The disciples who saw Jesus crucified and forsook Him after His death, were the same people who saw Him after His resurrection and allowed themselves to be chopped up by swords, decapitated, crucified upside down, lit on fire like torches, fed to lions, and countless other cruel and inhumane tortures as a result of preaching the gospel that He has risen. You have to agree, it's hard to concoct a myth that you're willing to stand by with your very life.