Watergate “Proves” Jesus’ Resurrection (Part 1)

Bob RoaneDeath, Eternal Life, Heaven, Hell, Jesus Christ, Joy and Peace

Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead… This is my gospel. (2 Timothy 2:8)

An Unlikely Convert

Charles “Chuck” Colson (1931–2012), a brilliant attorney, earned the nickname “hatchet man” for his ruthless role as President Nixon’s chief architect of “dirty tricks.” He boasted he would “walk over his own grandmother” to ensure the President’s re-election.

After the Watergate scandal broke,1 Colson visited an old CEO friend whom he’d noticed had a special peace in his life. During their meeting, his friend read a quote from C. S. Lewis about “The Great Sin” of pride.2 Moved by the Holy Spirit, Colson realized, “he’s writing about me.” Overwhelmed after leaving Phillips’ home, Colson pulled over and cried out to Jesus for forgiveness of his sins. 

Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath. Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint. Heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony. Turn, Lord, and deliver me. Save me because of Your unfailing love… I acknowledged my sin to You and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.” And You forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 6:1-4, 32:5)

Colson publicly confessed his role in the Watergate crimes and was the first member of Nixon’s team to be jailed. His midlife conversion and time in prison triggered radical changes in his life. Soon after his release, Colson founded Prison Fellowship International, an organization reaching offenders behind bars and their families with Christ’s gospel in 50 states and 120 countries. 

Faithful Eyewitnesses vs. Watergate’s Liars

In his book Born Again, Colson wrote that Watergate proves Christ’s resurrection. Watergate was a plot concocted by Nixon’s powerful aides. But the fraud unraveled when one man, John Dean, testified against Nixon to save his own skin. The cover-up held together for only 2 weeks. Then everybody jumped ship and admitted the truth. Nobody’s life was at stake, but they faced public embarrassment, disbarment, and prison. Under pressure, many of Nixon’s top staff admitted they were lying.3

Colson was struck by the unmistakable contrast between Watergate’s schemers and Christ’s apostles. These guys were 11 ordinary people: fishermen, a tax collector, and physical laborers, but the stakes were much higher. The disciples suffered exile, brutal whippings, and execution for their allegiance to Jesus. 

Yet every single one insisted to their dying breath that they had honestly seen the Risen Christ physically alive and raised from the tomb, face to face with their own eyes. These eyewitnesses had touched Jesus’ resurrected body, talked and eaten with Him, and spent 40 days with Him from Easter to His ascension. 

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, He was buried, and He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. Then He appeared to Cephas (Peter), and then to the Twelve. After that, Jesus appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep (died). Then the Lord appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)

Colson asked, “If the Resurrection were a fraud, wouldn’t at least one have caved in or cracked before being beheaded or crucified? Nobody did.” Colson adds, “Take it from me, an expert in cover-ups: only Christ’s actual resurrection could’ve convinced the apostles and other believers to maintain to their deathbeds that Jesus is alive.” The Resurrection is not a scam, conspiracy, or myth. People gave their lives for believing and defending the fact that Jesus is truly alive! 

Critics Become Converts

Colson’s story reminds me of Albert Henry Ross (1881–1950), known by his pen name, Frank Morison. Morison doubted Jesus’ resurrection and analyzed the historical record to prove that it was a myth. Morison’s plan backfired! His research convinced him Christ’s resurrection was real, and he documented the long chain of evidence in his book, Who Moved the Stone? 

Many people have become Christians through Morison’s book, including Josh McDowell, who grew up in a difficult home and became an atheist, mocking Christianity as worthless. In college, he set out to disprove the Christian faith by researching the historical accounts. McDowell found such compelling evidence for the reliability of the New Testament and the Resurrection that he became a Christ follower himself and wrote Evidence That Demands a Verdict. 

Another critic-turned-convert is Lee Strobel, the former atheist and Chicago Tribune journalist who decided to interview multiple experts in their fields to disprove the Resurrection. Instead, he became convinced and wrote The Case for Christ, The Case for a Creator, The Case for Hope, and many more.

The evidence for Christ’s resurrection is so strong that nobody would question it except for two things: First, it is a very unusual event. And second, if you believe it happened, you have to change the way you live. (Wolfhart Pannenberg)

Jesus’ 1st-century followers were radically renewed by His resurrection, and all His followers since then have been and continue to be transformed. “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come.”4

Let’s Trust and Obey Christ Now

Colson reminds us that Jesus’ miraculous resurrection is a fact, convincingly supported by Biblical evidence, and that we can bank our lives on Him. It means that everything Christ says is true. 

The life Jesus lived and still lives transforms us and our fallen world. Since the crucified Lord got up and walked away from death, His followers will do the same one day. Since we are unafraid to die because of our connection to our Living Lord, we are unafraid to live for Him now. Colson understood that our whole Christian faith stands upon the solid-rock foundation of Christ’s historical, flesh-and-blood, earth-shaking resurrection! 

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future.
And life is worth the living just because He lives. 5

To be continued.

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Notes (various Bible translations used): 1 Watergate was a 1972 scandal in which President Nixon’s re-election team broke into the Democratic National Committee headquarters to spy on their opponents. Even if Nixon didn’t order the break-ins, he tried to cover them up, and the exposure of his scheme forced him to resign in 1974.  2 C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, 1952. See also “The Sin We’ve Stopped Taking Seriously,” by Trevin Wax, May 5, 2026, thegospelcoalition.org. Scripture teaches that pride is the sin that lies beneath many other sins. Pastor Thomas Watson (1620–1686) said, “Pride is a spiritual drunkenness. It flies up like wine into the brain and intoxicates it. It is idolatry. A proud person is a self-worshiper.” 3 Charles Colson, Born Again, 1976.   4 2 Cor 5:17.   5 Bill and Gloria Gaither, “Because He Lives,” 1971.