The George Zimmerman Trial and the Resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ

                                                                                 

The George Zimmerman trial (relating to the death of Trayvon Martin) in the summer of 2013 became a matter of national attention, and many Americans followed this trial very closely. 

This case can be used as an illustration of the amazing amount of evidence we have for the resurrection of Christ. 

The jurors had to decide whether Zimmerman acted in self defense and a lot of this hinged on whether he was on top or on the bottom when these two men were struggling together. 

There was only one witness who was close enough to really see what really happened and he testified that George Zimmerman was on the bottom. 

The testimony of this one witness was crucial in determining the final verdict. The testimony of this one eye-witness was very significant in this case. 

Now consider the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The resurrection was the greatest proof that Jesus Christ was everything He claimed to be. How do we know that Jesus Christ was indeed the Son of God; the resurrection is the greatest proof (Romans 1:3-4). 

So what is the evidence? How many eye-witnesses could come forward and testify that they saw Jesus alive from the dead?

(Not necessarily in chronological order)

There was Mary Magdalene, the first to see Him (John 20:14-18).

Then there was Peter (1 Cor. 15:5).

Then the two men on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24).

Then the 10 disciples with Thomas absent (John 20:19-23).

Then to the 11 disciples when doubting Thomas became convinced Thomas (John 20:24-29).

Then to 7 disciples on the sea of Galilee (John 21:1-11).

Then there was James, the Lord’s half brother (1 Cor. 15:7).

And then in Galilee he appeared to over 500 people at one time (1 Cor. 15:6).

Then later you had Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9).

So you had well over 500 witnesses who could have testified that they had seen the living Christ, and some of these witnesses had seen Him on more than one occasion (Peter, for example, saw Him on five difference occasions or more). 

If there had been a court case back then and if these witnesses had been called to testify, the jury would have had overwhelming evidence that Jesus rose again from the dead. How can anyone dispute the testimony of over 500 people who saw the Lord on a number of different occasions? 

In the Martin/Zimmerman case there was only one witness who saw the struggle and who gave compelling evidence that helped to sway the jury.

 

 How can anyone dispute the testimony of over 500 people who saw the Lord on a number of different occasions?

In the case of the empty tomb there were over 500 eye witnesses. A person has every right to doubt the resurrection of Christ, but only if he is willing to close his eyes to the massive mountain of evidence which proves that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. 

These are not the only witnesses that could have been brought forward. There are countless thousands of other people who were not eyewitnesses of the resurrection, and yet who could genuinely testify to the fact that their lives have been transformed by the risen Christ. Are you one of those? 

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shall be saved!" (Rom. 10:9). 

The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

GWZ I.F.

What Must I Do To Be Saved!