Beyond Belief: The Resurrection and the Foundations of Christian Faith

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is, in many respects, beyond belief. This is not to suggest that belief in the resurrection is irrational, but rather that it transcends ordinary human expectations of what is possible.

The reactions of the first witnesses illustrate this point vividly. Mary Magdalene, encountering the empty tomb, did not immediately grasp its meaning; an angel had to intervene to explain what had occurred. Peter and John, upon arriving at the tomb, were initially confused, unable to interpret the significance of what they saw. And Thomas, famously, refused to believe unless he could see and touch the risen Christ for himself.

Their bewilderment underscores a critical truth: the resurrection is not an event easily assimilated into prior human experience. It is an utterly exceptional event—one that breaks the established pattern of life and death. Yet it is precisely this event upon which the entire Christian faith is founded.

The resurrection proclaims that the brokenness of the world and the disorder of human lives are not the final word. In rising from the dead, Christ inaugurates a new reality: death is defeated, sin is overcome, and humanity is offered a share in divine life. The resurrection thus grounds Christian hope, not merely as an abstract sentiment but as a living reality anchored in the historical person of Jesus Christ.

Nevertheless, like Thomas, many struggle to believe. Human beings are naturally inclined to seek empirical verification. Faith, however, is not blind credulity; it is a response to a credible witness, empowered by grace.

Jesus, in His mercy, did not leave His followers without assistance. He breathed upon the Apostles, imparting the Holy Spirit to them, and established the Church as the visible continuation of His presence in the world. To the Apostles He entrusted the authority to forgive sins, not by their own power but by the power of Christ Himself: "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them" (John 20:23).

Today, we encounter the living Christ in His Church, particularly in the sacraments, where He continues to act and communicate His grace. Through Baptism, the Eucharist, Confession, and the other sacraments, the risen Lord remains present and active among His people.

Yet belief in the resurrection, though supported by testimony, remains a free act of faith. The early Church was mindful of this tension between evidence and faith.

In his Rhetoric, Aristotle distinguishes between two types of evidence: a sign (semeion), which suggests but does not in itself compel belief, and a proof (tekmerion), which possesses self-evident force. For example, a bloody knife may serve as a sign that a crime has occurred, but it requires further explanation. By contrast, if a child is born more than nine months after a husband’s departure for war, this is proof that the child is not his.

Luke, in his writings, applies this distinction thoughtfully. The appearances of the risen Christ are presented as tekmeria—infallible proofs (Acts 1:3)—that require no further explanation to those who encounter them. Other miracles, such as Peter’s healing of the lame man (Acts 3), function as signs (semeia) that invite faith but require interpretation: "Not by our own power or piety have we made him walk. The God of Abraham...has glorified His servant Jesus." (Acts 3:12-13)

The miracles performed in Jesus’ name attest to the truth of the resurrection but do not force belief. They are invitations, not coercions. Faith always remains a free and graced decision.

The resurrection is thus the cornerstone of Christian faith. Saint Paul writes unequivocally: "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain." (1 Corinthians 15:14)Without the resurrection, Christianity collapses; with it, everything is transformed.

The Apostle John, in his apocalyptic vision, records the self-revelation of the risen Christ: "I am the First and the Last, the Living One. I was dead, and behold, I am alive forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and of Hades." (Revelation 1:17–18)

The resurrection is not simply a past event. It is the ongoing foundation of the Church’s life, the wellspring of Christian hope, and the pledge of eternal life.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever." (Psalm 118:1)