On March 30, just ten days before Easter, the Christian satire site Babylon Bee released their “If Jesus’ Resurrection Were a Hoax” video. I’ve read and proofread many articles on The Stream about how we know the resurrection of Jesus, the heart of Christianity, wasn’t faked. (See our resurrection tag, which has over 100 articles.) So I immediately loved it and later sent it around to my coworkers.

The Bee’s skit is a hilarious defense of the historical reality of the resurrection. After all, if Jesus’ resurrection were a hoax made up by his closest followers, why were they willing to die for it? Who would suffer a torturous death rather than admit it was all a hoax? As the confused John the Beloved character says in the skit, wondering why his fellow disciples like this plan, “I love me a good hoax as much as the next guy … but what’s in it for us?”

If Jesus' Resurrection Were A Hoax pic.twitter.com/bosu9qKyzp

— The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) March 30, 2023

Or as Paul said in his letter to the believers in Corinth, if Jesus wasn’t raised from the dead, our faith is pointless. And “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:17-19). He continued later in the same chapter:

And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I face death every day—yes, just as surely as I boast about you in Christ Jesus our Lord. If I fought wild beasts in Ephesus with no more than human hopes, what have I gained? If the dead are not raised,

“Let us eat and drink,
for tomorrow we die.”

It was because of belief in Jesus’ resurrection and hope in their own future resurrection that Paul, who had seen the risen Jesus, and the disciples, who had first followed Jesus and then seen him risen, endured persecution, suffering and death and didn’t give up. This is not the only evidence of Jesus’ resurrection that we have, but it is strong evidence.

Faith in a God Who is Leading History Towards a Promised Goal

Recently I’ve been thinking about evidence for our faith and how solidly rooted in history the Christian faith is. Aside from my own personal history with God, history itself backs up the reality of the God of the Bible. Related to this Passover season we’re in, the Biblical Exodus enjoys convincing historical evidence, despite experts who have said the opposite. I learned about this when I watched Patterns of Evidence: Exodus. I found this 2014 documentary fascinating and it has encouraged my faith in the years since I watched it. I recommend it, especially in light of honoring Passover and remembering how God saved the nation of Israel from slavery in Egypt.

It’s a beautiful reality that the God who promises to make all things right and make a restored heaven and earth is the God who split the Red Sea and resurrected Jesus of Nazareth. We can trust His Word. We’ve seen the God of Israel move in time and space according to His Word, and so I know God will continue to fulfill all of His promises. Like Paul, I’m trusting in Jesus as the Passover Lamb to save me from death, believing in His resurrection, and hoping for my own future resurrection with all God’s people on a restored earth.

Happy Easter! Happy Passover! Our God reigns!

Aliya Kuykendall is a staff writer and proofreader for The Stream. You can follow Aliya on Twitter @AliyaKuykendall and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.