Jesus' Death, Burial and Resurrection

Jesus did not die nor resurrected from the dead. If we consider that alleged resurrection took place then why there is no evidence of resurrection?

This is not a true saying that Jesus did not die nor resurrected from the dead. Jesus’ death and resurrection is a historical proven fact. There are sufficient evidence of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection in the New Testament itself. Not only the Bible tells us about His death, burial and resurrection but Josephus and other Historical documents prove that Jesus really died on the cross and rose up the 3^rd day. Let us see some of them:-

Jesus Himself foretold about His death and resurrection

When Jesus was alive, many a times He said to His disciples about what is going to happen to Him. He clearly told His disciples and others about His sufferings, death and resurrection

"From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day."(Matthew 16:21)

Again we come across similar prophecy by Jesus Himself in Luke 18:31-33

"Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished.

"For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon.
"They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again."

(Luke 18:31-33)

The passages in Matthew 17:23-23 also deals on the same topic.

"Now while they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men,"

"and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up." And they were exceedingly sorrowful."

(Matthew 17:22-23)

Again Jesus said to His disciples about His forthcoming sufferings, death and resurrection in Matthew 20:18-19

"Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death,

"and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again."

(Matthew 20:18-19)

Pilate Sets Guard

When Jesus was crucified, the chief priest and Pharisees gathered together to pilate and asked to set a guard remembering the prophecy which Jesus spoke about His resurrection, when He was alive. As we read in Matthew 27:62-66

On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate,

saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.'

"Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first."

Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how."

So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

Jesus’ Last Word and Burial

Jesus said seven sayings on the cross and cried out with a loud voice and breathed His last. We read this in Luke 23:46-49,

And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " Having said this, He breathed His last.

So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, "Certainly this was a righteous Man!"

And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.

But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

(Luke 23:46-49)

We read in Luke 23: 50-56 that those women who followed Him stood there and watched everything until the burial of Jesus. They saw how Joseph of Arimathea went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a tomb that was hewn out of the rock, where no one had ever lain before. And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

Jesus did not offer as sacrifice himself nor was he sent to this world to die on a cross for anyone's sins!

It is a real strange statement. Let us see what Jesus said Himself? We read in John 10:15-18, "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. "And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. "No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."

Jesus again said to His disciples in Mat 26:28, "For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.

Matthew 26:39, "He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." So, from the above verse you should see that this cannot be a person who was prepared for the claimed sacrifice, rather a person who was afraid to die like any normal human would be!

Mark 15:34, " And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which is translated, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"

Again, from above verse, you see that this was not Jesus who is claimed to have been sent to earth just for the sole purpose of dying on a cross! Can you not see that this person was asking God "why He has forsaken him"? This is not a person who has come to go through this act as the New Testament claims in other verses, a person who knew his duty on this earth! Why would Jesus say that God forsook him if he was God-incarnate himself who came to die for you?

Jesus wasn't afraid but it was painful to bear whole world's sin on Himself being completely Holy. Who knew know sin but whole world’ sin came upon Him. Jesus' prayer in Gethsemane was not the prayer of a weak and fearful man. Jesus had full knowledge of what lay before Him. He was not afraid of the physical suffering and death through which He was about to go. Jesus knew that He is about to give His life a ransom for many. (Mark 10:45), He would actually become "sin for us" He also knew that bearing the sin is going to bring alienation from God, which was the most painful moments in His life. But there was no other way to make atonement for sin. Being obedient He gave Himself for sacrifice and went through the terrible pain and mental agony so that we may get reconciliation though His blood.

The man on the cross was not Jesus at all; God saved Jesus from the wicked and raised him up.

If this statement is true then Jesus, God and all the prophets who prophesied about the Messiah are liars. If Jesus was to be saved by God then why Jesus should come at all? He need not to come to this world in the form of a human being if His purpose was not to sacrifice Himself, because there was LAW of Moses with people and God's perfect revelation was with the people. Why He should come, just to be saved by God? But you are mistaken, Jesus did not come to be saved by God but He came to SAVE THE WHOLE WORLD from HELL FIRE.

"First of all, no one witnessed him rose again."

Many witnessed His resurrection

This statement that there was no evidence of resurrection is false. There are many references in the New Testament alone that proves that Jesus resurrected from the dead.

As we saw in the above verses, the women who went with Jesus saw Him crucified, then they saw His burial in a tomb. Not only that, Pilate also set guard so that no one could steal the body of Jesus. These things prove that Jesus did die and was buried.

Guards were witness of this event

We read in Matthew 28:1-8 about the angel coming and showing the empty tomb of Jesus to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. At that time the guards were taking care of the tomb and when they saw the angel whose countenance was like lightening, and his clothing as white as snow, the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel told the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

Mary Magdelene saw risen Jesus

After resurrection Jesus appeared to many people. He appeared to Mary Magdalene near the tomb (John 20:11-18). When she did not see Jesus, she thought that someone had stolen the body of Jesus. She was weeping and she saw Jesus standing there, He asked, ""Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, "Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!" (which is to say, Teacher). As soon as she realized that she saw risen Jesus, she returned and told the disciple.

Women saw Jesus while returning from the tomb

When the women were returning from the tomb to give word to the disciples Jesus met them and showed Himself to them as we read in Matthew 28:9 –10, "And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, "Rejoice!" So they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me."

Jesus showed Himself to Peter and other disciples

After raising from the dead, Jesus showed Himself to His disciple and Simon Peter. Luke 24:34 says, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"

Jesus appeared to the disciples when Thomas was absent as we read in Luke 24:36-47,

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."

But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit.

And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?

"Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.

But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?"

So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.

And He took it and ate in their presence.

Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me."

And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

"and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

(Luke 24:36-47)

Jesus appeared to the disciples, including Thomas

Jesus appeared to the disciples, including Thomas, on Sunday night one week later as we read in John 20:26-31,

And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, "Peace to you!"

Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing."

And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"

Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."

truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book;

but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.

(John 20:26-31)

He appeared to two people approaching Emmaus

In the evening two men were going to Emmaus then Jesus appeared to them and talked to them as we read in Luke 24:13-32

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.

And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.

But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.

And He said to them, "What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?"

Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, "Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?"

And He said to them, "What things?" So they said to Him, "The things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,

"and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.

"But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened.

"Yes, and certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us.

"When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive.

"And certain of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."

Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

"Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Then they drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther.

But they constrained Him, saying, "Abide with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent." And He went in to stay with them.

Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.

Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

And they said to one another, "Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?"

(Luke 24:13-32)

Jesus appeared to seven disciples

Again Jesus appeared to seven disciples beside the Sea of Galilee. We read in John 21:1-14,

After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself:

Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing.

But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No."

And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish.

Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught."

Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.

Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?"; knowing that it was the Lord.

Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish.

This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead.

(John 21:1-14)

Jesus appeared to more than 500 people

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:6, "After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep."

Jesus appeared to James and all the apostles

Jesus appeared to James the brother of Jesus and all the apostle. We read in 1 Cor 15:7, "After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles."

Jesus appeared to the apostles

Jesus appeared to the apostles at the ascension. We read in Acts 1:2-3, "until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God."

And in Acts 1:9-11 it says,

Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.

And while they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel,

who also said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven."

(Acts 1:9-11)

Secondly, look at his appearance after the "alleged" resurrection. If Jesus is God then I am still wondering why no one recognized the man who claimed to be Jesus, resurrected.

Well, at first they did not recognize Jesus but later on there was no confusion. Why, because they were not expecting Him alive. In due course every one recognized that they were seeing Jesus.

Last week I was reading a book called "life for Christ" , this is a true story of the dying sister of Sadhu Kishan Singh. Sadhu Kishan Singh is a man who suffered much for Christ and his sister was on death bed. Doctors gave up all hopes of her survival. While they were preparing for her funeral a mighty miracle happened on that night. Before he went to bed, the Sadhuji touched her body and found that she was very cold and her breath was very weak. He knelt by the side of Shanta and prayed to God either to heal her and give her strength or to take her into His kingdom if that was His will.

For seven days he had no rest and so he was very tired and even during these seven days he could not sleep very well. After praying for her he became very much relaxed and went to the next room and slept peacefully.

Though he was sleeping, God almighty who never sleeps, was working a miracle. The same God who never changes as we read in Hebrew 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.." The same God who 2000 years ago raised the dead son of a widow performed a miracle and healed Shanta.

At about 4 o'clock in the morning someone raised Shanta from the bed and made her to stand on the floor. The room was filled with a divine light. She realized that she was standing on the floor. She was so amazed and wondered how she is now standing on the floor. She thought, "who made me to stand on the floor?" She looked all over the room but she could not see anybody there. In the next room Sadhuji was sleeping. She went to his room and woke him up. He heard a girl's voice calling him. Half-awake he could not understand what was going on and he was astonished to see a girl. He was puzzled and asked, "Who are you?" She said, "I am Shanta."

When Sadhuji heard this he was baffled because according to him Shanta could not come out from her bed. He thought, "How could she walk and come here?" Sadhuji stared at her with surprise and thought, "She was completely exhausted yesterday night. She might have died and her spirit has now come to wake me up." So he rebuked her thinking that she was a devil and said to her, "O, evil spirit, I command you in the name of Jesus, to go from here." Shanta was surprised and said to him, "Brother, I am your sister Shanta and not any evil spirit. What are you talking about?"

Sadhuji straight away went to her room and found that her bed was empty. He went near her and touched her to see whether she was really alive or whether he is encountering an evil spirit? Finally he realized that she was none other than his sister Shanta standing fully cured and quite strong. There and then he fell on his knees and gave thanks to God for having heard his prayer and having healed Shanta. He went to give this news to the Pastor. When the Pastor heard this news, he was also amazed and he praised God.

So it is possible that this kind of confusion could have happened, as they were not expecting Jesus to be alive… Those women who went to the tomb were not prepared to see the risen Jesus, but they were expecting to see dead Jesus. They went to anoint the dead body of Jesus and they had no idea that they could meet risen Jesus. When they saw risen Jesus they could not believe and they were astonished but finally they had no confusion of Jesus’ resurrection.

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