And yet, millions of people believe it is true.
What does that tell you? That people will believe false stuff for no good reason. So why could people not believe a false story about Jesus was true, and tell and re-tell it until it becomes codified as a story that is believed to be historic?
Answer: There is no reason that could not have happened. And it is by far the most likely version of what DID happen, since it does not involve any seeming impossibiliities like dead people coming back to life.
And, to pre-empt the accusation that keeps being made of me: No, I am NOT “presuming naturalism.”