Evidence 3

Apparent Death Theory:  In order to come up with an answer for the empty tomb, some skeptics who challenge the validity of the resurrection actually claim that Jesus did not die. In fact, the Koran, the holy book of the Muslims written in the 7^th century teaches that Jesus did not die on the cross and that he fled to India.[1] Although the Koran does say that Jesus was virgin born, it does not mention resurrection; as if the same God who did the miracle of a virgin womb cannot do a miracle of an empty tomb. Also as the 19^th century dawned some came up with what is called “the swoon theory” that says that the Lord Jesus did not really die on the cross, that he just fainted or went into coma and later recuperated in the cave where he was buried. We have all heard of cases in which someone who had been declared dead started breathing again a few hours later. If this can happen in our time what could have prevented it from happening 2000 years ago? However, there are two reasons that seriously undermine this idea that Jesus did not die. First of all, the fact that Jesus was crucified is not only found in the New Testament but also in non-Christian sources. The Roman historian Tacitus refers to Crucifixion as the extreme penalty that Jesus suffered under Pontius Pilate. Also the Jewish Talmud reports that on the eve of the Passover Jesus was hanged. Now, given the nature of scourging and crucifixion it is highly unlikely that any one survived. In the March 21, 1986 issue of the Journal of American Medical Association, a team of three, including a pathologist from Mayo Clinic studied the procedure of scourging and crucifixion and their effects on the victims. The description of scourging and crucifixion is violent and not worth mentioning here in detail. Scourging which was merely a preparation for crucifixion was enough to kill a man. The sharp pieces of sheep bones and iron balls that were tied into the leather thongs of a whip were enough to cause serious damage to a man’s bareback, tearing open the flesh. Crucifixion just added an agonizing finishing touch to the whole process. Crucifixion was so torturous that in the first Century B.C. Roman philosopher/orator Cicero calls it the most horrendous torture and says that “the very word cross should be far removed not only from the person of the Roman citizen but from his thoughts, his eyes and his ears.”[2] Jesus simply could not have survived crucifixion.

            Secondly, “the German Scholar D.F. Strauss points out that it was not plausible that, having been scourged and crucified, Jesus pushed the heavy stone away from the tomb with his pierced hands and walked blocks on pierced and wounded feet. Even if such a ridiculous scenario were possible, when he appeared to the disciples in his pathetic and mutilated state, would this convince them that he was the risen prince of life?”[3] Could a bleeding man with pierced hands and feet, and torn back inspire such a movement that has lasted for over 2000 years? A man with dislocated shoulders and outstretched limbs from hanging, his back torn by brutal beating, and nail pierced hands and feet could not have raised the glorious cry, “He has risen.”  They more likely would have said, “He is barely alive, get a doctor.” Jesus died, and that was a fact.

---

[1] Strobel, Lee. The Case for Easter, pp.10

[2] Habermas, Licona, 49.

[3] Ibid. 102.