THE RESURRECTION – FACT OR FICTION?

    Was Jesus Christ really resurrected from the dead?   Did he really walk out of the tomb nearly 2000 years ago, or is this story one of the greatest hoaxes of all time. 

The birth and the death of Jesus Christ are historical facts that can be proven from the historical record, but his resurrection is something different. 

In John 20:29 Jesus said to a doubting apostle called Thomas:  “because you have seen Me,  you have believed.  Blessed are they that have not seen and yet have believed”.

     None of the followers of Jesus Christ after the first century AD have seen him and yet all have truly believed that he not only died for our sins, but also was resurrected to eternal life by God the Father.  None of us living today have seen the nail holes in his hands or the gaping spear wound in his side and yet we believe through faith.  Many thousands of Christians down through the centuries have gone to their graves believing his climatic statement in Rev. 1:17-18.  

            “Fear not; I am the First and the Last.  I am he that lives and was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore.  Amen.  And I have the keys of the grave and of death.” 

But still many others who want to believe are like Thomas; they need more proof.  Even with all that medical science has to offer through genetics and cloning, people are subject to physical life and the finality of death, so they have a tough time believing in a resurrection from the dead.  They just don't see anyone coming to life and coming out of the grave after being dead for three days.

            And remember, Jesus didn't just walk out of the tomb to his former physical life but to an eternal life that was able to suspend the physical laws that govern our physical world.  In Luke 24:36-51 we see the resurrected Jesus materialize himself in the midst of his apostles, eat physical food and later ascend from them into heaven.

           Many philosophers argue that Christ's resurrection violates all known workings of natural law.  Theologian Rudolf Bultmann concluded; “a historical fact which involves a resurrection from the dead is inconceivable”.

             In light of arguments such as this, two main theories have been proposed to annul the resurrection.

1. The theft theory:  This proposal suggests that Jesus' disciples, robbers, or Christ's enemies stole his body and hid it elsewhere.

2. The swoon theory:  This theory proposes that Jesus faked his death on the cross, then conned his followers into believing he had conquered death only to live out his life elsewhere and then finally die.

             Let's understand that the four gospel accounts are real documented evidence for Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection.  These accounts are emphatic that Jesus Christ's execution was a public and state-certified spectacle.  Mark 15:29-32 relates that there were many common people at his execution as well as the chief priests and scribes and the Roman soldiers.  In verse 40 we also see several women who witnessed his death.

             In verse 45 and 47 we see a disciple named Joseph of Arimathea and the two Mary's witness where Jesus’ dead body was buried.

             Paul argued before King Agrippa that, "this thing was not done in a corner".  How true that statement is, for most of Jerusalem was aware of the crucifixion of the man who claimed to be the Son of God.  The enemies of Jesus who were determined to wipe out the "religious sect" begun by Jesus (John 11:46-53) would have made sure Jesus didn't fake his death.

             John 19:23 and Mark 15:39 indicate that at least four soldiers and one centurion carried out the execution, and Roman soldiers were very adept at killing people.

             Pontius Pilate, the chief Roman ruler in Judea double-checked to make absolutely sure Christ had really died.  Mark 15:44-45.   He asked the centurion point blank if Christ was dead.  Would the centurion have lied to Pilate knowing that lying to the Roman ruler would have meant his own death?   Hardly!

             British author John Stott demolished the faked-death theory with a bit of common sense.  He states:  “Can we really believe that after the rigors and pains of trial, mockery, flogging, and crucifixion, Jesus could survive in a stone tomb without warmth, food or medical care for 3 days and 3 nights; that he then could rally sufficiently to shift the gigantic boulder which secured the entrance to the tomb, and do it without disturbing the Roman guard; that he could then appear to the disciples in such a way as to give them the impression that he had conquered death.  That truly would have been a miraculous feat."

             If the tortures Jesus endured weren't enough to end his life, the action found in John 19:34 was.  It states that one of the soldiers pierced his side.  The Greek word “nusso” is used here and means to inflict a severe or deadly wound.  The Roman soldiers were professional killing machines and their thrusts were incomparable.  They were trained to thrust their spear in the side and up under the rib cage destroying the heart and lungs.  Death was instantaneous.  If Jesus could have somehow survived the crucifixion, as the book, "The Great Passover Plot" would have us believe, his life would surely have ended with the spear thrust of John 19:34.

             The mortal wounds that Christ received plus the many, many witnesses should prove to all but the greatest skeptics that his death was a historical fact; but what about his resurrection?

             In reality it was just as difficult for Christ to die as it was for him to be resurrected, but for the average physical human being, the resurrection of God's son was probably the greatest and most profound event of all time.

             The greatest argument against Christ's resurrection is the theory that Christ's body was stolen away.  If his enemies had stolen his body they surely would have displayed it thus proving that he was still dead and his resurrection was a myth.  If his disciples had stolen his body they would have known that the resurrection was a lie.  Then we have to ask the question:  would those same disciples have preached the gospel message in the face of immense danger and finally give their lives over to martyrdom for something they knew to be a lie?

             Would they in fact die for the greatest hoax of all time?  I think not.  Only sincere individuals who had witnessed and been a part of the greatest and most powerful event in all of human history would have the courage to do that.

            Notice Peter's words in Acts 10:39-41; “And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem, whom they slew and hanged on a tree.  Him God raised up the third day and showed him openly, not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead".

             The rulers in Jerusalem were so shocked by Jesus' resurrection that they gave the soldiers a large sum of money to circulate the story that his disciples stole his body while they slept.  Two strange things about this are:

1. The guard was posted to prevent this very thing from happening.

2. If the guards were sleeping, how did they know who stole the body.

             Matthew 27:62-66 shows us how formidable this Roman guard was.  Jerusalem's religious leadership came to Pilate and asked for a guard because they remembered that Christ had predicted he would rise after the third day.  They asked that the grave be made sure until the third day so that his disciples couldn't steal his body and say that he was resurrected.  Pilate told them to take the Roman guard and make it as sure as they could and you can be sure they went to great lengths to make it sure.  They sealed the great stone at the entrance to the tomb and posted the guard, which probably numbered between 10 and 30 men.  Did all these men sleep knowing that sleeping on an official watch could mean their own deaths?  Soldiers cold-blooded enough to gamble over a dying man's clothes are not the kind of men to be fooled by the Jews.  Neither would they jeopardize their own necks by sleeping on their watch.      

            Finally, we have to question why Jesus would even attempt to fake his death knowing that his life would be on the line.   Jesus was well acquainted with Roman executions and knew that if there was the slightest question of whether life was still present, then the criminals' legs were broken and the support needed to lift himself up to breathe while on the cross was eliminated and he would suffocate. 

            Jesus, the Son of God, fulfilled all of the old testament prophecies about the coming messiah and died for the sins of the world, but only a living Christ could save sinners from the second death and give them eternal life.  The death of Christ justifies us of our sins and reconciles us with God the Father but we need a living high priest who can continually intercede for us with the Father.  Hebrews 7:24-25 explains this:  “But this man, because he continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.  Therefore he is able to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.”  Rom. 5:8-10 adds to this.  “But God commended his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us, much more then, being justified by his blood we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life”.  The very fact that Jesus now possesses eternal life and supernatural power gives him the right to call us out of our graves and give us eternal life as well.  This is explained in John 5:25-29.  Jesus said in John 14:19, “Because I live, you shall live also”. 

            John the apostle wrote in John 20:30-31, “Many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you might have life through His name”.  Also John, in writing of himself tells us in John 21:24.  “This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.” 

            The disciples of Jesus who later became the 12 apostles were eyewitnesses of Christ's death and resurrection, II Peter 1:16, and they were not afraid to die for the truth that they held.  

            But did Christ's resurrection occur, as most Christians believe today?  Was Jesus placed in the grave early Friday evening just before sunset and then resurrected early Sunday morning? 

            In Matt. 12:39-40 Jesus gives us an amazing prophecy upon which his claim to be our savior depends.  Notice that in verse 38 the scribes and Pharisees wanted a sign from Jesus to prove who he was.  Jesus answers and gives us the only sign that proves his messiahship.  He said that the only sign would be the sign of the prophet Jonah.  “For as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the great fish's belly so likewise shall the son of man be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth.”  Do you realize the tremendous importance and significance of this verse?  Jesus is willing to put the proof that he is the messiah, the Son of God, and the savior of the world on one and only one sign; that he upon his death would remain 3 days and 3 nights in the grave before his resurrection.  

            You cannot count 3 days and 3 nights between a Friday crucifixion and a Sunday resurrection.  Any individual who keeps this man-made tradition is in a sense denying that Jesus is who he claimed to be.   

            Both II Peter 2:1 and Jude 4 warn us of false teachers who would arise out of the church of God itself introducing false doctrine and damnable heresies into the body of Christ and even deny Jesus himself.  How do they deny Christ?  Certainly not openly, but then Satan does not work openly.  The greatest hornswaggler of all time works behind the scenes, very subtly deceiving many sincere Christians.  Satan’s ministers and what they teach looks good on the surface (II. Cor. 11:13-15), but is in fact a counterfeit.  In his famous Olivet Prophecy in Matt. 24:5 Jesus said that many false teachers would come in his name saying that he was the Christ and yet deceive many.  They deny Christ by rejecting the only sign that he gave that proves that he is Christ; that of being in the grave 3 days and 3 nights.  By keeping the counterfeit (Good Friday crucifixion and Easter Sunday resurrection) they reject this very plain and simple proof.  You cannot crowd 3 days and 3 nights between Friday at sunset and Sunday morning at dawn. 

            What is the answer to this dilemma?  The plain and simple truth is that Jesus was neither placed in the grave on Friday nor was he resurrected on Sunday. 

            Let’s understand the truth about the death and resurrection of our savior.   

            Jesus said in John 2:19,  “Destroy this temple (my body) and in three days I will raise it up.”

             In Mark 14:58 Jesus is quoted as saying he would be raised up “within” three days.  Mark 8:31 tells us Christ said that he would rise “after” three days.  Matt. 16:21 states that he would be “raised the third day”.  These scriptures together tell us that our savior stated that he would be resurrected after three days were accomplished yet within a three day period, and yet still on the third day.  Putting these scriptures together tells us that our savior would be resurrected at the end of a three day/three night period of time, or precisely 72 hours after he was placed in the grave. 

            Jesus died around 3:00 in the afternoon of the preparation day of the First Day of Unleavened Bread.  That day was traditionally known as the Passover.  Since Jesus was our Passover lamb, it is only natural that he would die on that day.  John 19: 38-42 tells us that Joseph of Arimathea received permission from Pilate to take Jesus’ body down from the cross.  He and Nicodemus then wrapped his body with spices and linen and laid him in a tomb before sunset or around 6 PM just before the annual Sabbath (First Day of Unleavened Bread) began.  The Jews kept their days from even to even or sunset to sunset as we see in Lev. 23:32.

              All four gospel accounts tell us that when Mary Magdalene came to the tomb just before dawn on the first day (Sunday) of the week, Jesus had already been resurrected.  In Matt. 28:6 the angel told the two Marys:  “He is not here; for He has risen as he said.”  What did Jesus say?  He said he would be in the grave 3 days and 3 nights and then he would rise from the dead.  The problem is most of professing Christianity doesn’t listen to what Jesus has to say.  Some theologians would tell us that Jesus was confused and that he didn’t realize he would be in the grave for only parts of three days and nights.  They call it inclusive reckoning.  They say Jesus was crucified on Friday, died at 3 PM and was put in the tomb by 6 PM on Friday.  They count:  Friday evening as one night, Saturday day as one day and Saturday night as one night and tell us there you have it – three days and nights.  Balderdash!!   Jesus knew exactly how long he would be in the tomb!  He wasn’t  confused!  He understood it so perfectly that he placed the authenticity of his messiahship on the one and only sign he would reveal; that he would be in the grave precisely 3 days and 3 nights; three 24-hour periods of time.  If Jesus had been placed in the tomb just prior to sunset about 6 PM on the day of his crucifixion he had to be resurrected at about sunset or 6 PM 3 days and 3 nights later.  When the two Marys arrived at the tomb he had already risen as he said.  Therefore he had to have been resurrected about 6 PM the previous evening just before sunset, which would have placed the resurrection on the seventh day or weekly Sabbath.  Now, all we have to do is count backwards 3 days and 3 nights (three 24-hour time periods) and arrive at 6 PM on Wednesday the day of his crucifixion on the annual Passover Day.  The Passover meal, the foot washing ceremony and the taking of the bread and wine would have occurred just after sunset the previous evening.  Remember Israel kept her days from sunset to sunset not midnight to midnight.  Let’s see then if this time frame doesn’t make more sense than the man made “Good Friday – Easter Sunday” tradition. 

            The Passover or Preparation day for the days of Unleavened Bread would have begun on the evening we would label as Tuesday evening.  To the Jews in Christ’s day Wednesday would have begun at sunset on the day we call Tuesday.  Jesus would have instituted the first New Testament Passover service just after sunset or the night portion of Wednesday.  This celebration would have lasted until after midnight at which time Jesus and his disciples would have concluded the service with a hymn and headed for the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane  - Matt. 26:30.  Most people think that Christ prayed a short prayer in the garden but the indication is in Matt. 26:39-45 that he prayed for an hour and did it three times.  This would total three hours of prayer and the time would be about 4 AM when Christ told his sleeping disciples in Matt. 26:45:  “Behold, the hour is at hand and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners”.  This would be approaching dawn and the daylight hours of the Passover or Preparation Day for the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  Matt. 27:1 tells us that morning had just arrived when the Jews delivered Jesus to Pilate.  Jesus was condemned and nailed to the stake at the 3^rd hour or 9 AM, Mark 15:25.  From the 6^th hour to the 9^th hour there was darkness over the whole land, or from 12 noon till 3 PM - Mark 15:33.  Jesus then died around the 9^th hour or 3 PM.  Within three hours Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus would wrap Jesus’ body and lay it in the tomb which was close by – John 19:38-42. 

            The gospel account of John now reveals the truth that the next day (Thursday) was not really Saturday or the weekly Sabbath, but rather an annual Holy Day.  John 19:31 tells us that day (which would begin at sunset when Jesus was put in the tomb) was a High Day or annual Sabbath.  Naturally, because the First Day of Unleavened Bread followed the annual Passover Day.  Now let’s count our days and nights.  The day we label as Wednesday at sunset actually began the night hours of the day the Jews would label Thursday the High Day or the First Day of Unleavened Bread, the annual Sabbath.  Wednesday from sunset till dawn would be one night and Thursday night would be two nights and Friday night would be three nights.  Dawn Thursday till sunset on Thursday would be one day and Friday day would be two days and Saturday day would be three days.  There you have it; the Passover or Preparation day for the days of Unleavened Bread and the day the Passover lamb was slain.  Remember Christ is our Passover lamb so he had to die on this preparation day.  We see Christ laid in the tomb just before sunset and just before the Feast day begins.  We then have 3 days and 3 nights (three 24 hour periods of time) from Wednesday at sunset till Saturday at sunset acknowledging the one and only sign that Christ would give to those individuals (who have the eyes to see and the ears to hear) proving he was the messiah, the son of God and the savior of the world.  Naturally, when Mary came to the tomb she found it empty for Jesus had been resurrected at sunset the night before.  Luke 23: 52-56 shows us that there were two Sabbaths the week of Jesus crucifixion – the annual Sabbath on Thursday and the seventh day Sabbath (weekly Sabbath) on Saturday.  In Luke 23:54 we see the next day after Jesus’ death as a Sabbath.  This was the First Day of Unleavened Bread or the High Day of John 19:31.  In verse 55 of Luke 23 we again see the two Marys observing his body in the tomb.  But now notice verse 56.  It says they returned home to prepare spices and ointments to anoint Christ; but remember by now it was sunset and the annual Sabbath had arrived and the women would not have been able to prepare spices on that Sabbath so we need another day here for them to do that work and that day was Friday the Preparation for the weekly Sabbath.  They observed where Christ was laid at sunset on Wednesday, returned home and celebrated the High Day or the annual Holy Day on Thursday, prepared the spices on Friday and rested the weekly Sabbath day in verse 56.  Then they came to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week, Luke 24:1.

             Millions of sincere Christians down through the ages have been deceived by Satan’s counterfeit Good Friday crucifixion – Easter Sunday resurrection.  Millions have been deceived by the greatest hornswaggler of all time into rejecting the only sign that Jesus gave to prove his messiahship, the fact that he would be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth.  This tradition in reality labels Christ a liar when in fact Jesus himself said that Satan was the Father of lies.  Not to mention, what do rabbits laying eggs and sunrise services have to do with our savior’s resurrection. 

            In II Tim. 4:3-4 Paul gives us a stern warning when he tells us that the time would come when professing Christians would shun the truth of God and believe in fables.  The Greek word for fables here means myths and fairytales.  Satan has deceived millions into believing the fable of Good Friday and Easter Sunday with all of its pagan signs and symbols.  Remember Rev. 12:9 tells us that Satan has deceived the whole world and his greatest deception is that he has deceived the church into believing she couldn’t be deceived; but “you” don’t have to be deceived; believe God’s truth and the testimony of his son Jesus Christ. 

            May God grant you the eyes to see and the ears to hear.