Fact Check: Did Jesus Really Rise from the Dead?

In this powerful episode of Focus on the Family, Lee Strobel, a former atheist and award-winning investigative journalist, shares his journey from skepticism to faith, centered on the historical evidence for Jesus' resurrection. Drawing on his journalistic rigor, Strobel examines four key pieces of evidence summarized by the letter 'E': Execution (Jesus' death by crucifixion, confirmed by multiple ancient sources including secular historians and medical analysis), Early (the resurrection belief emerged within months of Jesus' death, as seen in a creed preserved by Paul and dating to within 20 years of the event), Empty (the tomb was found empty, with no credible alternative explanation for the body's disappearance), and Eyewitnesses (over 515 people, including skeptics and doubters, reported encountering the risen Jesus across multiple appearances). He dismantles alternative theories—such as legend, myth, or mass hallucination—by citing psychological and historical evidence, emphasizing that hallucinations cannot explain group experiences or the transformation of the disciples. Strobel concludes that the historical case for the resurrection is so strong that it requires more faith to remain an atheist than to become a Christian. He then shares his personal conversion experience, culminating in a heartfelt prayer of repentance and reception of Christ’s grace.