The Body of Christ
According to the Bible, after Jesus was crucified and died on the cross, his body was placed in a tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea. The tomb was sealed with a large stone and guarded by Roman soldiers, called a watch, to prevent anyone from stealing the body. However, on the third day, when some of Jesus' followers visited his tomb, they found it empty. The stone was rolled away, and no sign of Jesus's body was visible.
The Scientific Explanations
- Animals took the body out of the tomb.
- The Roman authorities took the body to prevent it from becoming a martyr.
- The Jews removed the body to prevent the tomb from becoming a place of pilgrimage.
- The disciples took the body and made up the resurrection story.
The first theory claims that animals took the body out of the tomb, but this seems unlikely since the tomb was sealed and guarded by the Roman watch. The Bible doesn't specify how many Roman soldiers guarded the tomb; historically, a watch comprised up to sixteen soldiers. It is doubtful that animals were able to get into a sealed tomb and drag the body of Jesus away. There would have been evidence left behind, like drag marks on the ground.
The second theory that says the Romans took the body to prevent it from becoming a martyr doesn't make sense, considering the reason they placed the watch was to prevent Jesus's followers from stealing the body to claim that he rose from the dead. If they had taken the body to hide it, it would have led more people to believe he rose from the dead and have the opposite effect that they desired.
The third theory about the Jews taking it can also be disregarded for the same reason as the theory of the Russians taking the body is discarded. It would have had the opposite effect they desired, converting even more people to Christianity. If the Romans or the Jews had taken the body, they would have eventually shown it to prove that the disciples and their resurrection story were fake news. It would have ended Christianity before the Day of Pentecost.
The fourth theory was that the disciples took the body and made up the resurrection story. But just like the theory about animals, the disciples would not have been able to get past a Russian watch. Most of the disciples were ordinary men with no experience sneaking past a dozen or more guards, rolling away the stone, and carrying a body away from the tomb without getting caught.
Suppose Jesus's death and resurrection were just a hoax or conspiracy. Why would His disciples willingly die for something they knew to be false? They had nothing to gain from it and everything to lose. The only disciple that survived without being tortured to death was John. The rest of the disciples were crucified, beheaded, stoned, stabbed, and flayed. Yet, not one of them broke down and said, "Stop! Stop! I can't take it anymore. Yes, we made it up! We took the body and pretended that Jesus rose from the dead."The Fate of the Disciples
- Simon Peter was crucified upside down in Rome under Emperor Nero's reign, considering himself unworthy to die in the same way as Jesus.
- Andrew, Peter's brother, was crucified on an 'X' shaped cross in Greece after refusing to renounce his faith.
- James the Greater was beheaded by King Herod of Judea.
- Bartholomew was flayed alive and then crucified in Armenia.
- Matthew was reportedly stabbed to death in Ethiopia.
- Thomas was martyred by being speared to death while spreading the Gospel in India.
- James the Lesser was stoned to death for his faith in Jerusalem.
- Thaddeus was crucified in Persia for his faith.
- Simon the Zealot was crucified in Persia.
Despite being tortured, not one of them betrayed their faith. They bravely and unwaveringly continued to spread the message of His resurrection until their last dying breath. That can only be explained by the fact that they genuinely believed in what they saw and experienced: the resurrection of Jesus.The Supernatural Explanations
There are a few supernatural theories like Jesus didn't die on the cross. He woke up in a tomb after his body went through a process called resuscitation, where he regained consciousness, or Jesus's body was divine flesh, and he couldn't be killed. However, both of these theories contradict the events in the Bible that take place after the tomb was found empty.The Only Truthful Answer
When we examine the scientific and supernatural explanations, we see that none completely clarify what happened to Jesus' body. They either lack enough evidence or contradict Biblical facts. Only one answer explains the truth of what happened to Jesus's body. He was resurrected on the third day, just like he told His disciples He would.
Let us celebrate His resurrection with all our hearts. Jesus's resurrection is a testament to the power of His love for us and His ultimate sacrifice for our sins. It gives us hope for everlasting life beyond this world and strengthens our faith in Him as our Savior.