Jesus suffered one of the most torturous forms of execution ever conceived. His back and sides were a criss-crossing with deep lacerations from flogging. There were holes through His hands and feet from the spikes that had pinned Him to the cross, and there was a gaping hole in His side from a spear thrust clear to the heart.

He had then been crucified to death between two common criminals.

Historical Fact 2 Jesus was buried in a tomb

He was buried in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea – a member of the Jewish High Court, the Sanhedrin, which had brought the false charges against him. The body was wrapped in a shroud and put in the tomb, and the entrance was sealed with a ‘great stone’. The local authorities to posted guards day and night.

Historical Fact 3 No modern scientific proofs yet….

Jesus rose from the dead and walked out of that tomb alive leaving the tomb empty. Our present ageonly believes in physical proofs and personal witnessing- there was none! The sleeping guarding soldiers said that Jesus’ friends came and took the body and hid it. How could they say that if they were sleeping?

The Gospel accounts of the Resurrection name at least 16 people who were eyewitnesses to the risen Saviour. Over a 40-day period, Jesus “presented Himself alive” after His death by over 500 people.c/f Acts 1:3; 13:31, and  1 Corinthians 15:3–8

Thomas Arnold, expert English historian (1795–1842) wrote:

‘I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and with fuller evidence of every sort, than the great sign which God has given us that Christ died and rose again from the dead.’

When all is said and done, Jesus’ resurrection remains a matter of faith that God and Lent has prepared us for it.