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Historical sources (including, as I understand it, the work of Flavius Josephus) do indicate that the event was witnessed by thousands. Unfortunately only a few wrote about it so that point isn't terribly convincing now that those witnesses have died.
I have done some looking into this and have read a translation of the relevant parts of Josephus’ history of the Jews a couple of years ago. I think you can find it online. While Josephus probably mentioned Jesus in his original work, and I happen to think he did, it was probably only a brief mention and the story was almost certainly greatly enhanced by a Christian Monk who did a translation of Josephus in the third century IIRC. While I believe that Jesus existed there is actually very little hard evidence of the fact that stands up to serious scrutiny. I will try to look for some references when I have time.
On the other hand, I have been to Jerusalem and walked the Way of the Cross and I think that experience would have left me without doubt that Jesus was a real person who was crucified if I ever had any doubt in the first place. Even our Jewish guide did not doubt the existence of Jesus.
Randy