Yes — Josh McDowell's investigation had the opposite of its intended effect: the more he tried to disprove the resurrection, the more convinced he became, and he came away as a born-again believer.
According to the account, McDowell went to Israel expecting to gather evidence that the resurrection was false, but his research convinced him that Christ truly and physically rose from the dead. The investigation that was meant to destroy Christian faith instead produced a believer who then spent years presenting evidence for the resurrection on college campuses. Les Feldick's teaching confirms this pattern, noting that those who devote themselves to disproving the resurrection invariably come away as believers [Clips 1, 2].
John 20:8 — John entered the empty tomb, saw the evidence, and believed — showing that examining the resurrection firsthand leads to faith, as it did for Josh McDowell.
According to John's Gospel, Mary Magdalene came to the sepulchre early and found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty. She ran to tell Peter and John, and they came running to see for themselves. When John went into the tomb, he saw the evidence and believed (John 20:8), though he did not yet understand the Scripture that Christ must rise again from the dead (John 20:9). In Acts 2, Peter stood before the men of Israel and declared, "This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses" (Acts 2:32). The resurrection was proclaimed as a witnessed, historical event. Paul likewise makes the resurrection central to the gospel in 1 Corinthians 15: "Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?" (1 Corinthians 15:12). Scripture presents the resurrection not as a legend to be disproved, but as a truth confirmed by eyewitnesses and by the empty tomb.
Les Feldick teaches that there have been men who have gone out and almost given a lifetime to prove the fallacy of the Resurrection of Christ [Clip 1]. Yet when they dig into it, the more they see and the more they understand, and they come away from it as believers, invariably [Clip 2]. This is exactly the pattern of Josh McDowell's investigation: the search to disprove the resurrection produced a believer. Les rests his own certainty on what he calls "the infallible proofs" of Scripture — "How can I? Because the Book says it" [Clip 1]. He also points to the transformation of the disciples as ongoing proof. The men who scattered like quail and denied Christ in fear were, after the resurrection, ready to go to the very ends of persecution [Clips 2, 5]. He calls Peter himself "the one proof of resurrection that stands above all others" — the same Peter who swore he did not know Jesus became bold beyond shaking [Clip 7].
Les Feldick says that there have been men who have gone out and almost given a lifetime to prove the fallacy of the Resurrection of Christ [Clip 1]. Yet after they dig into it, the more they see and the more they understand, and they come away from it as believers, invariably [Clip 2]. This is the same pattern seen in Josh McDowell's story — the investigation that was meant to destroy faith in the resurrection instead produced a born-again believer.
According to John 20, Mary Magdalene went early to the sepulchre, found the stone rolled away, and ran to tell Peter and John. When John went into the tomb, he saw the evidence and believed (John 20:8). Yet even then, "as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead" (John 20:9) — their faith came from seeing the evidence for themselves. Les notes that Peter and John saw all the evidence that he had indeed supernaturally been raised out of that tomb [Clips 4, 6].
Les Feldick says that if there is one proof of the resurrection that stands above all others, it is Peter himself. On the night of Christ's arrest, Peter denied Him three times, swearing he did not know Him, and the disciples scattered like quail in fear for their lives. But after the resurrection, Peter and the others had a boldness no one could shake — they were ready to go to the very ends of persecution, knowing that nothing could touch their eternal part [Clips 2, 5, 7].
Grace vs. Mercy: What's the Real Difference? (Bible Explained)
to go through a set of procedures, and then all of a sudden the church declares them, Oh yeah, you're a Christian, you've got nothing to worry about, you're on your way to glory. No, that's not the case. We have to believe the Gospel, and then these other things have their rightful place. Absolutely I'm in favor of the local church, I'm in favor of the Sunday school and all these things.
Investigators of the Resurrection
Les teaches that men have devoted almost entire lifetimes to trying to prove the Resurrection of Christ false — the very kind of investigation Josh McDowell undertook against it.
Skeptics Become Believers
Les teaches that the more such investigators dig into the resurrection evidence, the more they see and understand, and they invariably come away as believers — exactly what happened in Josh McDowell's investigation.
Did the Disciples Understand the Cross? Luke 18 Explained
He knew all that he was doing, and that's what gave him such an attitude of rebellion. He wanted to stamp it out. All right, now look on. Though we have known Christ after the flesh. I've known about him in his earthly ministry. Yet, now, what's the next word? Henceforth. In other words, from his resurrection on, we know him as such no more.
The Empty Tomb
Les recounts the empty tomb account from John 20 — the stone rolled away, and Peter and John running to see the evidence for themselves.
Fear Before, Boldness After
Les reminds us that the disciples scattered in fear at the crucifixion, but after the resurrection they understood that nothing could touch their eternal part.
John Saw and Believed
Les emphasizes that John entered the tomb, saw the evidence, and believed — even though he did not yet understand the Scriptures that Christ must rise.
Peter as Proof
Les calls Peter himself the greatest proof of the resurrection, since the man who denied Christ with an oath became bold beyond shaking after the resurrection.
John 20:8: Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
The disciple John examined the empty tomb and believed, demonstrating that the resurrection evidence produces faith.
Acts 2:32: This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Peter boldly proclaimed the resurrection as an eyewitness just weeks after denying Christ — the transformation Les calls the proof of resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:12: Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Paul challenges those who deny the resurrection, showing it is the central proclamation of the gospel.
Yes. According to the account, McDowell began as an unbeliever who enjoyed undermining the faith of other college students, and after graduating he went to Israel intending to gather evidence that the resurrection was false. Instead, the more he searched for proof against the resurrection, the more he found that his own position was wrong.
His research convinced him that Christ truly rose from the dead. The investigation that was meant to disprove the resurrection converted him, and he came away as a born-again believer. Les Feldick confirms this is the invariable pattern — those who dig into the resurrection evidence come away as believers [Clip 2].
He spent years traveling from one college campus to another, presenting evidence to students that Christ truly and physically rose from the grave. His life was transformed from actively attacking Christian faith to defending the resurrection.
Les points to the infallible proofs of the resurrection in Scripture [Clip 1], to the transformed disciples who went from fear to boldness [Clips 2, 5], and especially to Peter, who denied Christ and yet after the resurrection had a boldness no one could shake [Clip 7].
Watch the Teaching: Grace vs. Mercy: What's the Real Difference? (Bible Explained)