Gary J Sibio
Public Domain image: https://evangelio.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/clip_image0025.jpg
Christianity rests on the truth of a single event … the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Even St. Paul says this:And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. [1 Corinthians 15:14, ESV]
If Jesus did not rise from the dead, our sins are not forgiven and we’re all going to Hell. So, the $64,000 question is: Does it make sense to believe that Jesus rose from the dead?The short answer is yes. Here’s why.
Less than two weeks after Jesus was crucified His disciples were on the streets telling anyone who would listen that Jesus had risen from the dead. If Jesus’ body was still in the tomb, it would be a simple matter for the opponents of Christianity to open it up and say, “See. There he is. These guys are lying to you.” The fact that this did not happen shows that the tomb was empty as the disciples claimed.
So we know the tomb was empty but how did it get that way? Some people have postulated that Jesus didn’t really die. He just passed out and woke up in the tomb a few days later and walked out. This theory has actually been given a name … the Swoon Theory and it’s totally absurd. Here’s why:
- The night before His crucifixion Jesus was flogged. The whip had multiple straps on it with pieces of bone and metal tied to the ends. As the whip wrapped around Him, the bone and metal dug into His flesh and, when the whipper pulled back, they shredded His skin.
- After Jesus hung on the cross and it was getting near sundown, the Roman soldiers went to break the legs of the three men being crucified to hasten their death. However, they did not have to break Jesus’ legs because they saw that He was already dead. One guard stuck his spear into Jesus’ side. They knew how to tell if someone was alive or not.
- Jesus’ body was wrapped in cloth which was treated with spices that caused it to turn into a hard shell that likely weighed about 100 pounds.
- Jesus was placed in a tomb hewn out of rock and a large stone, weighing a ton or two, was placed over the entrance.
- A Roman Guard, sixteen men who would be burned alive on their own clothing if they failed at their assigned task, were given the job of making sure nothing happened to the body.
So here’s the Swoon Theory scenario: Jesus, who had been tortured, beaten and crucified, was wrapped up and placed in a tomb. He woke up, made His way out of the hardened wrapping, pushed aside a two ton stone (the Greek word Luke uses in his gospel implies the rock was moved slightly uphill) and overcame the sixteen Roman soldiers. Silly, isn’t it?
Could the apostles have stolen Jesus’ body? Before the crucifixion all but one of them – John – panicked and ran. Peter denied knowing Jesus three times. Is it reasonable to believe that these terrified men got enough courage and strength to mount a successful attack on the Roman Guard? No way.
When you read the accounts of the resurrection in the gospels, you will notice that it is women who make the discovery. Why is this important? In the Jewish culture of the time the testimony of a woman was considered worthless. They were not allowed to speak in the courts. Anything they said was ignored. If you were going to invent a story, you would not have it depend on the testimony of a woman.
All of the apostles except John died a martyr’s death. John would have as well had not God divinely protected him when the Romans tried to boil him in oil. He later died of old age in exile. Not one of them recanted. While it is certainly conceivable that a group of men could invent a hoax, how many would be willing to die excruciatingly painful deaths to protect that hoax? Very few, if any, I would think.
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s legendary character Sherlock Holmes was famous for saying that, once you have eliminated everything that is impossible, whatever is left, regardless of how extraordinary, was the truth. (I paraphrased a bit.) The facts, extraordinary as they are, leave us with no other conclusion than that Jesus rose from the dead on Easter morning just as He said He would.
Text © 2019 Gary J. Sibio. All rights reserved.
#Christianity #Easter #apologetics #Jesus #resurrection #Bible #history #apologetics
Many has attempted to prove that Jesus’ did not rise from the dead… only to end up proving that Jesus indeed has risen.
Good article, Gary. I guess it’s good timing for me to read this. The Lenten season is about to start.
At least those who can deal with the facts in an honest manner.
Yes, without a doubt, Jesus resurrected. Good article. Thank you!
You’re very welcome. I’m glad you liked it.
Interesting article, which gives credence to the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Of course, Jesus had the power of God working through him, so he could easily have pushed that rock aside, or had it pushed by an angel.
God lives in Jesus, as much as he lives in us too.
Our Earthly body is both dead and alive, depending on how much it is connected to God, and is being empowered by his love.
When Jesus died, he left his body, only to take it up again, as God wanted, and empowered him to do so, a few days later to bring this sign of returning from the grave to mankind, who already knew that Jesus could raise the dead to new life, as he did with Lazarus, through his father, who gave Jesus all power and grace to do his will, as he commanded.
Jesus’ post-resurrection body was glorified. He was able to pass through walls, for example.
I agree with you. Jesus rose from the dead.
As unusual as it is, it’s the only viable option.
Beautiful! Let me share this.
Thank you. Please feel free to share anything I post.