In the Easter season, we are faced with the ultimate question – was Jesus truly the son of God? Did He actually return from the dead?

The following is a reprint from the book “Finding Faith in a Logical World.”

After Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and final departure, His followers continued to spread his message. We can understand how they may have been inspired to follow Him during His time on earth. We can understand how witnessing miraculous works and His charisma may have kept them tagging along, but how do we explain their continuing efforts. What did they have to gain by promoting His cause after He was gone? Why would they devote their lives to a dead prophet? Unless the story is true.

Perhaps the strongest argument for the divinity of Jesus is in the existence of the writings of the New Testament itself. To those of us self-conscious about our public image in acknowledging Jesus, the idea of several educated men writing fervently about the life and works of Jesus is impressive.

Would you be willing to put your reputation on the line, unless you were convinced of the authenticity of this story? Would you be willing to risk ridicule? Would you or I be willing to put our lives on the line to promote unpopular lessons? I think the answer is obvious.

No, we would not risk ridicule, humiliation and scorn to declare our belief in such a preposterous story, let alone risk our lives. Yet these men did exactly that. More so, they dedicated their lives to spreading the news. Logically, we must conclude that these men were not just fans of Jesus, not just devotees of a new philosophy, they knew with absolute certainty that Jesus was the Son of God. How else could we explain their passion? How else could we explain their willingness to accept these risks?

Logic suggests that the strongest evidence is the fact that, when Jesus was arrested, his followers fled. Peter, in fact, denied knowing Jesus three times as predicted. The fear of His followers at that critical moment is a dramatic contrast to their courage later on.

We must conclude that the resurrection was the final proof that caused his followers to fully accept His divinity. Our logic should tell us that no other factor could be powerful enough to transform a group of people, in fear for their lives, into a courageous band of missionaries.