empty tomb, a fact that defies alternative explanations.
• The absence of effective refutations in the early centuries, a silence that cries out for truth.

These facts, analyzed in depth, allow us to see that the resurrection is not only an act of faith, but also a historical and rationally defensible event. Mass hallucinations, body snatching, or any other alternative theory crumble in the face of the solidity of the evidence.

A call for trust and hope

The resurrection of Christ is the beacon that guides our faith, the rock upon which we build our hope. Beyond historical and rational evidence, we have the supreme testimony: the Word of God. As the Apostle Paul proclaimed in the first century, and as we proclaim today:

«For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures; and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, of whom many are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. After that he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. And last of all, also he appeared to me.» (1 Corinthians 15:3-8).

Brothers and sisters, we have the trustworthy Word of the Lord and proofs that assure us that He has risen. And if He has risen, we can trust all His promises. If you face difficulties or storms in your life today, remember that the Good Shepherd, the One who conquered death, has promised to be with you until the end of the age. He lives and walks by your side. Trust in Him and move forward with faith.

Bibliographic Sources

• Habermas, G. (2004). The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus. Cregel.
• Licona, MR (n.d.). The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach. Kerigma Publications.
• Stein, RH (nd). Jesus, the Messiah: A Study of the Life of Christ. Clie.
• Cervantes Ortiz, L. (Ed.). (n.d.). Anthology of Martin Luther. Clie.

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