- Romans 1:4
- False theory: the stolen body
- Roman soldiers were posted at Christ’s tomb to prevent the possibility. (Matthew 27:62-66; 28:2-4, 11-15)
- The disciples of Jesus were incapable of stealing His body from the tomb.
- They would not have believed it themselves.
- If the disciples had stolen the body, then they would have known Christ’s resurrection was a fraud and they would not have been willing to suffer as they did.
- False theory: Jesus merely “swooned”
- It is impossible that Jesus could have revived by any natural means.
- His injuries were terminal (John 20:25)
- He was pierced with a spear (John 19:31-34)
- His body was prepared, wrapped, and laid in the tomb by Joseph and Nicodemus.
- Even if He survived, He could not have escaped the tomb alone.
- The disciples would not have been emboldened by the appearance of a weak and injured Jesus.
- It is impossible that Jesus could have revived by any natural means.
- False theory: a mass hallucination
- The empty tomb dismisses this theory.
- The theory cannot explain why the appearances of Jesus ceased after 40 days (Acts 1:3).
- Such mass hallucinations are simply impossible and unbelievable.
- I Corinthians 15:3-8
- Final thoughts
- As these theories concerning Christ’s resurrection fail, the word of God succeeds.
SD
April 16, 2017
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