A final proof that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead was his appearance numerous times to many people and at various places. Furthermore, the scars in his hands and side
were further evidence of what had happened to him. This was indeed the risen Christ! All prophecies about him up to this point had now been fulfilled. Nothing more needed to be done. The work to redeem mankind was now finished!
And why was the resurrection considered so odd, anyway? Not too long before this, Jesus had raised Lazarus from the
dead! This was witnessed by many people. In fact, it was so evident that the Jewish leaders themselves were going to kill Lazarus simply because they realized that the impossible was being performed by Jesus right in front of their eyes! The fact that Jesus might also rise from the dead should not have been that odd to them.
And consider what
happened when Jesus was on the cross. You cannot have three hours of darkness without a supernatural event going on! Furthermore, when He died, consider the things that happened --- there was a great earthquake, rocks split apart, the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom, and... wait for it... dead people became alive and appeared to many people in the city!! These events were noticed by everybody, including Pilate himself, and all of the chief priests. There's no way they
could avoid being witnesses to all of this. Again, why would it seem so odd, then, that Jesus should rise from the dead just as He said?
He did! And because He lives, we who believe in Him will live forever, too!
