328 - The resurrection

Wording of this Handout:

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The resurrection.

Because the whole gospel rests on the fact that Jesus died and came back to life, there has been a never-ending attack by critics against the resurrection.

One of the theories which critics have come up with is the one which says that Jesus didn't actually DIE on the cross - he fainted. He was thought to be dead when he was placed in the tomb, but later recovered.

Now let us look at what Jesus went through before he was placed in the tomb. He was scourged (whipped viciously) and made to carry his own cross. This alone was enough to kill some men. He was crucified, and hung there starving, thirsty and in agony. He was pronounced dead by the soldiers. A soldier pierced his heart with a spear. He had no medical treatment for three days, yet he came striding along healthy and happy on the third day as if he had never been injured!

Are we really to believe that Jesus could have survived flogging, whipping, bleeding, crucifixion, spear, then three days in a cold dark stone cave, wrapped in suffocating bandages without food or medicine, then roll the massive stone (all by himself!) up the slope away from his tomb without waking the soldiers... and then start telling massive lies to all his followers?

Sometimes the critics of the Bible are so far from the truth they are funny!

Sir, that man jesus has survived death by crucifixion and burial....so maybe we aren't being tough enough!

Yes, we will have to think of something tougher than death!

The angel said: "He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay." Matthew 28:6