Historical Grounding
Today we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, an event grounded in history. People come up with all kinds of reasons why they won't believe Jesus rose from the dead, but for every skeptic who thoughtfully considers the evidence, God has addressed all the questions. Here are some of the outlandish beliefs as to why some people won’t believe:
Debunking the "Swoon Theory" (Jesus Didn't Die)
1) Jesus did not actually die; he merely swooned on the cross, then revived in the tomb and left. Evidence from Roman soldiers—who confirmed his death by spear thrust into his side—supports this, especially since a "sudden flow of blood and water" (John 19:33-35) is medical proof of death. The likelihood of his wounds healing enough in the tomb for him to move a one-ton stone, escape past the guards, and walk seven miles to Emmaus in the same afternoon is extremely low. Furthermore, if he had survived the cross, the cold in the tomb would likely have been lethal. Remember, Peter had warmed himself by the fire in Caiaphas's courtyard the previous night (Luke 22:55), indicating it was cold in Jerusalem.
Could Animals or the Wrong Tomb Explain the Empty Grave?
2) Animals entered the tomb and consumed the body. The stone sealing the tomb was heavy and firmly in place. Animals could not have bypassed the guards, and since the burial wrappings remained intact with the spices still inside, as Peter and John observed, this challenges that theory.
3) The guards and women went to the wrong tomb. The women followed Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea to the burial site and saw Christ's body being laid there (Luke 23:55). It was also close to the crucifixion location, a place familiar to everyone.
Did the Disciples Steal the Body?
4) The disciples stole Jesus' body and continued the myth that He was resurrected. After Jesus’ arrest, the apostles fled from the Garden of Gethsemane and appeared discouraged. It seems unlikely that they would intentionally face the Roman soldiers guarding the tomb and steal Jesus’ body after His death (Matthew 27:62-66). Peter had already lost his courage and disowned Jesus. How could such frightened disciples challenge the well-trained Roman soldiers? It’s improbable they did so while the soldiers slept, as the noise of moving the large stone would have awakened them. Additionally, the soldiers knew their lives depended on guarding the body; losing it meant death. The disciples wouldn’t have been willing to die for a lie, especially since most (except one) were believed to be martyred.
5) The high priest, leaders, or even grave robbers could have stolen the body. When disciples preached that Jesus was alive, it would have been the ideal moment for Jewish leaders to display the corpse, but they couldn’t because they did not have it. Grave robbers wouldn’t have bothered arranging the grave clothes to convince John upon seeing the empty tomb. The Roman soldiers guarded the tomb, preventing such actions.
Why the "Mass Hallucination" Theory Fails
6) The entire story of Jesus' resurrection was a creation of the disciples' imagination. The empty tomb, however, stands as silent evidence that this was not just a figment of their imagination. The 500 disciples to whom He appeared at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6), along with all the disciples He ate with in the upper room and saw Him by the Sea of Galilee, provide further proof. I also admire the courage of Peter the Apostle in preaching to several thousand on the Day of Pentecost. Could he have done so if it had all been imagination? Several apostles died for their faith, and no opposition could silence them. It seems unlikely they would die for something they knew was a hoax or mere imagination.
What the Resurrection Means for You Today
The resurrection is not a myth; it is a historical fact. God raised Christ from the dead to demonstrate to you and me that death has lost its power; the grave has lost its victory, and the resurrection serves as proof of our reconciliation with God. “The same power that brought Christ back from the dead is operative within those who are Christ’s. The resurrection is an ongoing thing” (Leon Morris).[1]
The resurrection of Jesus calls for our devotion, not just our praise, not mere compliments, but complete surrender. The raising of Christ from the dead was God's ultimate 'Amen' to His work of salvation on the cross. For everyone who trusts in His saving act, even death itself lost its power when Christ rose from the tomb. Do you believe this? Will you put your faith in Him? Keith Thomas.
Continue Your Journey…
To keep up with our daily meditations, consider bookmarking the link below for all our free 3-minute Bible meditations in English:
The full study about the death of Jesus and His resurrection from death is found at the following link: The Burial and Resurrection of Christ
The YouTube video talk is here: https://youtu.be/OSV2bnALI6w
[1]Compiled by John Blanchard, More Gathered Gold, A Treasury of Quotations for Christians, Published by Evangelical Press, Welwyn, Herts, 1986. Page 269