On the crucifixion- and the resurrection:

Majority of biblical scholars agree Jesus was a real being.. so that is to begin with.

They also agree that he was definitely crucified- the way he was crucified was consistent with how others were crucified.. the accounts of how he was crucified were detailed, gory and his crucifixion was predicted long before it happened by Jesus Himself and prophets.

Now... did he died on the cross.. well the method of Roman crucifixion though not exactly perfect medical science.. was more than effective. Jesus was lashed with a whip of cat-0-nine tails.. that shredded his skin.. this would cause blood loss from his body..he had a crown of thorns forced onto his head that would have caused much blood loss from his head. Both of these acts could cause pain that can kill some people.

Most people crucified this way were dead before they got to the cross.. that fact Jesus wasn't quite dead before he got there... shows how strong he was, and he had control over the right timing and fulfillment of scripture- as God in human skin.

Now.. he was also placed on the cross in a position that only allows the person to breathe for a certain amount of time.. because they would have to lift themselves up to breathe each time.. and in doing so.. cause them to sink further into a position of being unable to breathe any longer.

So.. he is already brutally beaten to the point of most people normally dieing from that beating.. and also nailed to the cross on top of that..

Then he is placed in a position that is purposely done so over time he can no longer breathe.

When Jesus is satisfied with the right time to die.. he then says 'it is finished'.. scripture fulfilled.. events all happened that need to.. and then dies.. leaving His body- going to do further work..

At this time.. his body is dead.. and to make sure of this..after all the beating.. and the agony of the cross itself.. he is speared in the side by a Roman guard to make sure he is dead... and what comes out?

blood and water..

seems strange maybe.. but blood and water is what should come out from a medical condition where the lungs become filled with liquid from the act of Jesus trying to force himself to breathe on the cross. Blood comes out to.. because he has only just died. It is a medical state of death that doctors know about where both fluids effuse from the body.

So ya.. he is dead..

Now.. he gets put in the tomb

3 days later.. He ain't there!

Was his body stolen? No.. cos the disciples had no motive to steal it.. and were in hiding and dispersed because they believed their messiah was dead. Also the case can be made for the Roman guards not allowing anyone in or out of the tomb- since in that day.. getting caught off guard on duty was punishable by death by Caesar.

So maybe.. he somehow survived the cross.. even tho it is pretty clear he could not have survived it.. and been revived in the cool air of the tomb..

well.. then how did he have the strength, in the wounded, near death condition he would have to have been in.. to move a big rock guarding the tomb... and get past the guards?

Not a chance!

And then supposing.. even tho this is getting really unlikely.. impossible really.. he did get out..

How could the disciples claim his resurrection if he were just this wounded.. mostly dead.. beaten.. bruised man?

So.. He dead at the cross.. and dead in the tomb.

NOW

the accounts of Him being risen again-- are based on passages of scripture that are considered some of the earliest pieces of manuscript evidence in the entire New Testament!

1Co 15:3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures;
1Co 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures:
1Co 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
1Co 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
1Co 15:8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.

The words in this passage.. were handed down to Paul by another source.. and Paul wrote this at a time very close to Jesus' life, death and resurrection anyway..

A few trusted scholars put the original source that Paul got the information from.. to be written as close as 2 years after Jesus' life, death, and ressurection! That is nothing!

Paul is writing about accounts of seeing Jesus-- by many many people.. when those same people are alive and other people alive who can say whether what he was writing was not right!

No legendary development here..

So

1) Jesus really lived
2) Jesus really crucified
3) Jesus really died
4) Jesus' tomb-- empty after 3 days
5) Accounts of Jesus rising again.. are as reliable as the accounts that he lived and died..