“What were the real charges on which Jesus was condemned to death? Was there any collusion between the high priest, Caiaphas, and Pontius Pilate, and did they both cooperate in covering up the facts afterward? When Jesus sent out the twelve apostles to announce that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand, did he tell them that the Son of man would come before they had completed their journey? If he did, what were their true feelings when they returned from their mission and saw that nothing had changed? Why did Matthew, Mark, and Luke ignore such a dramatic and powerful event as the raising of Lazarus from the dead in their writings? Did the Jews expect their Messiah to perform miracles? Why did the family of Jesus ignore him during his ministry? Why was Jesus the only one arrested and tried? What happened to the multitude, on the morning of his trial before Pilate, to cause them to urge his execution and free Barabbas—?”

The old man raised both hands as if in surrender. His eyes were moist and he cleared his throat several times before he spoke. “Matthias, now I can understand why your books are so popular. I’m not so certain that you could find answers to all the questions you have raised even if you spent an eternity here.”

“Joseph, finding answers to every question is no longer important to me. I think the assassination of our President Kennedy made me finally realize that if the best brains of modern man, with all our technical gadgetry, cannot completely resolve the truth concerning events that happened only a few years ago in front of thousands of witnesses, how in the name of heaven can I expect to come up with factual explanations of events that happened two thousand years ago? Through the years, the key to my completion of the ‘Christ Commission’ manuscript has narrowed down to trying to discover the answer to only one question. If I could resolve that one to my satisfaction, all the others would become of no concern.”

“Only one question?” Joseph frowned.

“Yes, one. If I had that answer I could finish the book.”

“Tell me, Matthias, please.”

“I agree with Paul, who went right to the heart of the matter when he said, ‘If Jesus has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.’ The wish that I expressed on the Carson program hinges on Paul’s statement—and you certainly must admit that millions share my feeling but would never dare admit their doubts. Joseph, if I could satisfy myself that no one removed the body of Jesus from the tomb, your tomb, and that therefore he did rise from the dead, all other questions would become irrelevant.”