Evidence of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is central to Christian beliefs, but it’s more than just a theological concept found in scripture. There’s a considerable body of historical records and artifacts pointing to this miraculous event.
On a recent episode of “The Steve Diace Show,” host Steve Diace talked with scholar Jeremiah Johnston, who recently wrote a book titled “Discovery of Jesus.” They explored some remarkable findings connected to the life and crucifixion of Jesus.
Johnston kicked off the discussion with a replica of the Vatican Codex, which he described as “the oldest and most precious Bible we have.” This manuscript dates back to 330 AD, just five years after the Council of Nicea, which took place in 325 AD.
“It’s in Greek and contains most of the Old and New Testaments, including the significant passages about Jesus’ resurrection and the Gospels,” he elaborated. “This adds incredible depth to the historical narrative of our faith.”
Next, Johnston presented an authentic “crucifixion nail” from ancient Rome. This 6-inch nail is bent, a result of the Romans adjusting it during the crucifixion process, “to limit movement while maximizing pain,” he explained.
“The archaeological evidence regarding Jesus’ crucifixion is undeniably genuine,” Johnston stated.
He then shared an image of an engraved chalice, often called the “Magician’s Chalice,” found by underwater archaeologist Frank Goddio in 2008 in the ancient submerged city of Alexandria, located in Egypt’s Nile Delta.
“This find is notable because it’s the first archaeological discovery explicitly mentioning Jesus,” Johnston pointed out.
The inscription reads, “Through Christ the Enchanter.” Johnston elaborated on this, noting that in the Gospels, Jesus gained fame before his resurrection for his miraculous abilities to heal and cast out demons. As a result, people believed that invoking Jesus’ name would lead to powerful outcomes.
Johnston’s book documents the top ten historical discoveries that support Christian truth claims, but he acknowledges this is merely scratching the surface.
“Interestingly, before even looking at the Bible, I compiled 65 facts about Jesus’ life, death, burial, and resurrection,” he noted.
“If you’re skeptical about Jesus’ resurrection based on the evidence, you might as well doubt that Caesar crossed the Rubicon, because we have more evidence supporting the resurrection than for that event.”
For a deeper dive into the conversation between Diace and Johnston, check out the video above.
