3 Reasons Not to Believe in Jesus' Resurrection

I have had my share of doubts and have heard many criticisms and arguments against the resurrection of Christ.  Here are three of the more prominent ones:


1-Jesus was a mythological character who never actually existed.
2-Jesus existed but was only a man whose body was stolen and hidden by followers who lied about it.
3-Jesus existed and his followers truly believed, but he only pretended to die on the cross. 

If the resurrection didn't happen as the gospels purport, the Christian faith is founded on a lie and the whole religion is a sham.    

But, what if it did happen?  What if the story is true?  

What if Jesus existed (referenced by numerous sources in addition to the Bible), really died on a cross (executed by Professional Roman solders), and actually rose from the dead three days later?  That just doesn't happen in real life, right?   

Why did his followers (who cowardly scattered and fled at his arrest) regroup and preach that Jesus did in fact rise from the dead and was in fact the son of God?  Why did 10 of 12 disciples (John died of old age and Judas committed suicide) claim this under torture, with their dying breath?   If they hadn't actually seen his resurrected body with their own eyes, would they all have died for that lie?    

If it really happened-if Jesus lived, died on a cross, and rose to life on the third day, how should we respond?  How should the reality of that truth affect our family life, professional life, and personal life?  If you actually believe what you say you believe, how would your life be different than it is now?  

Further Reading:
-Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
-The Case for the Resurrection by Lee Strobel
-More than a Carpenter by Josh and Sean Mcdowell
-Evidence that Demands a Verdict by Josh Mcdowell