Arnie and Fred continue to discuss the empty tomb and some of the theories to explain it away. We begin by looking at the Stolen Body Theory. We discuss who proposed this theory and why it was so preposterous. Some have suggested the False Account Theory. The suggestion is made that the disciples lied about the resurrection. We note several Bible passages that show why this theory is also wrong. There have been those who say the Romans stole Jesus' body. We ask several questions and look at a couple of Bible passages that reveal the problem with this one. We move on the theory that the Jews stole the body. Again, a couple of Bible passages help to reveal that this theory is again, simply not true. We close out this episode by looking at the Imposter Theory that was proposed by Mohammed in the Qur'an. We provide the location in the Qur'an where this theory is located. We note numerous Bible passages that refute this theory. We will take up this same subject again next week. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.
Arnie and Fred continue to discuss the empty tomb and some of the theories to explain it away. We begin by looking at the Stolen Body Theory. We discuss who proposed this theory and why it was so preposterous. Some have suggested the False Account Theory. The suggestion is made that the disciples lied about the resurrection. We note several Bible passages that show why this theory is also wrong. There have been those who say the Romans stole Jesus' body. We ask several questions and look at a couple of Bible passages that reveal the problem with this one. We move on the theory that the Jews stole the body. Again, a couple of Bible passages help to reveal that this theory is again, simply not true. We close out this episode by looking at the Imposter Theory that was proposed by Mohammed in the Qur'an. We provide the location in the Qur'an where this theory is located. We note numerous Bible passages that refute this theory. We will take up this same subject again next week. Take about 30-minutes to listen in on our discussion. Have your Bible handy so you can verify what we are saying. There is a transcript of this Buzzsprout episode provided for your convenience.
This is a presentation of the Woodland church of Christ meeting at 3370 Broad Street in Sumter, South Carolina. We meet for worship on Sunday at ten thirty am and five thirty pm. We meet for bible study at nine thirty am on Sunday, and seven pm on Wednesday. If you have questions or comments on this lesson, you may email them to Fred Gosnell at fosnell@ftc-i.net. Or to Arnie Granke, at agranke440718@twc.com.
Arnie:Good afternoon. This is Arnie Granke with the church of Christ at Woodland, in Sumter, South Carolina. Fred Gosnell is with me again this afternoon, and this is what does the Bible say, sponsored by the Woodland church of Christ. Last last week, Fred and I were talking about the empty tomb; talking about a number of theories with regard to why it was empty. We we know of course, why it was filled, why Jesus had been had been crucified, that he had been buried in the tomb, we know of witnesses that saw the body being prepared, women that that saw that and, and two of his disciples that were busy preparing it; one of one of those disciples, Joseph of Arimethaea was the owner of the tomb. So he certainly knew where the tomb was. So we we did talk about the the wrong tomb theory and the fact that that just doesn't, just doesn't work, because there were too many people that knew exactly where the body of Jesus had been, had been buried. Then we then we began to look at the the theory of well, maybe the the body was stolen by the the disciples. That was the that was the idea that the Jewish authorities gave to the gave to the soldiers, and paid the soldiers to make those things. Of course, how would they knew who did what if they were sleeping, as they claimed in the story? What are some other accounts Fred that are are offered with regard to What's wrong with the tomb?
Fred Gosnell:Yes. Well, some have said that there was a, there was a false account given, that the the disciples lied about Jesus's resurrection. And of course, the problem with that is that there were a number of witnesses to it. And Paul tells us about that in First Corinthians 15, verses one through eight. Notice what he says here beginning verse one, he says, Moreover brethren,, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also you have received and wherein ye stand, by which also ye are saved, if you keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which also I received, how that Christ died for our sins, according to the scriptures, that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day, according to the Scriptures, and that he was seen of Cephas then of the twelve, after that He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remained on to this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James then of all the apostles. And last of all, he was seen as we also, as of one born out of due time. So Paul says that there were witnesses to Jesus' resurrection after He was resurrected. And he, there's a total of over 500,
Arnie:Hundreds of them.
Fred Gosnell:Yeah. And there were over 500 that saw him at the same time at once,
Arnie:One occasion.
Fred Gosnell:Yeah. And then he says, of most of those, he says to the Corinthians, are unto this day present. Some of them fell asleep, some died, but most of them are live. So what Paul's saying is, well, hey, I can tell you who they are, and you can go talk to them about it. So this business about the false theory, that the disciples lied about it, they didn't lie about it, because they saw it and it was recorded by Matthew, Mark and Luke. It was recorded by by Paul here and he gives us the account of the of the witness, witnesses that witnessed that Jesus were with Jesus after He was resurrected. And the fact that they were silenced, most of them still alive that day, they could just go talk to them and verify what he was saying.
Arnie:One of the expressions that is used several times here in the passage you just read in First Corinthians chapter 15 is the expression according to the Scriptures. And let me let me just make a note here to the effect that, that this is telling you that this is what was foretold in prophecy during, during the Old Testament period. And there are literally hundreds and possibly 1000s of prophecies that have had been made. Usually people think in terms of oh about 330 prophecies concerning Christ. There are actually many, many more than, than that. That's what that expression is referring to. These things were prophesied and it's a shame that so many people that profess to believe in, in in the Bible, for example, the Jewish people believe in the Old Testament, and yet they ignore almost all of the prophecies with regard to Christ. And, and that's, it's sad that that that that is is done. You know, Hebrew, the Hebrew letter, in Hebrews chapter, chapter 11, has a passage I think that deals with with the the problem here that we're talking about, whether there's there's a false account or, or just what it is about the, the scriptures, Hebrews 11, beginning in verse 35, the Hebrew writer says, Women received their dead, raised to life again, others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheep skins and goat skins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, of whom the word was, the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and in caves of the, of the earth. And and as you read about what disciples endured, why, why would a disciple suffer the kind of persecution and death and and misery for for a lie? I think the fact that they that they suffered those things, and were willing to do it, because of their faith indicates there must have been some reason why they really did believe, and they must have thought that that was that these were valid things that they had learned from from witnesses. And we would do well to believe that as well.
Fred Gosnell:Yes. And of course, we need understand in, in our law, our law will accept a deathbed statement by someone, maybe someone had, there was a murder committed maybe years ago, and, and some individual's on his deathbed and he and he admits to it, and and that's accepted as truth, unless there is compelling contrary evidence to it. So. So the disciples what what they reported to us, was based on evidence, and they claimed that. And look at what John has to say in John chapter 19 verse, verse 35. John says, And he that saw it bear record and his record is true, and he knoweth that he saith true that you might believe. So John says I was a witness to it. What I wrote about it is an eye witness account. He says it was true. They didn't lie. John didn't lie about anything that he saw. And then again, in John 21, verse 24, he says, This is the disciple which testifeth of these things, and wrote these things. And we know that his disciple, his testimony is true. Again, he relates his his his testimony, what he saw and what he heard. He said, It's true. They didn't lie about anything concerning anything they wrote. And in particular, they didn't lie about the resurrection because they were with Jesus for some 40 days after he was raised from the dead. And they lied about nothing. They wrote the truth, and we have eyewitness testimony as to the resurrection of Jesus, and it's from the witnesses that saw him.
Arnie:And in fact, a number of them not just Paul, but others has well traveled all over a world that was not necessarily friendly to the gospel in in a lot of places, teaching and persuading people with regard to becoming a Christian and believing on on Christ. Would they have done that, at really a lot of personal expense and a lot of personal energy being being expended if if there wasn't some fact involved? And I think that, that that's good evidence that there is in indeed. Well, there's another theory, Fred and and it's the one that that the body was, was stolen by the Romans. What on earth with, would the Romans want to steal the body? They may be the soldiers, perhaps. The soldiers were scared to death, when when they saw an angel, they weren't going to mess around with that tomb. Besides, there was a, a Roman seal on there. These were these were soldiers, they would have been executed if they had abandoned their post or if they had not been, had had not been loyal to the Roman cause there. So I think that that's kind of a made up and unreliable theory there. But supposedly they they told the Jews, what people consider to be a resurrection tale, you know, not the truth. It's just a tale, maybe to extort a bribe. out of out of the Jews. Of course, the high priest did, give them some money not to, not to tell what what had really happened. First Corinthians chapter 15. mentioned, that's not the passage that I want. Matthew chapter 28, we, you just read first Corinthians 15. Matthew 28, is the passage that I that I want beginning in verse 12, When they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers saying, Say ye his disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears we'll persuade him and secure you. So they took the money and did as they were instructed and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews. Matthew says, Until this day. It's still reported among the Jews, even even now, there are a number of theories that they that hold and still that's one of them.
Fred Gosnell:Yes. And of course, if they were stolen, if he was stolen by the, by the Romans, again, well, why not take the grave clothes with him? Why Why leave the grave clothes in the grave and why unwrap the body?
Arnie:That'd be a lot of trouble to go to wouldn't it?
Fred Gosnell:And, so that they could give the Jews the evidence to support their account. Well, the fact is, you mentioned it, that the soldiers were scared to death. Matthew writes in Matthew 28, two through four, Matthew says, Behold, there was a great earthquake, for the angel of the LORD descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning and his raiment white as snow and for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead man, dead men. They passed out when they saw this angel descend, and he evidently descended from heaven. There's an earthquake, and then he just walked up to the stone and rolled the stone over and the soldiers saw this and they passed out right away. They were scared to death as we say. So they didn't take the body. They didn't do anything. They were they passed out. As soon as they saw what occurred here. They knew that this is there's some bad things going on for us. We are gone.
Arnie:Yeah. Did you notice they didn't stay there and wait until they were relieved either. They bogeyed they got out of there, apparently pretty quickly. Because when the when the men arrived at the at the tomb, there were no soldiers there. They were. They were gone. Two of them went to, to speak with the high priest and and at least two others and there could have even been more. We don't know what happened to them they, there's nothing that accounts for what they did. Well, there's another theory Fred. And that's that's the idea that the body of Christ was removed by the Jews. Another theory there. They could have silenced the disciples forever by producing the body. If they had done that. Just say, Well we've got it right here. Here it is. And he's still dead. And, and still right in here. What and why would as you said, why would the, why would anybody unwind all the grave cloths and and all of that? They could have silenced these disciples forever. And, and that would have been the end of it. But instead, they paid off the guards to give basically a suitable explanation, and keep the money and just keep your mouth, your mouth shut. When did an extortioner ever trust his victim with his life? That's what that's what they're asking these guards to do. Well, the guards, the guards were willing to accept the whatever. And especially if it had some money attached to it, because they didn't do very well back at it at the tomb, they were glad to get away from there. Why would thieves as you mentioned, un, un wrap it there, instead of of the guards being being paid. The whole thing is a little bit hard to believe. And I think it was hard to believe by a lot of people even then.
Fred Gosnell:Yeah, it's a lot hard to believe. And of course, then you know, you have these you have these self righteous Jews that somebody says, Well, you know, they they stole the body, and they removed it. And of course, again, if they did that, all they had to do was just produce the body. But these were self righteous Jews, and this was this was Passover. And one of the restrictions in the Roman or in the Mosaic Law in Numbers. 19, 11 says, He that toucheth the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days. So had they done this they would have been unclean, they would have not been able to serve through the Passover time. And what would be their excuse? Oh, we stole Jesus' body? No, they're not gonna say that. But, you know, the fact is that the fact that they that they paid off the the soldiers, tells you that they didn't steal the body at all; that they couldn't produce the body and the soldiers had told them exactly what happened, you know. Two of them were were still there passed out when the angel came. By the time Mary and the rest of them got there, they had fled, they fled the scene. And so, so this theory is just you know, there is no, no evidence for it. It's just another excuse, that that the Jews of the time, tried to make to avoid the consequences of Jesus rising from the dead three days later, after they had crucified Him. And they had Him crucified, just as he said he would. And so another theory false by, you know, everything that we know that's in the record,
Arnie:Well, certainly the Jews main motive was to silence the claims of Jesus' deity. Certainly His resurrection would have supported that. They they wanted to silence his claims of being the Messiah. And certainly the the resurrection would have supported that as well. So so they were eager to use whatever means they could to try to stifle those beliefs that that became pretty prominent around the world, by the teaching that the apostles did in the years that ensued. Well, it not to be over done by somebody else. The Muslims also eventually, course they weren't there at the time that that occurred. But in in the seventh century when, when Muhammad lived, they came up with, he came up with the the theory of, of an impostor. Somebody somebody was the stand in, for for Jesus there were two of them. And one of them either Jesus or are the imposter was crucified, and the one who was still alive was the one who claimed to be to be the Messiah and claim to be resurrected. So either on the cross or afterward, and that affected the illusion, according to Muhammad, of Jesus resurrection. But again, that the scriptures provide plenty of evidence for us. In first place, Jesus' mother, was present at the, at the crucifixion. John chapter 19, beginning and in verse 25, There stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister, Mary, the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciples standing by whom He loved, and that would have been probably John, He saith unto His mother, Woman behold thy son. I was raised, and taught by my pastor when I was in a denominational world that's not at all what what Behold, thy son was about. Look what they're doing to me, I'm on the cross here. mother. Look, Bhhold your your son there. Then He, then saith He to the disciple, Behold, thy mother. Gave him responsibility. But the son part of that had to do with Jesus. And from that hour, the disciple took her unto his own home. So John, apparently became, he was close to the family and became her caretaker, I guess.
Fred Gosnell:Yes. and for those who would like to look this up, the the record for the imposter theory is, is in the Quran,
Surah 4:Hadith 157. So you can go check that out if it if you'd like. Of course, in Matthew 27, 57 through 61, we have another individual that that knew Jesus. So he knew who was who was crucified, he knew him personally. And Matthew says in Matthew 27, beginning of verse 57, it says, When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus disciple. So Joseph knew who this was, he was his disciple. So he went to Pilate, in verse 58, and begged the body of Jesus Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out of the rock, and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre and departed. And there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary's sitting over against the sepulchre. So So Joseph knew who it was, that was crucified, he took him off the cross, it took him, he was given him by by Pilate. And then he wrapped the body that he knew in a clean cloth, and he put it in the tomb in his own tomb. And then there was Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there and watched this. So there was no imposter there. The individual that was buried was the same individual that were crucified, and that was Jesus. As the soldier said, who he was the son of God.
Arnie:Matthew chapter 28, helped with that to Fred. Remember, verse one, In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to bon, dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. We're not really sure exactly which other Mary that was that could have been Jesus mother who's under consideration there. But when we drop down into verse nine, as they went to tell his disciples, of course, tell them about the the tomb being empty, As they went to tell His disciples behold, Jesus met them, saying All hail. And they came and held him by the feet and worshipped him, Then said Jesus unto them Be not afraid. Go tell my brethren, they they, that they go into Galilee, and there shall they they see me. So, you know, certainly Mary would have known her own her own son, she would have been able to identify him even after he had risen from the dead, so she knew that that's who that was.
Fred Gosnell:Yes. And remember, Paul, in First Corinthians 15, he had, he had listed a number of witnesses there that saw Jesus. And in verses six through eight, he writes, After that he was seen above 500 brethren, at once of whom the greater part remain to this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that he was seen as James, then of all the apostles. And last of all, he was seen of me also as of one born out of due time, James was Jesus' brother. So James knew who his brother was,
Arnie:they, he'd recognized Him.
Fred Gosnell:There was no mistaking James, knowing Jesus as his brother, not an imposter. It was Jesus. It was the one that he saw, crucified on the cross. And it was the one he saw resurrected, and was with as he was alive after He was resurrected.
Arnie:Well, if somebody somebody might say, Well, you know, James was, was the brother of John, and they were the they were they were brethren in a different family. No, no, no. This is talking about James, the brother of Jesus. There were two James's that were that were apostles. And he was, he was one of them there. Hundreds of disciples saw Jesus, they knew their master. And he had taught them, He had healed them. He had fed them on various occasions. They knew Jesus well, and He's the one that was resurrected from from the dead. That maybe we can mention several passages of Scripture very quickly before we run out of time here, but I'm looking at Luke chapter 24. And beginning and in verse, verse 26, I'm sorry, Luke. I can't read. Yeah, Luke 24, beginning in verse 36, As they thus spake, Jesus Himself, stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. But they were terrified and afrighted, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said unto them, Why are you troubled and why do you do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself, handle me and see, for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as you see me have. When they, he, when he had the spoken, he showed them his hands and his feet, and while they yet believed not for joy, and and wondered, and I'm just gonna pause there and say, you know, sometimes when we we believe something, and and and we're really impressed by it, we said, I can't believe it. Well, of course, that's not absolutely true. And I think that's what you what you have here, I can't believe that. But they, but they did believe. So he said to them, Have you here any meat? And they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and of honeycomb. And he took it and did eat before them. So that so this is not a ghost. This is a living human being there.
Fred Gosnell:Well, Thomas, also had an opportunity there. In John 20, 26 through 29 It says, After eight days again, His disciples were within and Thomas with them. Then came Jesus the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger and behold my hands and hith, reach hither thy hand thrust into my side, and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed. Blessed are those that have not seen me and yet have believed. Thomas was not mistaken who it was. He saw the witness witness, he witnessed Jesus after He resurrected, touched him touched the wounds, and said, My Lord and my God.
Arnie:I wonder if I've got in the next 30 seconds if I've got time to read four verses. First John chapter one beginning in verse one, That which was from the beginning which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled of the word of life, for that life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested unto us, that which we have seen and heard, declare we unto you, that you also may have fellowship with us. truly our fellowship is with Father, with His Son, Jesus Christ, these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. We hope that you'll be with us next Lord's day. Let's continue Fred, talking about this evidence of Jesus resurrection on that occasion, and we hope that you all will have a good week.