Question: Can Christianity Exist if Jesus Did Not Resurrect?

John Dominac Crossan in the following video says it wouldn't affect his "Christian faith." Of course, this guy is one who denies the infallibility of Scripture, the deity of Christ, Christ's atonement for sin and the repentance & faith it requires, and so on. But what do the Scriptures say? Could Jesus be who he said he was if he didn't rise from the dead 3 days later? Should anyone read the Bible or even trust what it says if the resurrection was found to be a hoax?

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. - John 2:13-22

Here in John 2 Jesus walks into the temple and becomes upset because the place where God is supposed to be worshiped had become a house of trade--selling objects for monetary gain rather than worshiping God. The temple existed for worship, not for trade. The Jews asked him for a sign, to explain why he did this. Jesus replied that he would destroy this temple and raise it again 3 days later. Astonished, the Jews thought he was speaking of the temple in which they stood in, but Jesus was speaking of the temple that was standing in front them: himself. And v. 22 adds that the disciples saw the resurrection and remembered this thing Jesus had said, and they believed the word He had spoken--a prophecy come true.

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me...

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. - 1 Corinthians 15:1-8,12-19.

Paul again brings an argument that is plain as day: Jesus died for our sins (Matthew 1:21), he was buried (Matthew 27:57-66), he rose again (Matthew 28:1-10), and showed himself to more than 500 people including his mother, Mary Magdalene, the disciples, Paul himself, etc (John 20-21, Acts 9:17).

Conclusions:

If Jesus did not resurrect from the dead 3 days later after dying on the cross, then:

1. It was a hoax.
2. Jesus cannot be trusted for salvation.
3. Jesus was a liar.
4. Throw away your Bible (since the Old Testament people looking forward in faith to the coming of Christ, and New Testament believers look back in faith at his arrival)
5. You have no guarantee of life after dead.
6. There is no Christian faith.
7. I am to be pitied above all men.
8. I am hopeless.

If Jesus did in fact rise from the dead, then:

1. He was who he said was: the Son of God, the Messiah, Lord, Redeemer.
2. The Bible can be trusted
3. You're at an ultimatum: either you trust in Christ alone for salvation from sin, or face an eternity apart from God.
4. There is life after death.
5. A living hope is available for those who believe.

No resurrection-->No Jesus, No Christianity.