Holocaust Denial and Denial of the Crucifixion, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ

There are people who deny the Holocaust. They do so based on presuppositions. Their presuppositions are more important to them than the evidence. Those who deny the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are doing exactly the same thing. They allow anti-supernaturalist or other presuppositions to prevent them from accepting the evidence of the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ--including the fact that He predicted it all in advance. The evidence for this fact is just as strong as the evidence for the Holocaust. The only difference is that the Holocaust is a recent event so there are living witnesses while the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are events of antiquity. However, both facts are equally supported by eyewitness accounts.

For example, Peter while addressing a large crowd in Jerusalem said:

22“Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death. 24“But God raised Him up again, putting an end to the agony of death, since it was impossible for Him to be held in its power. Acts 2:22-24

Note that Peter was an eyewitness of these events and was able to state to the crowd "just as you yourselves know" and "you nailed to a cross...and put Him to death." And what was the response of the crowd to what Peter said:

37Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2:37

Luke, who wrote the books of Acts as a sequel to the Gospel of Luke, states his method for writing these books:

1Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, 2just as they were handed down to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3it seemed fitting for me as well, having investigated everything carefully from the beginning, to write it out for you in consecutive order, most excellent Theophilus; 4so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught. Luke 1:1-4

Note that Luke recorded "eyewitness" accounts and that he "investigated everything carefully from the beginning."

One of the eyewitness accounts Luke records is that of the men on the road to Emmaus:

18One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” 19And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, 20and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. 21“But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. 22“But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, 23and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. 24“Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” Luke 24:18-24

Note the Cleopas said: “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” Clearly it was known by all in Jerusalem that Jesus was crucified, died and was resurrected.

Luke further adds that Jesus presented proof of His resurrection for a period of forty days:

1The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God. Acts 1:1-3

Thus the crucifixion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a fact of history, supported by eyewitness accounts, just as the Holocaust is.