The problem with the scenario of the Roman or Jewish authorities stealing and hiding the body is that it would have been very easy for the Romans or the Jews�to simply�produce the body of Jesus as proof�he was still dead�when the disciples began to claim his resurrection. They didn't produce the body because there was no body to produce.

The claim that the disciples stole and hid the body doesn't hold water either because later, when they�themselves were threatened with execution, the disciples�could have saved themselves easily by simply coming out with the "truth." All they had to do was to recant their resurrection story�and produce the body; not one did. Does anyone seriously believe that all of the disciples would be willing to die for a lie?

Finally, the most powerful pieces of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus�are the written eye-witness accounts of his appearances in the Bible. There are six independent written testimonies to his appearances alive�by Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul and Peter. They record eleven separate appearances of a risen Jesus�over a period of forty days. In 1 Corinthians 15:6 it is recorded that Jesus appeared to over 500 people at one time. Wow!�It isn't very likely that all of these various appearances were due to hallucinations.

No, Anthony, I believe that any person with an open mind who looks at the evidence will conclude, as have over one billion people alive today, that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead. That he is the Son of God!

Here is an Easter prayer that I like a lot: Why not make it your prayer?�"Lord Jesus, I declare that you are the ever living Son of God. Because you live, I live in hope of your soon return. By your life, death and resurrection I have victory over death, hell and the grave. Hallelujah!"

Happy Easter!

Father Paul Massey will answer your question. Write him at P.O. Box 510, Fayetteville, 30214 or [email protected]