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Did
Jesus Rise from the Dead?
Jesus said he would: "But after I am risen
again, I will go before you into Galilee." (Matthew 26:32)
The disciples had problems with this: "And they kept that saying with
themselves, questioning one with another what the rising from the dead
should mean." (Mark
9:10 )
But even some "Christians" say he did not: He lives on in the hearts of
his followers, and to experience brotherhood/sisterhood is to
experience the Resurrection in our lives, or, the Resurrection is the
disciples' expression of the significance of Jesus.
I DON'T BUY IT!
Consider this. The apostles had just shown the most shocking cowardice
in running away and leaving their leader to his fate. Peter had denied
three times that he even knew him. They had seen the man who was their
hope of deliverance from oppression, for whom they had given up their
careers and three years of their lives, die horribly as a condemned
criminal. Surely at the least they would have needed a long course of
counselling…… As it is, within a very short time
of the crucifixion, they were out boldly preaching that "God raised him
from the dead", and went on to die for saying it.
Why did not the authorities produce the body, thereby giving the
apostles the chance to explain that it was his significance that had
arisen, not his body?
"But people were primitive then, and believed anything".
Actually, the 1st century Roman Empire was a highly sophisticated and
cynical civilisation. The Athenians showed a very "modern" attitude to
St Paul's sermon: "And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead,
some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter." (Acts 17:32)
http://www.leaderu.com/everystudent/easter/articles/josh2.html
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12789a.htm
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