H/t Nathan Hale. These are his words, but he is on Facebook
Ladies and gentlemen, how did the Church ultimately rise?
Well, it is because a bunch of scared Jewish men in the first century AD were fearing for their lives because their leader had been crucified, and they were afraid they were next.
Suddenly, they shifted to brave evangelists willing to preach the resurrection in the face of persecution and execution.
What caused them to preach with such bravery, despite the only guarantees being persecution and execution?
They claimed it is because they had an encounter with the risen Jesus.
That encounter either happened, or it didn't.
They could not have simply made up their encounter, as that would mean they willingly died for a lie they knew was a lie, which nobody does that.
They could not have all had a mass-hallucination, as that is not psychologically known, plus the empty tomb is not explained.
Jesus could not have survived the whole ordeal, as that is highly unlikely medically speaking, and even if He did, the disciples would think he needs medical attention and not that He is a gloriously risen messiah.
Matthew was stabbed to death with a sword in Ethiopia.
Thomas was stabbed to death with a spear in India.
Peter was crucified upside down.
All of this is because of an encounter they claimed they had with the risen Jesus.
There is not alternative explanation that effectively explains away their dedication, plus the empty tomb and the reports of confrontations with the risen Jesus.
They really did see Him, being told to spread the message of salvation to people like you and me.
That, I would say, is why they were willing to face all that torture and execution.
It is because they had truth on their side, and even if they are executed, they will be with Jesus in Heaven and helped spread the Gospel.
