And Jesus came and spoke to them saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

- Matthew 28:18-20 (NKJV)

Jesus claimed to be the son of God. He claimed to be the creator of the world. He died on a cross. His followers scattered. So how did this fantastic church of believers organize to define the essential form of history for the last two thousand years. Usually, when a leader dies and his followers disband, the influence dies as well. But the church of Christ grew in the face of fanatical efforts to wipe it out. It grew from disheartened and defeated followers who saw their leader indecently and nakedly brutalized with common criminals. What could possibly rejoin and energize a dead religious movement? Witnesses. Many people saw Christ after he had died and that was sufficient to validate his claim of Godhead.