Matthew Smith

Christ follower, husband, father, runner, banker, sports junkie.

[Matthew Smith @Matthew51Smith]

Absolutely love this family! @alexisdeboer22 @deboer41 @KalenDeBoer #WinnersWin

[Nick Kelly @_NickKelly]

Kalen DeBoer celebrates with his family after beating Auburn

[Chad Birger @ChadBirger]

It was great to get together with @Matthew51Smith today for #LunchWithBirger. We definitely need to get together more frequently. Always great to catch up on careers, families, and share stories.

[Charlie Kirk @charliekirk11]

Today we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is a real event of history.

He is RISEN!

Skeptical? Here are 10 irrefutable historical facts that show the resurrection of Christ is real:

1) Jesus of Nazareth was crucified under Pontius Pilate.

This is one of the most agreed upon facts of ancient history. Pagan historians like Tacitus, Jewish chroniclers like Josephus, and early Christian sources all converge: Jesus was publicly executed by Roman authority.

No credible historian—Christian or atheist—denies it. The cross was not a theological metaphor; it was a state-sanctioned death penalty, delivered with maximum shame and finality.

2) He was buried in a known, accessible tomb.

The Gospels name Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy member of the Jewish council, as the man who buried Jesus. If this were a fabrication, using a public figure easily investigated by enemies would be self-defeating.

The early Christian creed in 1 Corinthians 15, dated by scholars like James D.G. Dunn to within 5 years of the crucifixion, affirms the burial. This isn’t myth. It’s memory.

3) The tomb was discovered empty by women.

In ancient Jewish society, a woman’s testimony was considered unreliable in court. If the resurrection story were invented, placing women at the center of the discovery would be absurd.

The only reason to report this detail is because it actually happened.

4) Christianity’s fiercest enemies became its loudest witnesses.

Paul (a Pharisee and persecutor) and James (Jesus’ skeptical brother) both claimed to have seen the risen Christ—and their lives were permanently, painfully reoriented.

Paul lost his power and prestige. James abandoned his former doubt and was stoned to death for proclaiming his brother as Lord. What changed them? Not a metaphor. A real encounter with the risen Christ.

5) The disciples were psychologically and morally transformed.

Before the resurrection, they fled, denied, and hid. Afterward, they stood in synagogues and before emperors declaring Jesus as Lord, knowing it would cost them everything.

They didn’t gain wealth or comfort. They gained whips, prisons, and martyrdom. Men don’t die for what they know is a lie—and they had every opportunity to recant.

6) Over 500 people saw Jesus alive—at once.

This is not folklore. Paul documents it in 1 Corinthians 15, saying “most are still alive,” effectively daring his readers to investigate.
Mass hallucinations do not happen to diverse individuals across multiple locations, including skeptics and enemies, over 40 days.

7) The resurrection was proclaimed immediately—not centuries later.
Unlike legends that slowly evolve, the resurrection was preached within weeks in the very city where Jesus was executed.
The early creed embedded in Paul’s letters wasn’t developed by theologians in ivory towers—it was carried in the mouths of fishermen, tax collectors, and former zealots who had seen something they couldn’t unsee.

8) The message launched from Jerusalem—the least convenient location.

If the tomb still had a body in it, Christianity would have been instantly crushed. The Romans and Jewish leaders had every incentive to expose the hoax.

But they couldn’t. Because there was no body to show. And from the epicenter of that threat, the gospel spread like wildfire.
If Jesus was dead, why not show the corpse and end the Christian movement?

9) No natural explanation fits the data.

Stolen body? Then the disciples died for a con they created.

Hallucination? Group sightings, physical contact, and shared meals contradict that.

Legend? There wasn’t time—eyewitnesses were still alive and correcting error.

Only one explanation covers it all: Jesus physically, bodily, historically rose from the dead.

10) The risen Christ continues to change lives today.

Jesus is the most significant historical figure ever. He defeated death, so you may live

Accept Jesus in your heart today. Jesus changes everything

Thank you @DrFrankTurek for the help

🙏

[Matthew Smith @Matthew51Smith]

@UWSoftball @D1Softball @alexisdeboer22 Congratulations @alexisdeboer22 Keep up the good work!!!!

[Chris Hassel @Hassel_Chris]

On the day Iowa immortalizes its greatest athlete, I can’t help but think the performance by THIS team is even more important for the future of the program.

The absolute perfect moment to show the fanbase that this golden era isn’t over. What a statement by these Hawkeyes!

[Paul TenHaken @paultenhaken]

Christmas Eve run with some really great friends. Thankful for The 437 Project community and the work these folks are doing to build awareness around suicide prevention in South Dakota.

[Chad Birger @ChadBirger]

Postgame picture with @cougar_1997, @Matthew51Smith, Dave and Karen Bangasser. Great people and great friends.

[KELOLAND News @keloland]

Lexie Warejcka of the Platte, S.D. area runs to connect. “It’s the closest time that I am to God, honestly,” she said. “I love going to church. My faith is really, really important to me. But that’s the time that it’s me time. I really get to pray.”
https://t.co/JjhRNBCa7o

[Mark Ovenden @MarkOsports]

Just wrapped up 26 years of playing 100 holes of golf each year for @JASouthDakota … I’m planning on one more next year and then we’ll see.
Sure enjoy spending the day with Matt Smith @dacotahbank and thanks to all my incredibly generous sponsors over the years! 💰💚🏌️‍♂️⛳️👍

[Matthew Smith @Matthew51Smith]

@cougar_1997 There’s a guy that just spent about 5 minutes watching a minivan driving around the roundabout! 😜

[Matthew Smith @Matthew51Smith]

Excited to be in Houston @ChevronHouston for marathon weekend!!! Only running 13.1 this weekend in preparation for @COMarathon in May!

[Sioux Falls Fire Rescue @SiouxFallsFire]

Seriously you guys - the crews were doing some night training and the STRANGEST thing happened 🤭

Here's to sharing a cup of kindness in 2024...

Happy New Year from SFFR! 🎉

[Mike Vorel @mikevorel]

This quote from Edefuan Ulofoshio effectively summarizes the culture Kalen DeBoer has installed at UW.

More on how the Huskies physically outmatched Oregon: https://t.co/0SZtlYhUiH

[Dakota News Now @dakotanews_now]

When 12 runners with Project 437 embarked on a journey across South Dakota in September, they were able to raise over $250,000 for the Helpline Center to add an additional position to their call center. https://t.co/xU6iTjn59D

[Matthew Smith @Matthew51Smith]

Hey @Iowa_Learfield, is it time for @Hassel_Chris & @DallasClark44 in the radio booth?

[Matthew Smith @Matthew51Smith]

@IowaSwarm @ExileBrewingCo
This is how you enjoy Kinnick!

[The 437 Project @437_the]

We will forever be grateful for the outpouring of support we received during this year's The 437 Project.

📷: @PINstudiosSF

[Chad Birger @ChadBirger]

Some more pictures from the Key to the City matchup today.

[The 437 Project @437_the]

$251,007.53 raised for suicide prevention and mental health resources in South Dakota. 💙💛

Thank you to everyone who helped make this donation to @HelplineCenter possible!

Please remember to share 988 and ask the question, "are you thinking about suicide" to those around you.

[Paul TenHaken @paultenhaken]

🙏🏻