The Resurrection Student Handbook

THE resurrection He is risen!

STUDENT HANDBOOK | The Resurrection-Text-STUDENT.indd 1

Written by Ryan Smartt 20/06/14 9:47 AM

Contents 4 WHAT IS THE RESURRECTION AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT? 10 THE SWOON THEORY 18 THE LEGEND THEORY 26 THE STOLEN BODY THEORY 35 THE HALLUCINATION THEORY 43 THE HISTORICAL, BODILY RESURRECTION OF JESUS 52 THE MEANING OF THE RESURRECTION: NEW CREATION! 59 RESPONDING TO THE RESURRECTION

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t h e s to l e n b o dy theory

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T H E S TO L E N B O DY T H E O R Y

The dy bo bly len sto is proba view ry . ative theo t altern rrection s u e s i l e e ar ’r th the e g Jesus rship at n n e i io d d t r a rega ewish le resurrec s ’ J s i p le The Jesu the disc f o s’ t i m e e d t h at Jesu c l a i m d s to le n . ha body

y A tar y n me over ed c cu m do he Dis 7 clai b of 0 t m 0 o n l i n 2 h e to h i s h t e d wit n nn cha ve fou plete suary a m s to h u s , c o n a n o i Jes ones box. b

Did y ou k t h at n prob grave rob ow le m i b ing w n th as a Robb ers w e first ce and u ntury ould se th s te a l ? w i t h e m to c o m b o d i e s the muni ca and o dead (via m a g i te ther c w i tc h c prac tices raft ).

Quick quiz What are two weaknesses of the legend theory?

What is resurrection? a. It’s the same as the idea of reincarnation.

a. There are none—most conspiracy theories end up being true.

b. It’s the term used to describe Jesus defeating death and returning to life after his crucifixion. c. It’s what happens when someone passes out and then regains consciousness. d. It’s what the ancient Egyptians believed happened to mummies.

b. The disciples died for their belief in the resurrection. Why would someone die for a lie? c. Jesus’ resurrection has been studied by professional historians. d. It doesn’t fulfil the criterion of multiple attestations.

What is one of the main weaknesses of the swoon theory?

When was the oral tradition of Jesus’ resurrection likely to have developed?

a. It does not take into consideration the disciples’ reaction to Jesus when he appeared to them three days later. b. It does not take into consideration how brutal crucifixion was. c. It assumes that the Romans were not good at killing people. d. Any of the above.

a. Within two years of Jesus’ death and resurrection. b. Between ten and 15 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. c. Between 50 and 100 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection. d. Not until at least 200 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection.

It w an u as not Jewi ncommo sh pr n ac body to be tice for a a to m move b (a sm to an os d from su a once ll box just ary box for b the f le o and o sh had d nes) ecay nly th ed e bon rema ined. es

One of the least cts contested fa resurrection concerning the an empty is that there was le who do not tomb. Even peop s’ resurrection believe in Jesu evidence agree that the mb is for the empty to overwhelming.

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The resurrect ion He is r isen

Discussion There are two main sites in Jerusalem that are thought to have functioned as Jesus’ tomb for the three days he was dead.

Read Matthew 27:57—28:15 on the next page and answer the following questions.

According to Matthew’s Gospel, who started the theory that Jesus’ body had been stolen

Site

by the disciples?

1 The Holy Sepulchre Matthew makes a point of mentioning that

The traditional location, but almost definitely not the tomb because it is too far away from Golgotha, the place of Jesus’ crucifixion.

Jesus’ tomb was guarded. Why did the Jewish officials go to Pilate in the first place and ask for the tomb to be guarded?

Site

2 The Garden Tomb Describe what the guards did after they

Close to Golgotha and a more likely spot considering Mary didn’t recognise Jesus and supposed him to be the gardener (cf. John 20:15).

realised that Jesus’ body was not in the tomb?

To Sychem & Damascus

Matthew makes a point of mentioning Fortress of Antonia

2

Garden of Gethsemane

tomb were sitting opposite it when Jesus was placed inside. Explain how this piece of

To Joppa

Mount of Olives

1

information weakens the case for the stolen/ missing body theory.

To Bethany

Temple

Herod Antipas’ Palace Herod’s Palace

that the women who discovered the empty

Upper City Kidron Valley

Lower City

Caiaphas’ Residence

If you were living in Jerusalem at this time,

Upper Room To Bethlehem & Hebron

how would you have reacted to news that Jesus’ body had been stolen by his disciples?

Hinnon Valley

To Salt sea

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Matthew 27:57 ¯ 28:15 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

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The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.

There you will see him”. Now I have told you’.

5

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 ‘Sir’, they said, ‘we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, “After three days I will rise again”. 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day.

Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first’.

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65

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings’, he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshipped him.

10 Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.

Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me’.

8

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, ‘You are to say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep”. 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble’. 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.

And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

11

‘Take a guard’, Pilate answered. ‘Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.’

66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

1

There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the 2

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Investigation The disciples were so overwhelmed with grief and tiredness that they went to the wrong tomb, saw that it was empty, and concluded that Jesus had been raised from the dead.

Alternate theories to the empty tomb

Grave robbers knew that Jesus was a miracle worker and a great religious teacher. They stole his body believing that even though it was lifeless, the body still contained a great deal of supernatural power. They sold it on the black market.

The resurrect ion He is r isen

1 The Romans stole the body

Grave robbers stole the body

4

This was not as sinister as stealing the body; it was simply an unfortunate mistake.

The disciples went to the wrong tomb

5

There are number of different versions of the stolen body theory of the resurrection. Read through each of these versions and use the information provided to answer the questions in the table on the following page.

The disciples stole the body

2 The Jewish authorities stole the body

The disciples stole Jesus’ body with sinister motives.

They knew that Jesus was dead, and that their group was to come to an end because of this. But they did not want to go back to their normal lives, so they stole Jesus’ body and made up a story about his resurrection, claiming that he was the expected Messiah, the Son of God.

There are a number of different versions of the stolen body theory of the resurrection.

Read through each of these versions and use the information provided to answer the questions in the table on the following page.

Under the command of Pontius Pilate (the governor who had ordered Jesus to be executed), the Roman authorities stole the body of Jesus so that his followers could not use his tomb as a monument or shrine. They wanted peace in Jerusalem, and the only way for this to happen was for Jesus’ followers to disperse and go back to the countryside where they had come from.

3

Alternate theories to the empty tomb

3 The disciples stole the body

Under the command of Pontius Pilate (the governor who had ordered Jesus to be executed), the Roman authorities stole the body of Jesus so that his followers could not use his tomb as a monument or shrine. They wanted peace in Jerusalem, and the only way for this to happen was for Jesus’ followers to disperse and go back to the countryside where they had come from.

4 Grave robbers stole the body

Under the command of the High Priest Caiaphas (who led the plot to have Jesus killed), the Jewish authorities stole Jesus’ body. This was done in order to prevent the tomb becoming a shrine to Jesus’ followers. In the Gospel accounts of Matthew and Mark, the men dressed in white (traditionally thought by Christians to be angels) were actually temple priests, and this is why they told the disciples that Jesus was not in the grave and they should go back to Galilee.

The disciples stole Jesus’ body with sinister motives. They knew that Jesus was dead, and that their group was to come to an end because of this. But they did not want to go back to their normal lives, so they stole Jesus’ body and made-up a story about his resurrection, claiming that he was the expected Messiah, the Son of God.

The Jewish authorities stole the body

2

The Romans stole the body

Grave robbers knew that Jesus was a miracle worker and a great religious teacher. They stole his body believing that even though it was lifeless; the body still contained a great deal of supernatural power. They sold it on the black market.

1

Alternate theories to the empty tomb

Investigation

Under the command of the High Priest Caiaphas (who led the plot to have Jesus killed), the Jewish authorities stole Jesus’ body. This was done in order to prevent the tomb becoming a shrine to Jesus’ followers. In the gospel accounts of Matthew and Mark, the men dressed in white (traditionally thought by Christians to be angels) were actually temple priests, and this is why they told the disciples that Jesus was not in the grave and they should to go back to Galilee.

5 The disciples went to the wrong tomb

The disciples were so overwhelmed with grief and tiredness that they went to the wrong tomb, saw that it was empty, and concluded that Jesus had been raised from the dead.

This was not as sinister as stealing the body; it was simply an unfortunate mistake.

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4 4

5

5

4 1

3 2 1

3

5

4

5

3

4

The disciples stole the body

1

2

2

1

3

5

The Jewish authorities stole the body

4

3

4

5

1

2

4 Grave robbers stole the body

1

2

3

The Romans stole the body

5

4

What was their motive?

What problems are there with this theory?

5

1

2

3

4

5

2

1

3

2

3 The disciples stole the body 2

2 1

3

Grave robbers stole the body

4

2

2 The Jewish authorities stole the body

1

3

1

1 The Romans stole the body

The disciples went to the wrong tomb

Likelihood out of 5?

5

What problems are there with this theory?

What was their motive?

3

Likelihood out of 5

The disciples went to the wrong tomb

5

T H E S TO L E N B O DY T H E O R Y

4

5

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, What s at stake?

2

Joseph of Arimathea and the 500 eyewitnesses

If the resurrection was a conspiracy made up by the disciples and they, or someone else, had in fact stolen the body, there are two pieces of information that immediately suggest that it was not a very good

Luke 23:50–56

conspiracy theory.

50

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of

the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not

1

consented to their decision and action. He came from

The first witnesses to the empty tomb were women

the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped

Timothy Keller writes:

it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the

‘Celsus, a Greek philosopher who lived in the second

rock, one in which no-one had yet been laid. 54 It was

century AD, was highly antagonistic to Christianity and

Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

wrote a number of works listing arguments against it.

55

One of the arguments he believed most telling went

The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee

followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body

like this: Christianity can’t be true, because the written

was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared

accounts of the resurrection are based on the testimony

spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath

of women—and we all know women are hysterical.

in obedience to the commandment.

And many of Celsus’ readers agreed: For them, that was a major problem. In ancient societies, as you

Joseph of Arimathea was a wealthy man and a member

know, women were marginalized, and the testimony

of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling body. People

of women was never given much credence.’1

reading the accounts of Jesus' death and resurrection in the Gospels at that time would have known of him,

Explain how the fact that the women were the first

or at least been able to ask someone who would have

witnesses to the empty tomb in the Gospels suggests

known him. His wealth and prominence in society

that the resurrection is actually true, rather than just a

would have made him well known.

conspiracy created by the disciples.

Explain how the inclusion of Joseph of Arimathea’s name in the gospel accounts of the resurrection lends support to its truthfulness.

1. Keller, T 2011, ‘Tim Keller on the resurrection’, Relevant, April 11, viewed March 28 2014, <http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/deeper-walk/ features/25243-a-case-for-resurrection#VrEkuWpFHIj3iVY2.99>.

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1 Corinthians 15:3–6 3

For what I received I passed on to you as

of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.

6

After that, he appeared to more than five

hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians he mentions that Jesus appeared to over 500 people at the same time. Christians

Doubting the stolen body theory You’re having lunch in the playground just after your lesson on the stolen body theory. One of your friends, ‘Stolen body theory Sally’, makes this assertion: ‘Jesus’ resurrection is just a big conspiracy theory by the disciples. Sure there was an empty tomb, but the disciples probably stole his body or hid it away so they could become famous and start Christianity. Even if they didn’t steal it, maybe grave robbers came and took it. Either way, someone stole or moved Jesus’ body out of the tomb, because everyone knows that bodies don’t just get up and walk out of tombs’.

believe that Paul included such a statement

WRITE A RESPONSE TO

because (i) it was true, and (ii) it was

`STOLEN BODY THEORY

common knowledge that these witnesses were still around in the church and could be

SALLY´ ENGAGING HER

relied upon to verify this fact.

IN A CONVERSATION THAT CHALLENGES THE

Explain how the appearance of Jesus to over

STATEMENTS THAT SHE

500 people at the same time lends support

HAS JUST MADE ABOUT

to the truthfulness of the empty tomb, and

THE BODY OF JESUS

causes doubt about the stolen body theory.

BEING STOLEN.

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reflection Mark your responses on the scale from 1 to 5.

To what extent do you believe in the stolen body theory?

1

5 I BELIEVE IT’S TOTALLY MADE UP/HISTORICALLY INACCURATE

I BELIEVE THAT JESUS´ RESURRECTION CAN BEST BE EXPLAINED BY THE STOLEN BODY THEORY

How much confidence do you have in the historical evidence and arguments for the stolen body theory?

1

5 NOT MUCH CONFIDENCE

COMPLETE CONFIDENCE

What do you find convincing about the stolen body theory?

What do you need more information about?

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