Q 4: Was Jesus really Crucified?




 

Introduction

        Imagine if you will, the account of Jesus; after the resurrection in Jn. 20:19-20, when he appeared to his disciples. Instead of telling them that he is the resurrected Christ, he would say, “April Fools!” How different would their lives be if Jesus had, in fact, faked his own death?

There are many skeptics out there, even today, who believe that Jesus never really died on the cross. We will look at a few of them.



The Swoon Theory

        The idea here is that Jesus didn’t die but merely passed out on the cross. And that later, when he was placed in the tomb, he managed to escape. He would then clean himself up and then appear to his disciples on the first day of the week.

        To understand everything that Jesus went through, including the burial, we consult the scriptures:

1.   Scourging—Matt. 27: 26

2.   Crown of Thorns—Matt. 27: 29-30

3.   Carrying cross—John 19: 17

4.   Piercing of Hands and Feet—John 20: 25

5.   Spear in Side—John 19: 31-34

6.   Burial Spices—Approx. 100 pounds

7.   Airless tomb—Matt. 27: 60

8.   Great Stone—Matt. 27: 60



Jesus would have to overcome all of these things, and get healed, to be able to appear to His disciples on the first day of the week. We also have to keep in mind that the tomb was guarded by Roman soldiers (Matt. 27:65-66). This theory is nonsense as even Jesus wouldn’t have been able to survive through all of this.


The Wrong Tomb Theory

        Given that GPS wasn’t invented in the 1st century, it is suggested that the women went to the wrong tomb, found it empty, and declared that Jesus had risen. The biggest error of this theory is that in Matt. 27:59-61, it is said that the women accompanied Joseph of Arimathea to the tomb when he was buried. I’m sure they knew from this where to find it again. If they know that Jesus’ tomb was guarded, it would be easy to find also as no other tomb were have sentries posted. Also, if they went to the wrong tomb, someone would go to the right tomb and find the body and bring it before the Sanhedrin.


Jesus had a Twin Brother

        This is the most absurd of theories. Having done research on the crucifixion for a sermon, I came across a theory that Jesus had a twin brother and they were separated at birth. His brother stumbled into Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion and, seeing his double upon the cross, created a messianic mission for himself. He steals his brother’s body and hides it and then, upon inquiry, discovers the hidden disciples and announces that he’s been resurrected.

        We know from scripture that Jesus was a single birth and was prophesized as such in the Old Testament. To say that another would take Jesus’ place as the resurrected Christ, would define the limitations of God’s deity; unable to raise a person from the dead. If this were true, then our hope in the resurrection would be in vain as well (see 1 Cor. 15:12-19).



The Plain Truth

        There are other theories as well, but these will suffice to prove the lengths that man will go to disprove something miraculous. If you read the account of the resurrection in Jn. 20: 1-18, you have the simple gospel truth of Jesus’ being raised from the dead. If you read the rest of that chapter; it tells of his appearing to the disciples and proof to Thomas that he’s real.

        People want to disprove these things because, if they are true, then they realize that they are not living their lives the way they should. Most do not want to be told how to live their lives.



Conclusion

        The last two verses of John chapter 20 read as follows: 30-31, And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.  (NKJV)



        If you believe in the scriptures as God’s Holy Word, then you believe everything that the bible said has happened in the past. Just as man puts faith in those who write history books, so must we; as Christians, must put our faith in the bible.

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