Christianity is based on a foundation of faith in Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
Yes, Jesus allegedly did other cool things like walking on water.
Matthew 14:24-31:
“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
“And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
“And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
“But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”
This is a prime example of the good old Jamaican proverb “Belief kill and belief cure.” I keep telling you that you can do whatever Jesus did. Jesus confirmed this to the Disciples ( John 14:12 “…He that believeth in me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father”).
Belief kill. Belief cure!
So the walking on water bit was no biggie. Once Peter believed, he, also, could do it. But Jesus also allegedly turned water into wine.
Proving he was a party animal, Jesus attended a wedding reception where the wine ran out. Under maternal instructions, Jesus turned water into wine. John 2: 7-10:
“Jesus saith unto them, Fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
“When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants which drew the water knew) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom and saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.”
So Jesus performed a magic trick and didn’t tell the host who thought the groom had tried to hide the good wine. Some scholars maintain Jesus wouldn’t promote drunkenness so merely substituted grape juice. Their reasoning is based on the use of the Greek word “oinos” which can refer to grape juice or wine. But the preponderance of evidence suggests Jesus found a source of wine for those pots.
Jesus wasn’t promoting drunkenness any more than he promoted gluttony when he fed “5,000” with two fishes and five loaves. This is the only miracle confirmed in all four gospels. N.B: only men were counted so when women and children present are added “5,000” was probably over 10,000.
Matthew 14: 15-20:
“And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. But Jesus said unto them, they need not depart; give ye them to eat.
“And they say unto him, we have here but five loaves, and two fishes. He said, bring them hither to me. And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.
“And they did all eat, and were filled….”
Plus there were leftovers!
Cynical scientists say “studies” establish it’s more likely that, while Jesus was teaching, a wind blew over the lake; “thermal stratification” reduced the oxygen in the water; large numbers of fish died, floated to the surface and bobbed their way up onto the shore where they could be easily collected.
Humbug!
This is another example of what Jesus has done man (or woman) can do as single mothers everywhere have been performing similar miracles daily for centuries. This is why devout Christians say grace before every meal no matter how small.
Ya never know…….
Narratives of all these “miracles” leave room for cynics and doubting Thomases to poke holes. But, Resurrection? If THAT happened…
Let’s examine the historical record to see if available evidence could prove the resurrection in a court of law. What are the alternative theories?
First up is the swoon theory. Jesus didn’t die. He fainted or fell into a coma; revived (somehow) in the cool tomb; escaped; and was seen by the Disciples. Alternatively the Disciples were so traumatized that they hallucinated his reappearance. Thirdly, the stolen body theory! Disciples stole the body to fabricate resurrection. Then there’s the wrong tomb theory: the women mixed up the tombs and were told by a stranger Jesus wasn’t there.
The dumbest of all is the “stolen body theory”. The facts disproving that theory are also best proof of the resurrection beyond any reasonable doubt. Setting aside the impossibility of stealing a body from a sealed tomb guarded by Roman Soldiers, if the Disciples stole the body they all KNEW the resurrection was a lie.
Yet their subsequent lives; their endurance of persecution, imprisonment, torture and execution when all they had to do to avoid those consequences was recant, is the best circumstantial proof of the truth of their testimony. Not one, not two but ELEVEN men died for a lie knowing it to be a lie? Nah. So there’s compelling eyewitness and corroborating circumstantial evidence by way of witnesses’ subsequent conduct. No criminal conviction in any court has been obtained on better evidence.
The not-quite-dead theory is equally ridiculous. Jesus was crucified; suffered extreme blood loss; had a spear stuck in his side ( John 19:34); and was wrapped in linen and spices ( John 19: 39-40) which was Jewish tradition to prepare the body and manage odours but also has a mummifying effect.
But, alright, he wasn’t quite dead. He fooled everybody and, in THAT condition, he revived, somehow moved a two ton stone; evaded guards; and bolted only to appear later to his Disciples?
C’mon man, wouldn’t you say even the seeming impossibility of resurrection is more likely?
The wrong tomb theory is just silly. Suddenly everybody forgot where Jesus was buried? And were never corrected?
The Hallucination theory: This one is sooooo cute. Apparently the Disciples all had the same hallucination. It’s unlikely but (sigh) let’s go along as they were giddy with grief. But, Corinthians 15: 3-6:
“For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day….
“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 remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”
Five hundred all had a simultaneous hallucination identical to the hallucination that visited “the twelve” (including Mary)?
On this blessed Easter Sunday, you’re entitled to be cynical about Jesus’ resurrection if that’s what floats your boat. But two key questions for the jury are how do you assess the Disciples’ consequent behaviour? And where in Heaven’s name did Jesus (swoon theory) or Jesus’s body (wrong tomb; hallucination theories) go? How come the Romans never exhumed the body and paraded it through the streets to squash preposterous resurrection propaganda? Or the severely injured escapee was never caught?
An appropriate message from the iconic Lionel Richie:
And I know the Truth
and His words will be our salvation.
Lift up our hearts
to be thankful and glad
that Jesus is love.
He won’t let you down.
He. Is. Risen! Happy and Holy Easter Sunday everybody!
Peace and Love.
Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com
