The Roman soldiers were witnesses of, perhaps, the most monumental event in the history of mankind. Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, there was a mighty earthquake, an earthquake caused by the descent from heaven of the angel of the Lord. His appearance was like the brightness and intensity of lightning itself, and his clothing was as white and as brilliant as newly fallen snow. In the midst of this earthquake, the angel of the Lord came and rolled away that mighty stone from in front of the door of the tomb, and when he had done this, he sat upon it. The Roman guard, when they had seen these events, were possessed by great fear, no doubt—fear which literally made them shake and tremble, fear which made them fall to the ground in sheer terror! These mighty Roman guards fell…face…down…on the ground, too afraid to move.

What happened to the body of Jesus? The disciples didn’t steal it. The Jews did not remove it. The Romans did not take it. No one took it! The only possible explanation which remains is that Jesus did indeed rise from the dead on the third day, as He said He would.

Since this is what happened, since this is the only plausible and possible explanation for the absence of the body of Jesus from the tomb, then we are offered conclusive evidence of the very existence of God. Why? Because only God Almighty could possibly perform such an act. The bringing to life of someone who had been dead and buried for three days is a supernatural, miraculous even. This act can only be performed by the act of a miracle, an act which goes well beyond the processes which can be observed in nature. ONLY a supernatural being has the power to bring back to life those who are confirmed to be dead. Jesus was raised from the dead. This is the only explanation for the absence of the body from the tomb. Therefore, God…must…exist, because only God can raise the dead.

Not only is the existence of God proven by the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, but the very existence of that resurrected Jesus is also proven. God exists! Jesus of Nazareth was raised from the dead. Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, as He claimed to be, and not only that, but the very Bible itself is, therefore, PROVEN to be the Word of God. The Old Testament contains countless prophecies of the coming of the Messiah, and the work which He would perform. These prophecies were proven to be true by the life which He led, the death which He died, AND by His resurrection from the dead, Romans 1, verses 2 through 4 [“(Which He had promised afore by His prophets in the holy Scriptures,) 3 Concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead…”].

Is God real to you? He certainly should be. Is Jesus real to you? He must be! Is the Bible real to you? Does it contain the very Words of God? It most certainly does. The very basis upon which our faith rests is the proof of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Every single point of the faith of Christianity had, at its foundation, the fact of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Peter said that our very redemption from the slavery of sin is based upon the resurrection of Jesus. He wrote, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by Him do believe in God [or, “who through Him are believers in God”], that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God” 1 Peter 1, verses 18 through 21.

The proclamation of the Gospel of Christ , which began shortly after Jesus was raised from the dead, is based upon the resurrection of Jesus: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, Whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. 31 Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins. 32 And we are His witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, Whom God hath given to them that obey Him” Acts 5:30-32.

The fact of a coming Day of Judgment , in which all who have ever lived will be judged according to their deeds on the earth, is also based upon the resurrection of Jesus from the dead: “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man Whom He hath ordained; whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead” Acts 17:30-31.

Our very salvation from sin is based upon the resurrection of Jesus from the dead: “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved” Romans 10, verse 9.

The foundation of the very church of Christ rests upon the resurrection of Jesus from the dead : “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His [God’s] calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, 20 Which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His Own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is His body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all” Ephesians 1:18-23.