How do we know He lives?
Leondre Douglas writes that the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical fact – proven by evidence and transformed lives – and proves He still lives
‘You ask me how I know He lives… He lives within my heart.’
Those famous words from Alfred Henry Ackley’s hymn He Lives have comforted believers for nearly a century. Yet, in a culture shaped by scepticism, scientific inquiry and the constant demand for proof, an honest question often arises:
Is that enough?
Christian faith is deeply personal, but it is not blind. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not simply a spiritual sentiment; it is a historical claim – one that stands up to serious examination.
So, what evidence do we actually have?
Did Jesus Really Die?
The starting point for any resurrection claim is the certainty of Jesus’ death. Here, history speaks with remarkable clarity.
Jesus of Nazareth was executed by Roman crucifixion, the most brutal and medically certain form of execution in the ancient world. Roman soldiers were highly trained; their own lives depended on ensuring a condemned man did not survive.
Before the crucifixion, Jesus was whipped continuously, a punishment so severe it could be fatal on its own. He was then nailed through His wrists and feet, left to suffocate over hours, and finally pierced in the side with a spear. The flow of blood and water described in the Gospel accounts is consistent with catastrophic internal trauma.
Any one of these injuries could have killed Him. Together, survival was impossible.
And this is not only recorded in the Bible. Every ancient source – Christian, Jewish and Roman – agrees that Jesus was executed. Roman historian Tacitus and Jewish historian Josephus independently confirm the crucifixion. No ancient historian disputes it.
Jesus died. That is historical fact.
The Empty Tomb
If Jesus remained in His tomb, Christianity would have died in its first week.
The burial place was known. The authorities had every reason to guard it. A large stone sealed the entrance, and Roman soldiers were assigned to keep watch. Had Jesus’ body been present, the authorities could have ended the Christian movement instantly by producing it.
Instead, the earliest explanation offered by opponents of Jesus was that the disciples stole the body.
But this raises more problems than it solves:
- How could a small group of frightened followers overpower trained Roman guards?
- How could they roll away a heavy stone without being noticed?
- Why would they willingly endure imprisonment, torture and martyrdom for something they knew was a lie?
Two thousand years later, Jesus’ body has never been found.
We know where Muhammad is buried.
We know where Buddha is buried.
But Jesus’ tomb remains empty.
Eyewitness Encounters
The earliest Christian writings record that Jesus appeared alive on multiple occasions after His death: to individuals, small groups and large gatherings; to followers and sceptics; indoors and outdoors; in private moments and public settings.
These encounters took place over 40 days. Hallucinations cannot account for this – as some would like to believe – as hallucinations are private, individual and do not transform enemies into devoted witnesses.
Yet the resurrection did exactly that.
Lives Transformed
The disciples, who had scattered in fear at Jesus’ arrest, became bold public preachers of His resurrection, right in Jerusalem – the city where He was executed. They endured beatings, imprisonment, and, in most cases, martyrdom. People do not willingly die for what they know is false.
Even more striking are the conversions of former sceptics:
James, the brother of Jesus
Once a doubter, he became the leader of the Jerusalem Church after encountering the risen Christ. He, too, was executed for his faith.
Paul, Christianity’s fiercest early opponent
A highly educated pharisee, he had every reason – social, religious and political – to suppress the Christian movement. Yet, after claiming to meet the risen Jesus, he surrendered his status, faced repeated imprisonment, and eventually died for the faith he once tried to destroy.
These transformations demand an explanation. The resurrection is the only one that makes sense.
Why the Resurrection Matters
Jesus did not simply present Himself as a moral teacher or a prophet. He claimed to be the Son of God, the Forgiver of sins, and the One who would judge the world. The resurrection is God’s public demonstration that these claims were and are true.
If Jesus truly rose from the dead, then everything changes:
- Death is not the end.
- Sin can be forgiven.
- Suffering has meaning.
- God is not distant from human pain.
So, whenever someone asks, “How do you know He lives?”, you can absolutely say:
“He lives within my heart.”
But you can also answer:
With history.
With evidence.
With transformed lives.
LEONDRE DOUGLAS
Pastoral team member at Trinity Baptist Church and founder of Dioko
