Monday, May 2, 2016

The Resurrection - A Summary of the Facts

To come up with an informed opinion suggests you are knowledgeable about a topic and therefore are somewhat an authority.
To be properly understood, the Bible must be read from within the Church, in the same way a book about surgery to be properly understood must be read from within the medical community. (or, legislation from with the legal community).
Anyway, I hope you can agree with me that we can deduce from the Gospels the following facts:
Among other things:
•          Jesus was actually dead
·         Jesus was taken from the Cross ONLY because the Jews didn’t want dead bodies (even of criminals who have been executed by the Romans) on Crosses on the Sabbath (Gospel of John). 

The Empty Tomb
·         The women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body.
•          The women saw angels, who told them Jesus wasn’t there. (The Bible does describe angels as appearing as 'men')
•             The women went to tell the apostles, who initially didn’t believe them.
(Any book back in those days that uses women as witnesses - let alone the shock of using women at the first witnesses -  shouldn't/wouldn't/couldn't have been promoted, unless.....)
•             Peter and the beloved disciple rushed to see the tomb and found it empty.

Post Resurrection Appearances
•             Mary Magdalen, in particular, had an encounter with the risen Christ.
•             So did the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
•             So did Peter.
•             So did all the apostles except Thomas (who would have one later).

This does point to Jesus had risen from the dead!
Not to mention that Jewish persecutor named Saul (Paul). He had nothing to gain by believing the empty tomb story.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church does not hide from the facts either and explains it thus:
 640 . . . The first element we encounter in the framework of the Easter events is the empty tomb. In itself it is not a direct proof of Resurrection; the absence of Christ's body from the tomb could be explained otherwise.

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