Various sceptical theories, to which much importance was attached for a time, are now almost forgotten.  The Mythical theory fails to account for the immediate effect produced by belief in the Resurrection.  Myths require time for their growth and development, but the disciples of Jesus set the Resurrection in the forefront from the very first.  On the day of Pentecost Peter sounded the keynote of Apostolic preaching when he declared, “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.”  And so from this time forward, “with great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.”  The historical fact not only rests upon the most irresistible evidence; it is the very corner-stone of the whole fabric of Gospel teaching.

Another view of the testimony for the Resurrection has found advocates who claim that it explains, without having recourse to supernaturalism, the belief of the disciples and others in the doctrine.  With some minor differences of detail, they agree in attributing the persistency of those who said that they had seen Jesus alive, to the impression produced on them by His wonderful personality.  This, they hold, was so strong that the effect continued after His death, and the disciples saw visions of Him so vivid that they believed them to be real appearances.  He had filled so much of their lives while He was with them, that they were unable to realise His departure, and retained His image in their hearts continually.  Exalted and excited feeling projected His figure so that they saw Him apparently restored to life.

A theory such as this will not stand, in the face of the evidence for the Resurrection.  It was no subjective impression, but the Saviour Himself, that brought conviction to the minds of the numerous witnesses.  It was no apparition, it was a body that they saw and handled and tested and proved to be of flesh and blood.  They heard their Master speak, and saw Him eat; and at frequent intervals for forty days He showed Himself to them.  Sometimes He was seen by one, sometimes by many; and before His ascension He charged them to carry on the work He had committed to them:  to feed His sheep, to feed His lambs, to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.  “Him,” said Peter, “God raised up on the third day, and showed him openly; not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead."[139]

What they saw was the true body of their Lord, the same that had been crucified, dead, and buried, but a marvellous change had passed over it.  It was now possessed of spiritual qualities, suddenly appearing, suddenly vanishing; now felt to be made of flesh and bones, and now passing through closed doors, or walking upon water.  It was no longer subject to natural law as it had been before the Resurrection; and when the disciples beheld the Lord, they had not only proof of His continued existence, of His being God as well as man, and of God’s seal having been set upon His atoning work,—­they had also an intimation of what life hereafter will be for His followers, who shall be like Him, for they shall see Him as He is.