The death of Yeshua was a public and well documented affair. It was brutal and recorded with very specific details. He could not have survived those wounds. For those claim the disciples made up stories of the resurrection of Christ… it just does not make sense. If Yeshua’s followers were just writing fiction in what became the Biblical record, why would they write passages like the road to Emmaus. It makes them seem foolish and it seems less credible on the surface than if they just wrote that they saw Yeshua and recognized Him immediately. This is not the only account. Think also of the record of the women finding the empty tomb first. In that culture and time, women were not considered as reliable witnesses. There is no reason why the disciples would choose to make up a story about the women finding the tomb… and the men not believing at first. If they were making it up, they would have had Peter and John find the tomb first. I am convinced without a doubt that these humble men simply documented what they experienced.
The Road to Emmaus
13And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. 17And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22“But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24“Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” 25And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26“Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
28And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. 29But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. 32They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, 34saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.
Look for other examples as you read. There are many. The Biblical record itself declares the truth of the word by the way in which it is written. Much of the content of the stories documented would only be documented if believers were simply documenting what happened. If it were a work of fiction, the historical accounts would have been written much differently to make the believers appear more credible and more heroic on their own, rather than needing Christ so much. You would not find all the records that are there today documenting their failures and shortcomings if it were not simply the truth which is recorded.
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