Attempted explanations for the facts of the Resurrection
A number of alternative theories have been proposed to 'explain the resurrection'. Most of them accept that the grave was empty on that first Easter Sunday morning, and try to account for this. But none of them take all the known facts into account. All have serious flaws. See what you think...
He did not die – but ‘swooned’
The disciples stole the body
The Authorities took his body
Grave robbers stole his body
Hallucination?
They went to the wrong tomb
Someone else substituted for Jesus
Conclusions
He did not die – but ‘swooned’:
The theory claims that, although Jesus was beaten, whipped, nailed to the cross, suffered loss of blood, and hung there for hours yet, when they took him down he was still alive. When he was placed in the cool of the tomb, and perhaps invigorated by the spices embalming him, he came round, came out of the tomb and appeared as though resurrected.
But, he was judged to be dead by many people - the disciples, Joseph (who took him to his own tomb), Pilate (the governor who condemned him) and the Roman soldiers who would have been killed themselves if a prisoner had escaped. He had endured terrible agony, torture and thirst, he had been on the cross for six hours, nailed hand and foot and pierced with a spear. Then with no one to help he appears two days later, having struggled out of his bindings and moved the stone (that three women could not move), fit, healthy and radiant, the very image of a man who has conquered death! And if he did not die then, when did he die, and where? This 'theory' has been described as obsolete.
When Jesus was stabbed with the spear it is reported that 'blood and water' flowed out of the wound. It has been said that there are as many as five possible medical reasons for what might be described as 'blood and water' coming from the wound - but ALL OF THEM mean he was dead! Expect an update here when the source has been traced and checked.
Two firm facts remain - on Friday he was dead, on Sunday he was alive!
The disciples stole the body:
This is the explanation given at the time by the Jewish authorities (Matt 28:11-15). There is no doubt the tomb was empty. The story was concocted to explain that fact, a fact that was never doubted by the authorities who did not even go out to check it.
But, the authorities had no reason to remove the body (see below), in fact they wanted it exactly where it was and posted their own guard to ensure it stayed there. This guard, and the seal on the tombstone, are the very reasons the disciples could not have done it. The disciples were frightened and in hiding. They had neither the courage nor the authority, nor any reason to take the body. The disciples had not at this stage understood about the resurrection, let alone made plans to make it appear as having happened.
The guard was either awake or asleep. If they were awake why did they allow the body to be taken? If asleep how do they know who took it? Being asleep on guard duty was an offence punishable by death.
If they stole the body, why did the disciples leave the graveclothes behind? Why wait to unwrap the body before making their escape, let alone reset them in their original form?
The Authorities took his body:
Most of the arguments above apply here too. Neither the Jews nor the Romans had cause to move the body. They wanted him right where he was - dead and buried. If either of them moved the body why, when seven weeks later the story of the resurrection was being preached openly by the disciples, did they not simply say "We moved it - here it is". If they had, if they could, Christianity would never have go off the ground.
Grave robbers stole his body:
Not a popular theory this one. But, notice the only thing of value in the grave was the only item left behind. The corpse had no value, yet it is the only thing 'taken'. The graveclothes containing up to 100 pounds weight (45 kgs) of fresh spices and embalming ointments had value, yet it was all that was left. Not very clever robbers (or theory!).
Hallucination?
This theory requires that the resurrection appearences were all in the imagination of those who saw them.
But, the appearances were very important. The first Apostles were those who been eye-witnesses to the resurrection. When a replacement for Judas was sought this was one of the criteria. It was a part of Paul's testimony that he had seen the Lord. If the appearances were not real then apostleship had no meaning.
Hallucinations occur to those in a highly emotional state, usually wanting, hoping, for what they consequently 'see'. They are very variable and unstable events so it is highly unlikely that any two people will experience exactly the same event - yet up to 500 saw Jesus together. Many of the disciples were convinced of the resurrection against they wills or better judgment. They checked out what they experienced not simply by seeing it but also by touch and hearing. What they experienced, far from meeting their expectations, challenged and frightened them.
John Stott states that "Instead of being gullible people the faith of the disciples was based on the hard facts of verifiable experience".
They went to the wrong tomb
This theory, put forward by a Professor Lake, states that the women going to the tomb on Easter Sunday morning, went to the wrong tomb.
But, this was a private grave, not one of many in a public cemetery. They had noted it's position less than 72 hours earlier. The disciples ran to verify the story the women told and would have had to make the same mistake themselves, and when the preaching of the resurrection started the authorities simply had to point to the right grave to bring the whole thing to a halt. Even if everyone else got it wrong Joseph would have known the right one - it was his tomb!
Someone else substituted for Jesus:
The suggestion is that whoever was crucified did die on the cross and was buried, but that that person was not Jesus. Someone who looked like Jesus took his place and Jesus escaped to return later 'risen from the dead'.
To accept this it is necessary to believe that the authorities would be fooled into crucifying the wrong man. Jesus, after all, was very well known and easily recognised. Even if a willing substitute could be found the resurrection appearances would make Jesus a liar, make the disciples liars since they must have known of the deceit, and they would have gone to their own deaths believing a lie. The theory leaves unanswered when Jesus really did die, and what happened to him.
Despite the objections to the theory it is one that is quite widely held by some people.
Conclusion:
These are only brief accounts of the resurrection and the various explanations given to account for the obvious facts. The books listed on the Further Resources page are just some of those that give greater and fuller details. You must decide for yourself, the evidence is there for all to see, and none of the alternative theories explains the known facts. The only expanation that does fit all the facts is that
Jesus is Alive!
http://www.paracletesystems.co.uk/inj/inj010alt.htm