The statement suggests that if the disciples had attempted to fabricate a story about Jesus' resurrection, it would have been extremely difficult to convince anyone, especially those in Jerusalem where Jesus lived and died. This is because many people there were eyewitnesses to his crucifixion and death, making any claims of his resurrection incredibly hard to believe.
The deeper meaning behind this quote lies in the idea that the evidence for the resurrection was so strong and undeniable that it would have been impossible for anyone to convincingly fake it. The location of Jerusalem is key here because many people who had witnessed Jesus' crucifixion, including his opponents, were there. This creates a context where spreading false information about a miraculous event such as the resurrection would face immediate skepticism and likely opposition from those who knew exactly what happened.
Josh McDowell is an author and speaker known for his work in apologetics—reasoned arguments or writings in defense of the Christian faith. His book "Evidence That Demands a Verdict" explores historical evidence supporting Christianity, making him well-regarded among evangelicals and religious scholars for addressing questions related to the Bible's credibility through historical and logical analysis.
