I have heard atheists debate God and His existence. But I never hear them debate the resurrection of Jesus or the existence of Israel. All religion is their target. They will not specifically target Christianity or Judaism. I know why now.
Look at the evidence.
1. People documented what they saw.
People saw Jesus alive; people remember Israel.
After Jesus was crucified and buried, He was seen alive by 500 witnesses, according to the Bible. That’s a lot of people, especially if you consider that there are not 500 people who can prove without a doubt that you are who you are. The fact that Israel existed as a nation 3,000 years ago has been documented by hundreds of thousands of artifacts and evidence, and they disappeared as suddenly as they came upon the scene.
2. Change was sudden.
Something happened that suddenly changed the disciples. God brought Israel back in 1948 as a nation that suddenly changed the world.
Eleven of the 12 disciples died for preaching about the resurrected Jesus. John was exiled to the Isle of Patmos for preaching about Jesus. They went from cowards to courageous in a matter of days. This little nation Israel, no bigger than New Jersey, is the focus of world attention every day. That should give us a hint that this is God-ordained.
3. People will die for what they really believe in.
Christians died and still die every day. Many want Israel dead today. It is true that many will die for a cause. Some will die for a religion: Muslims are encouraged to commit suicide to kill the enemies of Allah. Soldiers give their lives for their country and people die protesting against communism or government abuse. Some die to protect family members. Police and firefighters die protecting others.
Christians die for a person: Jesus Christ. They die for telling other people the good news that Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sin and that He rose again. Christians do not kill to spread the gospel; they are killed for spreading the gospel. Christians don’t fight, war, or take over a nation for the cause of Christianity. They are simply salt and light where they live. It is different from any other creed, religion or cause. Christians will die not only for WHAT they really believe in but for WHOM they really believe in.
Israel gave us the Savior Jesus Christ. Israel was scattered and died as nation in AD 70, very soon after Jesus died.
All of Israel’s enemies want her dead. Iran has promised to push her into the sea. The world has been against little Israel from the day they were born again. They tried to destroy them in 1948, 1967 and 1973 and God protected them. But they have come back today because Jesus is coming back very soon to rule and reign in Jerusalem as the Bible tells us.
So we must conclude that Israel exists because God caused them to rise from the dead. And if He did all of His word is true including the fact that Jesus rose from the dead. That is why people died for Him then and still today.
4. The physical evidence.
We know where Jesus was buried. Israel is back in their God-given land.
Jesus did not disappear. We know He was put in a tomb and we know that it was sealed and protected. Also we know where Mohammed and Buddha are buried. We know where Joseph Smith is buried. They are still buried, but Jesus’ tomb is empty. If His body were stolen, someone would have found it and stopped this movement immediately. Someone would have His bones somewhere, would they not? Somebody would have a story as to what happened to Jesus. But we don’t have a story.
If we look at the evidence, we must conclude that it appears that Jesus rose from the dead.
We know that Israel was scattered and the land of Israel became a desert. Today Israel flourishes as God’s prophets foretold in the exact location predicted in the word of God.
That, my friends, should be the end of Atheism if it were not for the evil hearts of men toward God. Because if we honestly look at the evidence about God’s Son and God’s chosen people, we must conclude that Jesus rose from the dead. And we must admit that since Israel exists, we can trust in the word of God.
Listen to Pastor Jack’s sermons on the way to church every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. on 98.9 WSIP FM. To read more of Pastor Jack Ward’s articles and hear his sermons at Tomahawk Missionary Baptist Church go to tomahawkmbc.com. Watch his sermons on his Facebook page. Find him on Rumble, Bitchute and Brighteon video platforms.