4 things to know about the Resurrection of Christ (that you may not know)
There are some things you may not know about Resurrection of Christ; it is the Bible itself that speaks to us and tells us something more about this event that changed the course of human history.
1. The linen bandages and the face cloth
In John 20: 3-8 it is said: “Then Simon Peter went out with the other disciple and they went to the tomb. The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came first to the tomb; and bending down and looking in, he saw the linen bandages lying there; but he did not enter. And so also Simon Peter came, following him, and entered the tomb; and he saw the linen bandages lying there, and the veil that had been on his head, not lying with the linen bandages, but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple, who had come first to the tomb, also entered, and he saw and believed. "
The interesting fact here is that when the disciples went into the tomb, Jesus was gone, but the linen bandages were folded and the face cloth was rolled up as if to say, “I don't need these anymore, but I will leave things lying down. separately but strategically placed. Had Jesus' body been stolen, as some claim, the thieves would not have taken the time to remove the wraps or roll up the face cloth.
2. Five hundred and more eyewitnesses
In 1 Corinthians 15,3-6, Paul writes: “For I have first transmitted to you what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried and that he rose on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom have remained until now, but some have fallen asleep. " Jesus also appears to his half-brother James (1 Corinthians 15: 7), to the ten disciples (Jn 20,19-23), to Mary Magdalene (Jn 20,11-18), to Thomas (Jn 20,24 -31), to Cleopas and a disciple (Lk 24,13-35), again to the disciples, but this time all eleven (Jn 20,26-31), and to seven disciples by the sea of Galilee (John 21: 1). If this were part of a courtroom testimony, it would be considered absolute and conclusive evidence.
3. The stone rolled away
Jesus or the angels rolled away the stone at Jesus' tomb not so that he could go out, but so that others could enter and see that the tomb was empty, testifying that he was resurrected. The stone was 1-1 / 2 to 2 two tons and would have required many strong men to move.
The tomb was sealed and guarded by Roman guards, so believing that the disciples came secretly at night, overwhelmed the Roman guards, and took away the body of Jesus so that others would believe in the resurrection is ridiculous. The disciples were in hiding, fearing that they were next, and kept the door locked, as he says: “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors where the disciples were being were closed for fear of the Jews, Jesus came, he stopped among them and said to them: "Peace be with you" "(Jn 20,19:XNUMX). Now, if the tomb had not been empty, the resurrection claims could not have been maintained even for an hour, knowing that the people in Jerusalem could have gone to the tomb to verify for themselves.
4. The death of Jesus opened the tombs
At the very moment in which Jesus gave up His Spirit, which means that he died voluntarily (Mt 27,50), the curtain of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Mt 27,51a). This indicated the end of the separation between the Holy of Holies (representing the presence of God) and man, accomplished by the torn body of Jesus (Isaiah 53), but then something very supernatural happened.
“The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs were also opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were resurrected, and coming out of the tombs, after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many "(Mt 27,51b-53). The death of Jesus allowed the saints of the past and those of us today not to be bound by death or held back from the grave. No wonder that "the centurion and those who were with him, watching over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what was happening, were filled with awe and said:" Truly this was the Son of God "" (Mt 27,54 , XNUMX)! This would make me a believer if I hadn't already been! "