Many Infallible Proofs
To whom also He showed himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. Acts 1:3 (NKJV)
The Bible says that Jesus “showed himself alive after His passion by many infallible proofs”. “Infallible proofs” is the translation of one Greek word tekmerios. It literally means ‘indubitable evidence’. The New American Standard version puts it “convincing proofs” and the Amplified Bible says “convincing demonstrations”.
Luke adds that there were “many” of them. The grave clothes, the empty tomb, Christ appearing alive to numerous people, the radical transformation of the disciples, were but a few. The disciples were frightened, confused, dazed, disoriented and disheartened. Every one of them was running for cover and they huddled in an upper room with the door locked for fear of the Jews. Fast forward a few weeks later. These same disciples now boldly stand in the temple courts preaching that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, that He has come back from the dead, and that only by repentance and faith can anyone be saved. What changed these cowering men and women from fear to faith, from doubters to believers, from cowards to martyrs, from dejected to joyous? There is only one credible explanation for such a radical change. They had seen the risen Christ and that sight had changed them forever. All but one died a martyr’s death because of their testimony.
Paul says:
For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that he rose again in the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all He was seen by me also… 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (NKJV)
Just as Jesus Christ transformed the lives of His disciples, so the lives of men and women throughout the years have also been transformed. On the Isle of Capri in the Bay of Naples, Italy, a local church has a traditional celebration every Easter Sunday. Each family brings with them a bird in a cage. Every Resurrection Sunday, the crowded church and the plaza outside are jammed with the people of Capri carrying cages. After the benediction, all of the cages are opened and the birds are released, to the joyous shout, “Christ has risen!” What freedom comes into our lives when we welcome the truth of the Resurrection.