We Know Where The Bodies Are
By Matt Watson
Muhammad’s tomb is known. It’s even on Google Maps.
We think we know where Moses is buried.
They may have found the cremated remains of Buddha.
We know where the bodies are. Or, at least we know that there were bodies that remained dead and buried.
Where is Jesus?
Jesus was buried, and we have a decent idea of where in Jerusalem. But his tomb is empty. Where is the body?
“Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.’”
The body of Christ wasn’t there, because he was risen. That is what we celebrate on Easter Sunday, otherwise known as Resurrection Sunday. It is not zombie day because Jesus did not stay dead. Resurrection is something completely different from zombies of folklore. Nor is it conspiracy theory day, because it's not a conspiracy theory, but historical fact with evidence. Those who say this mock the Lord out of deadly ignorance.
Conspiracy Theories
Bart Ehrman, a New Testament “scholar” who is not a Christian thinks it is far more likely that Jesus’ body was thrown into a mass grave with other crucified bodies.
But if that were true, then why go through all the trouble of a cover-up?
“While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 1and said, ‘Tell people, “His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.” And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’ So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”
Note that the Roman guards went to the chief priest, not to their commander. That’s because they knew the body was done, and that they would be punished (likely executed) for losing it. The priests made up a story to tell and promised to keep them out of trouble. None of that is necessary if Jesus was in a Roman mass grave.
And then you have the issue of all the sightings, and not just by ones and twos, but in large groups too. For 40 days Jesus appeared to his disciples, not just the 12 but to all of them, including 500 people.
“For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
Make it make sense
Was this a mass delusion? Just a giant conspiracy that spread like wildfire by ignorant peasants in the first century? If so, then why would there be such detail as to names and witnesses recorded in the gospels and Acts?
Additionally, if Jesus’ resurrection was but a hoax, how does that explain those who were systematically persecuted and martyred because they claimed he was alive and is God? Men and women don’t get ripped to shreds by lions, killed by gladiators, and burned alive for a hoax.
We know where the bodies are for all the other great religious leaders in history, but not Jesus. That is partly what makes Christianity unique. Not that we don’t know where our religious leader’s body is, but that we do know. Jesus is in heaven, seated at God the Father’s right hand.
The whole world, all the nations and kingdoms of the earth, belong to him. Don’t be a fool and deny him, even with all the evidence pointing to an actual resurrection. Because if you miss the resurrection, you miss Jesus, and if you miss Jesus, you are dead in your sins.
This article was originally published by Matthew Watson with Awake! Put on strength!, and is used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.