What would it take for you to believe the person in front of you was Elvis? I remember growing up and seeing National Enquirer front page news about Elvis being spotted beside articles about alien encounters. Even now I think the alien stories were slightly more believable. If someone like Elvis died, I’m guessing even if you thought you saw him (or someone more culturally and timeline appropriate) you’d assume it was just a coincidence this person looked like him. What if you could go back to the late 1940s just after World War 2 and it was declared that Hitler was dead; what would have to happen for you to see someone that looked like Hitler and to confidently announce: “That’s Hitler! He’s not actually dead!” You’d have to be insanely certain before making such an accusation because not only would it be hurtful to that person if you were wrong, “We’re at a Jewish temple. How’d you think that?” you’d be the laughing stock of the world: “Hitler’s dead! Why’d you think he lived in Montreal making bagels?” Even if you were pretty sure it was Hitler, any family or friends you told would be begging you not to say anything: “Sure you can tell me that, but don’t tell anyone else because you’ll embarrass yourself and everyone you know including me.” To make such a grand accusation, what would you have to see in this person in order to believe it enough and then be bold enough to make a public claim that would likely turn loved ones against you (and your kids) and possibly cost you your career?
These questions came to mind after a speaker asked, “What would it take to convince you that someone you knew for certain was dead, but was now alive again?” This was the question early Jesus believers faced because they chose to believe a dead man had come back to life – the first to be born of a virgin and the first to be resurrected; those are some impressive records. And when they claimed a dead man came back to life, it wasn’t a man like today who had an open casket with a dignified funeral; at Jesus death, He became horribly disfigured. After being severely whipped to the point His back muscles and spine could be seen through the skin, Jesus was paraded around before being hung naked on a cross with spikes in public humiliation. According to Dr. Robert J. Stein, one of the world’s foremost forensic pathologists, Jesus died of cardiac arrest (i.e. a broken heart), which was connected to the extreme blood loss He experienced. He was clearly dead when he was brought down from the cross. The Romans being expert killers were recorded to have broken the legs of the other two criminals hanging with Jesus to speed up their deaths. This would’ve caused them to suffocate since hanging on a cross they’d have to lift themselves up to breathe and you can’t do that with broken legs. The soldiers could’ve just cut their head off, but this was how cruel the soldiers were. Jesus, on the other hand was assumed dead, which is why a soldier stuck a spear in his side as a test. Because blood and a clear liquid came out (a result of a pericardial effusion and pleural effusion), the soldiers knew 100% Jesus was dead (which fulfilled a prophecy claiming Jesus’ bones wouldn’t be broken – just His heart). This was also done in clear view for all the many witnesses to see. There’s a reason no one yelled, “I think He’s faking it!” He wasn’t “mostly” dead like in The Princess Bride. God needed there to be absolutely no room for there to be doubt of Jesus’ death for what was to come.
How well-known was Jesus at this point? Considering the one miracle He performed before this was in a remote area where people from many towns came to find Him while He was trying to have alone time, He was pretty known. At this particular event we actually have a rough estimate of attendees because it added to the miraculousness of the event: With five loaves of bread and two small fish: “They all ate as much as they wanted, and afterward, the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers.About 5,000 men were fed that day, in addition to all the women and children!” (Mat 12:19-20) Again, this was a remote area and these people chased Him down. It’s not like Jesus was in a major city like Toronto with millions of people and had an incredible social media presence promoting His planned speaking engagement – there wasn’t even supposed to be an event. That’s how famous Jesus was. Nothing comes close to that kind of fame today.
At the beginning of the Passover Jesus was killed at (ironically an event that was about killing a lamb in recognition of the exit from Egypt with Moses), He arrived in Jerusalem, a city of about 60-70 thousand people that was estimated to fill to about two and a half million Jewish people because it was such a sacred event. This also meant, there were extra Roman soldiers there patrolling the land to prevent any violence on top of the animals needed for food and sacrifice – it would’ve been packed. And Jesus didn’t just casually enter this packed city. He entered on a donkey, which in Jewish culture symbolically claimed He was officially publicly declaring His kingship – not the smartest move if you don’t want to upset the ruling Romans or the Jewish high leaders. Even before His crucifixion, for Jews and Romans alike Jesus would’ve been the main conversation piece. In Jerusalem that week, there would’ve four basic groups: believers in Jesus, those who were curious and hopeful about Him, those who were skeptical, and those who saw Him as a heretic. Because of His fame, later that week the news that Jesus was being crucified and then killed would’ve exploded throughout the city. His death meant people couldn’t be healed, and it would’ve shattered the hopes of those who believed His kingship could be the answer to the Roman rulers (many Jews hoped the Messiah would punish the not-so-nice Romans and restore Jewish rule). His death also would’ve naturally destroyed His believers with questions like “Were we wrong?” “Now what?” and “Am I in trouble for having been a follower?”
This insanely famous person who claimed to be the Son of God (so how could He die?) and who started the week publicly proclaiming to be the “King of the Jews” (as used to mock Him on a sign at His death) was now dead in the most brutal way. Even the closest 12 to Jesus were devastated and in hiding. When believers started saying they saw Jesus alive (Mary Magdalene was the first), one of the 12 disciples, Thomas, was quoted saying: “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” (John 20:25). This was the reality at the time. People weren’t waiting at Jesus’ gravesite on the third day to cheer on His resurrection. They were in heavy grief mode. In fact, the first people to discover He wasn’t at the tomb were women who had gone in hopes to perform a burial ceremony. No one believed Jesus was coming back – no one. To be able to say Jesus was alive there must have been some very strong evidence such as touching His wounds like Thomas requested. People may have seen or heard that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, but how do you raise yourself from the dead, especially when you’re that brutally dead.
Three days after Jesus’ death, however, the first rumors would’ve started circulating that He was alive causing a massive uproar (the holes in His hands and feet being the symbols of triumph of Truth). How could a normal person believe the rumors? Anyone who claimed to have seen Jesus must have been delusional in some way. For it to have any chance of being seen as true, how Jesus was revealed would’ve been very important, which is why it was recorded that Jesus was originally seen by Peter and then the rest of the 12. “After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James [His brother who didn’t originally believe He was the Messiah, but then became one of the early church leaders] and later by all the apostles [His other close followers beyond the 12].” (1 Cor 15:5-7) As someone who grew up in church hearing the stories, I always took this for granted – of course Jesus rose from the dead and people believed. That’s what Jesus came to do. It was in the Jewish prophecies like Isaiah 53… but it’s not that simple. Not only would admitting that you saw Jesus alive mean that you would look insane: “How drunk were you?” you would be at risk of being silenced as in mafia style silenced. Anyone who started saying Jesus wasn’t dead was putting a giant target on their back because they were stirring up what the Jewish leaders wanted “buried”. They wanted the whole Jesus thing to be done and over with. On top of that, Roman soldiers were known for their killing ability. If Jesus was alive, did that mean they made a mistake? Heads could roll for that blunder. Even more, if Jesus was alive, was this the start of a huge rebellion?
One of the most interesting passages about the resurrection is about the Jewish leaders who had Jesus killed: “…some of the guards [who were in charge of watching the tomb of Jesus] went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.” This passage means the Jewish leaders believed the soldiers that Jesus had risen from the dead or they would’ve accused them of lying. This proves the Jewish leaders actually believed Jesus was who He claimed to be – the Son of God – but they were more worried about looking right than being right, which meant admitting they were wrong and murdered the Son of God. Instead, of confessing their sins (or killing themselves like Judas) the Jewish leaders bribed the soldiers to say the disciples stole the body, which translates to: “Here’s money to lie and say that a handful of fishermen who abandoned their leader at His death changed their mind and wanted Him back and somehow you couldn’t stop them. You’ll be humiliated and be at risk of death by your leaders, but we’ll lie to protect you.” I’m guessing not all the guards kept their mouth shut because otherwise this story wouldn’t have been known and how could they? They witnessed an angel from heaven coming down from heaven and with an earthquake moving the giant stone blocking the tomb, and were written to have shook with fear and fell dead faint (Mat 28:4). Initially it’d be smart to follow what the Jewish leaders paid them to do because the leaders could talk to the governor to prevent their deaths. Of course, the Jewish leaders weren’t doing this out of their own kindness; it was completely self serving as they tried to keep the story from growing any bigger (that clearly didn’t happen). After being spared, however, how could all of the soldiers keep that experience silent? “I saw an angel!”
Despite the insanity of saying a dead man is alive and despite it putting you and your family at risk of death, witnesses and believers spread the word that the man who healed 1000s of people and claimed to be the Son of God died and rose again on the third day like He preached [yet no one understood until after]. The underlying message being that humanity is so evil we killed the Son of the one who created everything. We have fallen so far that we can’t treat someone who brought healing to 1000s of people and preached grace with love. Our pride is that strong. On our own we’re at risk of pride, but in submission to God we can become so much more; we can become people who strive to be more like Jesus who loved his enemies and prayed for those who persecuted Him even to the point of death. Perhaps the craziest part of this story is left out: After His death, Jesus met people in order to encourage them and send them out to share what they had seen and heard; He never once sought revenge on those who killed Him – that’s impressive.
I started this lesson with a question, and I’m now going to end it with one as well: Are you willing to see Jesus for who He is, the one who was able to make hundreds of people claim they saw Him alive after His death despite it putting their own lives at risk or the Jewish leaders who chose look right than be right? If the early believers were willing to die for their belief, are you at least willing to put in some effort to further investigate what could be so meaningful that it’d be worth dying for?
Rev. Chad David, ChadDavid.ca, learning to love dumb people (like me)
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