What Some Skeptics Believe Regarding the Resurrection of Jesus - Part 1
Yesterday, I mentioned that there were seven fairly popular theories that skeptics embraced in regards to the resurrection of Jesus. Today, I will outline the first two and present some brief comments regarding the difficulty with those theories. By Friday, I will have highlighted all seven and will provide some of the reasons that I believe in the death and bodily resurrection of Jesus.
Theory 1: Jesus didn't die
Some skeptics have proposed that Jesus survived the crucifixion, fainted on the cross, revived in the tomb, came out on Sunday and fooled everyone into thinking he had risen from the dead.
Just to state the theory is to refute it. The whole purpose of crucifixion was brutal and ended with an agonizing death. No one survived beating, scourging, the torture of crucifixion, and being pierced by a spear. The Romans were good at killing people. It was one of their specialties. Plus, the soldiers knew the difference between a dead man and an unconscious man.
But even if Jesus did somehow survive so much physical torture, fainted and later revived in the cool of the tomb, how did he roll the stone away and then give the appearance of perfect physical health on Sunday morning? This theory makes no sense and has no merit.
Theory 2: The disciples stole the body
All the gospel writers agree that the disciples were not expecting a resurrection. They had gone into hiding; afraid for their own lives. It was the women who went to the tomb on Sunday and they were expecting to anoint a dead body, not meet their risen Lord.
Besides, how do you explain the amazing transformation of the disciples from insecure cowards to flaming evangelists? It was a work of God in keeping with the promise of Jesus (John 15:26-27). And remember, all of the disciples (except Judas who was already dead by his own hand) went to their death proclaiming Jesus' resurrection. Some might die for a myth they wrongly believed, but it is impossible to think they all would willingly go to their death for a lie.
Theory 1: Jesus didn't die
Some skeptics have proposed that Jesus survived the crucifixion, fainted on the cross, revived in the tomb, came out on Sunday and fooled everyone into thinking he had risen from the dead.
Just to state the theory is to refute it. The whole purpose of crucifixion was brutal and ended with an agonizing death. No one survived beating, scourging, the torture of crucifixion, and being pierced by a spear. The Romans were good at killing people. It was one of their specialties. Plus, the soldiers knew the difference between a dead man and an unconscious man.
But even if Jesus did somehow survive so much physical torture, fainted and later revived in the cool of the tomb, how did he roll the stone away and then give the appearance of perfect physical health on Sunday morning? This theory makes no sense and has no merit.
Theory 2: The disciples stole the body
All the gospel writers agree that the disciples were not expecting a resurrection. They had gone into hiding; afraid for their own lives. It was the women who went to the tomb on Sunday and they were expecting to anoint a dead body, not meet their risen Lord.
Besides, how do you explain the amazing transformation of the disciples from insecure cowards to flaming evangelists? It was a work of God in keeping with the promise of Jesus (John 15:26-27). And remember, all of the disciples (except Judas who was already dead by his own hand) went to their death proclaiming Jesus' resurrection. Some might die for a myth they wrongly believed, but it is impossible to think they all would willingly go to their death for a lie.
