Resurrection – Did It Actually Happen?

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Resurrection of Jesus has been debated for centuries spawning many questions and theories.^[1] People cannot easily wrap their minds around the impossible concept of being dead and buried, then coming back to life.

Medical or scientific tests cannot determine if a living individual was previously dead for days, thus a Resurrection cannot be ascertained scientifically. In the end, it makes no difference if the Resurrection occurred today or 2000 years ago.

Swirling are controversial attempts trying to explain the Resurrection. The tomb was not really empty; the witnesses visited the wrong tomb; the body of Jesus was misplaced or stolen; the third day prophecies are not a factor; the post-crucifixion person the witnesses encountered was just a spirit; etc.^[2]

Circular logic is a common criticism.^[3] In this case, the Gospels cannot be used as proof of the Resurrection because the only proof comes from the Gospels and if the believability of the Gospels is in question, then Gospels cannot be used as evidence.

Gospels are accounts or reports of what happened, not proof that something did or did not occur. Included are identities, statements and quotes of witnesses; and descriptions of events – some detailed, some paraphrased.

No statement or report by one person will ever completely provide all the details of a witnessed incident. Some details may not have been as important to emphasize over other information or simply the information was not known to a particular writer.

Comparing one Gospel to another is one of the most effective ways to assessed overall content credibility of these accounts, reports or statements. As with any investigative case, gaps in one account may be detailed in another.

No resurrection case can be made without eyewitnesses who would have to bridge three separate events – life, an incontrovertible death, and evident life again. Credible witnesses would have to be able to say with certainty that the person whom they once knew, was then known to be dead and is now alive again behaving as before death.

Witnesses would be expected to attest to their ability to resume a pre-established personal connection with the resurrected person whom they knew before death occurred – the continuum of a shared personal relationship.

Visual recognition would not be enough to dispel the notion of having seen a vision or an apparition. Witnesses also would be expected to affirm activities of the resurrected person are associated with life itself such as a conversation, eating, drinking, walking, and other physical activities.

A prime example is the resurrection of Lazarus whom Jesus raised from being dead after four days. A week later, Lazarus came to a dinner event with Jesus days before his own death and resurrection.

The Witnesses

First of the eyewitness statements of the resurrected Jesus, aside from angels, comes from Cleopas accompanied by his traveling partner, most likely his wife.^[4] Characteristics described are several – walking; carrying on a conversation over a long period time; references to his own teachings before his death; reclining at the table; breaking the loaf of bread and…praying.

Next is the profound report of Mary Magdalene’s encounter.^[5] She recognized Jesus, whom she believed was dead and buried, exclaiming “Rabonni!” (teacher) and wanted to hug him.^[6]

Peter, who had witnessed the empty tomb with the folded burial linens, also met with the Resurrected Jesus. The only mention of Peter’s encounter is in Luke’s investigative Gospel account.^[7]

Ten Disciples, the Cleopas couple and other followers of Jess were in a locked room excitedly sharing stories of Resurrection encounters. Suddenly Jesus himself stood among them saying, “Peace be with you.”^[8]

Luke reports they were all startled and “terrified” thinking they were seeing a “ghost.”^[9] Jesus responded:

^{LK 24:38-39} “‘Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; it’s me! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones like you see I have.’ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.”_(NET)

Noticing they required further proof, Jesus asked, “‘Do you have anything here to eat?’ So they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in front of them.”^[10] Bridging back to the time before he was crucified, Jesus told them to think back to their experiences together:

^{LK 24:44, 47-48} “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled… ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.’” _(NASB)

Missing the occasion entirely was the Disciple Thomas.^[11] When he finally arrived that Sunday evening, Disciple John told him they had seen Jesus.

Skeptical, Thomas was not buying any of it. “Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!”^[12]

Eight days passed when the Disciples regathered in the same house with the door locked, but this time Thomas was present.^[13] Once again, Jesus suddenly appeared in the room and, after a brief greeting, got straight to the point.

Speaking directly to Thomas, Jesus said “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side.^[14] Do not doubt but believe.”^[15]

Thomas touched the physical body of Jesus and witnessed the proof of his miraculously healed pierced hands and side. Thomas’ excited utterance was telling: “My Lord and my God!”^[16]

John’s eyewitness Gospel continued beyond where Matthew, Mark and Luke left off. Describing the third appearance of the resurrected Jesus to some of the Disciples, he describes the scene on the shore of the Sea of Tiberas (Sea of Galilee, Sea of Gennesaret or Sea of Kinneret).^[17]

Seven disciples, five identified by name as Peter, Thomas, Nathanael, and the sons of Zebedee (James and John) encountered Jesus who teased them; performed another fishing miracle recognized by the author; and met the Disciples at a campfire, cooked breakfast, ate and conversed with them.^[18]

Recognition by his own family – his mother, Mary, and brother, James – are better witnesses than any other.^[19] According to Jewish historian Josephus, James the brother of Jesus, died a martyr’s death at the hands of the Sanhedrin for proclaiming to the end that Jesus is the Messiah who had been resurrected.^[20]

Gospel accounts of the Resurrection of Jesus came in the form of witnesses, actions, words and behavior of the various others. Witnesses include angels, women of Galilee, the koustodia, members of the Jewish leadership, Disciples and others.

Do the Gospels meet the criteria for demonstrating a genuine Resurrection had occurred – did Jesus actually rise from the dead?

Updated March 31, 2024.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

[1] Habermas, Gary R. “Resurrection Research from 1975 to the Present: What are Critical Scholars Saying?” 2005. Dr. Gary R. Habermas. <http://garyhabermas.com/articles/J_Study_Historical_Jesus_3-2_2005/J_Study_Historical_Jesus_3-2_2005.htm> Saifullah, Usman Sheikh, et. al. “Textual Reliability / Accuracy Of The New Testament.” Islamic Awareness. 2007. <http://www.islamic-awareness.org/Bible/Text/Bibaccuracy.html> Lowder, Jeffery Jay. “Independent Confirmation and the Historicity of Jesus (1997).” The Secular Web. n.d. <https://infidels.org/library/modern/jeff_lowder/indconf.html> Seidensticker, Bob. “Contradictions in the Resurrection Account.” Patheos.com. April 2, 2012. <https://www.patheos.com/blogs/crossexamined/2012/04/contradictions-in-the-resurrection-account-2>
[2] “Resurrection.” Infidels.org. n.d. <http://infidels.org/library/modern/theism/christianity/resurrection.html> Lowder, Jeffery Jay. “Historical Evidence and the Empty Tomb Story.” Infidels.org. <http://infidels.org/library/modern/jeff_lowder> Lowder, Jeffery Jay. “How Not to Argue Against the Historicity and Resurrection of Jesus.” The SecularWeb. n.d. <https://infidels.org/library/modern/jeff_lowder/edelen.html> “New Testament.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/11498-new-testament> Holding, James Patrick. “Please Pardon This Interruption.” Creation Ministries International. 2009. <http://creation.com/review-jesus-interrupted-by-bart-ehrman> Steinhart, Eric. “Some Resurrection Theories.” Eric Steinhart. n.d. http://www.ericsteinhart.com/articles/reztheories.pdf> Qu’ran. An-Nisa 157, Al-Maeda 110. <http://search-the-quran.com> “Did Jesus Resurrect From the Dead in an Invisible Spirit-Body?” 4Jehovah.org. 2014. <http://4jehovah.org/the-resurrection-of-jesus-a-spirit-body> “Was Jesus Resurrected as an Invisible Spirit?” Tower to Truth Ministries. n.d. Archived URL. <http://www.towertotruth.net/dialoguept2.htm>
[3] “Circular Reasoning.” Logically Fallacious. 2020. <https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/Circular-Reasoning> Van Der Zee, Tim. “Circular arguments are perfectly valid.” The Skeptical Scientist. 2017. <http://www.timvanderzee.com/circular-arguments> Andrews, Ben. Atheist Republic. 2020. <https://www.atheistrepublic.com/blog/ben-andrews/circular-reasoning>
[4] Luke 24:13-27.
[5] John 20:16. “Centuries later, archaeologists opened the tomb of Jesus.” News24hours. photo. 2016. <https://news24hours.in/2016/10/31/centuries-later-archaeologists-opened-the-tomb-of-jesus-christ>
[6] John 20:18.
[7] Luke 24:34.
[8] Luke 24:36 – NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV. John 20:19 – NET, NIV, NLT, NRSV, NASB, NKJV.
[9] Luke 24:36-37. NET. CR Mark 16:14.
[10] Luke 24:38-43. NET. CR Mark 5:43; Luke 8:55.
[11] John 20:24.
[12] John 20:25. NET. CR Matthew 28:17.
[13] John 20:26.
[14] John 20:27
[15] John 20:27. NRSV.
[16] John 20:28. NET, NIV, NASB, NRSV, NKJV.
[17] “The Sea of Galilee (Kinneret).” Jewish Virtual Library. 2020. <https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-sea-of-galilee> “Gennesaret.” Jewish Encyclopedia. 2011. <http://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/6583-gennesaret-lake-of>
[18] John 21:4-14.
[19] Acts 1:14
[20] Josephus, Flavius. Antiquities of the Jews. Book XVIII, Chapter III.3.n.d <http://books.google.com/books?id=e0dAAAAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false >

The Empty Tomb – Resurrection or Conspiracy?

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

The Empty Tomb – Resurrection or Conspiracy?

For the more than 2000 years, the incident reported by the Gospels to have occurred at dawn on Sunday during Passover has been debated countless times. Believers say it was a Resurrection; skeptics have proposed many conspiracy theories to explain away how the body simply vanished.

Two named Jewish Council members laid the dead the body of Jesus killed by crucifixion in Joseph’s own unused the tomb. Four named women from Galilee also witnessed the body of Jesus being prepared for burial on a slab stone inside the tomb, then a stone rolled in front of the entrance to it.

Setting the scene the next day, the Jewish leadership testified to Pilate the body was in the tomb and needed to be secured. Dual security methods were implemented by the authority of Pilate to prevent the body from being stolen.

Guarded by an armed Roman-Jewish military squad called a koustodia by Matthew, the tomb was sealed. Predawn of Sunday, according to Mark, finds Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jose, Salome, and Joanna fretting about who would roll away the stone set in place Joseph of Arimathea.

Four conclusions can be drawn from these two accounts: the women expected to find the dead body of Jesus; they were not accompanied by either Joseph, Nicodemus or any of the Disciples; they were unaware the tomb had been sealed nor that it was being guarded by koustodia.^[1]

Sunrise of Sunday begins the final phase in the sequence of events at the tomb preceded by the trial, crucifixion and burial of Jesus of Nazareth. A significant number of ten verses in Matthew and eight verses in Mark describe the scenario at the tomb that morning; Luke paraphrased how events at the tomb began.

Calm and quiet quickly took a dramatic turn when Matthew describes a great earthquake occurred. In a matter of moments, the Roman-Jewish legally imposed chain of custody over the body of Jesus was suddenly broken.

^{MT 28:2-4} “And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.” _(NKJV)

Angelic beings pointed out to the witnesses at the tomb that it was empty. Witness accounts gathered by the authors of Matthew and Mark describe the tomb being opened by an angel or a young man wearing a wrap-around, brilliant white robe.

Shortly thereafter, Luke’s report describes two men in dazzling apparel.^[2] One speaking angel or two present angels, both can be true.

Seasoned Roman-Jewish military soldiers and the women of Galilee were paralyzed with fear by the traumatic sequence of events. Incapacitated by terror, they watched and listened as the events at the tomb unfolded.

Reactions of witnesses to a traumatic event are indications of what was going through their minds. Matthew reports the chaotic scene that Sunday morning where those present scattered in three directions.

Hardcore military squad and the four women reacted in a similar manner – they all ran away. Mark reports the petrified and dumbstruck women didn’t say a word as they ran from the tomb. Luke said they were “terrified.”

Women of Galilee headed for the location of some of the Disciples. The koustodia split up, some diverting to the Jewish chief priests, the others to destinations unknown.

Reactions to the unbecoming behavior by the koustodia is telling. The guard’s message rang true to the chief priests based on their response to the information.

Chief priests were undoubtedly surprised by this unexpected turn of events. Quickly they assembled the elders of the Jewish Council (possibly including Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea) to deal with their new problem.

Irony of ironies, areJewish leadership had just testified to Pilate the body of Jesus was inside the tomb and had implored him to secure the tomb to prevent the theft of the body. Now they were compelled to address the inexplicable missing body in-spite-of the Roman-Jewish security measures they had implemented. Matthew describes what they decided to do:

^{MT 28:13-14}“You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole his body while we were asleep….’ If this matter is heard before the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”_(NET)

Further insight to the authority of the koustodia is also revealed. Promising to appease Pilate if the koustodia’s dereliction of duty became an issue, it confirms the guards were ultimately under Pilate’s Roman authority though strongly influenced by the Jewish leadership.

Meanwhile, the women of Galilee arrived at the location of some Disciples. John’s eyewitness Gospel joins the description of events at this point with Mary Magdalene’s bewildered announcement to the Disciples. She is quoted exclaiming:

^{JN 20:2} “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”_(NET)

Two Disciples identified by John, Peter and himself, ran to the tomb to see for themselves finding it empty save for the burial linens. The two returned home in wonderment.

Both the koustodia and the women reported the same event to two different parties describing how the chain of custody had been broken by events at the tomb. Each party hearing the information reacted differently, yet neither party called the reports false.

Four women from Galilee, members of the koustodia, the broken chain of custody, two angels, and the empty tomb are details that are challenging to refute if they are false.

Were the events involving the empty tomb a false narrative or was there a Resurrection?

Updated June 7, 2024.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

NET = NET Bible translation; NKJV = New King James Version translation.

Gospel Resurrection account: Matthew 28, Mark 16; Luke 24, John 20.

[1] “Centuries later, archaeologists opened the tomb of Jesus.” News24hours. photo. 2016. <https://news24hours.in/2016/10/31/centuries-later-archaeologists-opened-the-tomb-of-jesus-christ>
[2] NetBible.org. Greek text. Matthew 28:2, aggelos and katabaino. Mark 16:5, neaniskos, periballo, and stole. Luke 24:4, astrapto and esthesis.

Chain of Custody – Was the Body of Jesus Stolen?

Posted on by K.B. Vogelman

Chain of Custody – Was the Body of Jesus Stolen?

One of the oldest of the arguments against the Resurrection is the charge that the crucified body of Jesus of Nazareth was stolen from the tomb. A Roman/Jewish chain of custody to prevent the theft of the body would make the allegation difficult to overcome.

Procurator Pilate granted the mutilated body of Jesus to Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Jewish council. Joined by Nicodemus, another prominent member of the Jewish Council, both took the body of Jesus to Joseph’s own unused tomb and quickly prepared the it for burial.

Witnessing the scene were women from Galilee, two identified by name, Mary the mother of Joseph (aka Jose) and Mary Magdalene.^[2] The women from Galilee watched Joseph roll a stone in front of the tomb entrance – confirmation by the two Jewish Council members that Jesus was indeed dead and buried.

Information is limited detailing what did or didn’t happen between the time Jesus was laid in the tomb just before dusk, Nissan 15, until Sunday morning. Nonetheless, Matthew and Mark did report some activities that occurred with one being crucial.

Those who most certainly would not have wanted to be corroborating witnesses of a Resurrection became just that. Jewish chief priests and Pharisees declared to the Roman government the day after the crucifixion, the body of Jesus was still in the tomb that Sabbath morning, Nissan 16:

^{MT 27:62-64} The next day (which is after the day of preparation) the chief priests and the Pharisees assembled before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember that while that deceiver was still alive he said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give orders to secure the tomb until the third day. Otherwise his disciples may come and steal his body and say to the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”_(NET)

Top level Jewish leadership had approached Rome’s jurisdictional authority of Judea – Pilate – with their concern of a false fulfillment of Jesus’ own 3-day Resurrection prophecy. Pilate as a Roman judge had to weigh the truthfulness of their claim as well as the potential political consequences.

First claim to be considered by Pilate was the acknowledgement by the Jewish leader that the corpse of Jesus was still lying in a tomb, but could be stolen. They argued, if the body was stolen and later found, it would complicate matters even worse.

False witness was a capital offense making it highly unlikely the leaders were lying to him.^[3] Weighing the credibility and motive of the Jewish leader’s testimony, Pilate issued a seemingly terse decision:

^{MT 27:65-66} “Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.” And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.”_(NASB)

Granting permission to secure the body the best way they knew how, Pilate seemed to satisfy their concerns. According to Matthew, the tomb was secured with a process of stationing a koustodia, a company of guards, and to place a seal on the tomb.^[4]

Josephus described a similar “seal” process involving a combined Jewish-Roman military style squad led by a “Roman captain of the temple guards.” The Roman captain, who resided in the Tower of Antonia adjacent to the Temple, was assigned to a contingent of armed Temple guards.^[5]

Matching the seal ring of the Roman captain with the Temple leadership’s ring validated the integrity of the seal, in this case, to secure the Chief Priest’s vestments worn at the Jewish festal sacrifices. This Roman-Jewish seal process was temporarily in place only from the death of King Herod until Vitellius became president of Syria in 35 AD – the period of years virtually coinciding with the lifetime of Jesus of Nazareth.

Koustodia of this combined Jewish-Roman military squad were still accountable to Pilate as evidenced after the Resurrection event on Sunday morning when some the guards reportedly ran to the chief priests instead of Pilate. Additionally, Jewish leaders promised the guards they would handle the matter with Pilate if their dereliction behavior became an issue.

Placed at the scene of the tomb holding the body of Jesus of Nazareth are the contingent of chief priests and Pharisees (possibly including stealth followers of Jesus, Joseph and Nicodemus) to witness the seal being placed on the tomb and the posting of the koustodia. Jewish leaders left with full confidence the sealed tomb was secure alleviating their anxiety that someone might steal the body of Jesus.

Archenemies of Jesus testified he was dead and buried in a tomb, then obtained a legally established Roman-Jewish chain of custody over the body of Jesus that remained unbroken from the crucifixion until the Sunday morning event. At dawn, incredible events occurred at the tomb while the koustodia were still stationed at their post.

Considering the statement by the Jewish leaders and a legally established Roman-Jewish type of chain of custody in place, what is the possibility his body was stolen?

Updated June 1, 2025.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

REFERENCES:

NET = NetBible translation; NASB = New American Standard Bible translation
Gospel references: Matthew 27-28, Mark 15, Luke 23, John 19.

[1] Pearce, Jonathan MS. “Matthew and the guards at the tomb.” 2012. <http://www.debunking-christianity.com/2012/06/matthew-and-guards-at-tomb.html rel=”nofollow”> “Gospel Disproof #38: The guards at the tomb.” FreeThoughtBlogs.com. 2014. <http://freethoughtblogs.com/alethianworldview/2012/02/27/gospel-disproof-38-the-guards-at-the-tomb rel=”nofollow”> Chain. Business2Community. image. 2015. <https://www.business2community.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Chain-red-link.jpg-300×200.jpg>
[2] Edersheim, Alfred. The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah. Book V. 1883. Philogos.org. n.d. <http://philologos.org/__eb-lat/default.htm>
[3] Jahnige, Joan. “The Roman Legal System.” KET Distance Learning. 2017. http://www.dl.ket.org/latin2/mores/legallatin/legal01.htm> Adams, John Paul. “The Twelve Tables.” 2009. California State University – Northridge. <https://www.csun.edu/~hcfll004/12tables.html>
[4] “koustodia”, G2892l (Strong) “#2892 κουστωδία koustodia;” “strategos <4755> and “speira <4686>” Lexicon-Concordance Online Bible. n.d. http://lexiconcordance.com>
[5] Josephus. Antiquities. Book XV, Chapter XI; Book XX, Chapter I. Smith William. Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities. 1857. “L. Vitellius” (#5); “C. Cassius Longinus” (#18), and “L. Cassius Longinus” (#19). OpenLibrary.org. n.d. <https://archive.org/stream/schooldictionary00smituoft#page/n9/mode/2up> Smith, Mahlon H. “Lucius Vitellius.” VirtualReligion.net. 2008. http://virtualreligion.net/iho/vitellius_1.html> “Lucius Vitellius.” Livius.org. Ed. Jona Lendering. http://www.livius.org/person/vitellius-lucius> “Chain of Custody in Drugs Cases.” ProhealthLaw. photo. 2015. <https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-7Bg40JhqJxo/Vsmv-MAWtXI/AAAAAAAAJlo/U59A28gTqRs/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/blogger-image–519822927.jpg>