Christians: What happened after the resurrection?

Good questions. I hope you get some answers from some christians. 😀

Obviously someone’s in the resurrection business, and Jesus was just the dry run for Elvis.

You should do some more research into the Bible. Besides the book itself, there are thousands of texts that explain this. If you truly do want to understand. And, while you are researching, remember that the Apostles that witnessed Jesus in this period were killed for their message. How many people do you know that would die for a falsehood? They would only die for what they believed.

Christ was never with His disciples at all times, both before and after His resurrection. The fact that after His resurrection He wasn’t with them at all times doesn’t prove anything more than the fact itself. It certainly doesn’t prove that the resurrection didn’t happen.

“The fact that after His resurrection He wasn’t with them at all times doesn’t prove anything…” Right. What a weird use of his time though. Why didn’t Jesus just stay with the disciples until Thomas came back? Why make two trips? Seems like he had LOTS of other things going on. When you imagine what you believe happened, what do you imagine Jesus doing? Maybe not even specifically, but like… was he taking a stroll? For a week? Was he talking at length with other people that never wrote down anything that he said?

:reads Shadokat’s note: Here’s one of the reasons I struggle with Christianity: none of the Gospels were written by eyewitnesses. Even my Roman Catholic Bible (New American) admits this in the introduction to each Gospel book. The New American Bible is available online, so one can read this for oneself if one thinks I am clueless.

I don’t have the slightest idea what He was doing. The gospels never claim to be a day to day, hourly account of His life. The fact that we don’t have minute by minute accounts doesn’t diminish what He did and it doesn’t call any of it into question. We wouldn’t question what Julius Caesar did in his life simply because we don’t have minute by minute details, we wouldn’t question King Henry VIII because we don’t have a minute by minute account of his life. So why would we call Jesus Christ into question?

How about this, Notliberal. How do you believe Jesus got out of the sealed tomb? When you envision it happening, does he teleport? Or is the Gospel of Matthew wrong, and he rolled away the stone and walked away?

gotta disagree with the kat this time. Many people would die for falsehoods, assuming they didn’t believe they were falsehoods. Um. According to Christianity, Islam is a falsehood, yet those people are the king of suicide bombings. I’m just sayin’.

i noticed on your homepage that you consider yourself an atheist. just for debate’s sake, isn’t the non-existence of God even more difficult to prove than the existence? i consider myself a practicing agnostic, which i think is the only tenable position to take. isn’t everyone in the world an agnostic, since no one knows either way?

zeno – One can choose not to believe in any god or gods – and thereby be an atheist – without having proof that any particular god does not exist.

Ms. C Numb- the difference between suicide and being fed to the lions, hung on a cross, burned at the stake or having your head cut off if you don’t renounce your faith should be obvious. So a.t. Bum, you doing research or just slingikng sh*t around to see what sticks.

“… having your head cut off if you don’t renounce your faith should be obvious… you doing research? – shadowkat” So glad you asked, because yes. There isn’t a single account in the Bible or in any extra-biblical source of a person who claimed to have seen the physical resurrection of Jesus AND who would have been saved from being killed by renouncing what he believed. <P> Actually, it’s worse than that, none of them was killed for refusing to renounce his faith in the physical resurrection of Jesus… You seemed to imply that there was at least one guy that you had in mind. If this is the case, would you be so kind as to please point me in the direction of this seemingly elusive text? I found in Acts the story of Stephen — a later convert — who was stoned to death because of some false charges; but as he was a later convert who never even claimed to see the resurrected Jesus… so he doesn’t fit the criteria. Especially seeing how he wouldn’t have been saved by renouncing his faith, anyway. By the way, do you believe that Jesus teleported out of his tomb? Or did Matthew get it wrong in his Gospel?

Scripture doesn’t tell us one way or the other how He removed Himself from the tomb. The resurrection itself is a supernatural event, is it not possible that His physical removal from the tomb was also supernatural? Scripture doesn’t tell us one way or the other, it’s fruitless to speculate.

Sorry Kat, no, actually I don’t see any difference between a Muslim who blows himself up in a crowd and a Christian who allows himself to be fed to lions, except that (to be fair)the Christians do at least have the decency not to take other people with them. Regardless, they are both still dying for their respective beliefs, whether they are falsehoods or not.

Regarding a note you left on Shadowkats Diary..Several important factors are often overlooked when considering Christ’s post-resurrection appearances to individuals. The first is the large number of witnesses of Christ after that resurrection morning. One of the earliest records of Christ’s appearing after the resurrection is by Paul. The apostle appealed to his audience’s knowledge of the fact that Christ had been seen by more than 500 people at one time. Paul reminded them that the majority of those people were still alive and could be questioned. Paul says in effect, ‘If you do not believe me, you can ask them.’ Such a statement in an genuine letter written within thirty years of the event is pretty strong evidence.” Another factor crucial to interpreting Christ’s appearances is that He also appeared to those who were hostile or unconvinced. By the way I am not Christian.

“By the way, do you believe that Jesus teleported out of his tomb? Or did Matthew get it wrong in his Gospel?” LOL. Not sure what bible you read but I can say that none of the ones I have read have ever used the word “teleported” Maybe you saw it on Star Trek.

“none of them was killed for refusing to renounce his faith in the physical resurrection of Jesus” google- jesus apostles martyred On this one- http://www.shrinesf.org/apostles.htm they list the cause of death for all the Apostles. “If a Christian were to die in war, that is not martyrdom. But if a Christian were told—explicitly or implicitly—“Deny the Church,” and if the Christianwere to reply—explicitly or implicitly—“No, I will not deny my Church!” and if he or she were to die because of that response, that is martyrdom.” Surely you would not quibble that the “Church” in this context is Jesus Christ.

CN- “they are both still dying for their respective beliefs” Isn’t one a murderer and the other the murderee? One is making a choice to kill others in a suicide and the other, the Christian is making a choice to stand by his conviction and be killed. I don’t know how more plain this distinction could be.

I shall answer these questions. (I’m back, by the way.) Give me a little time.

Take the Gospel Story Quiz: http://exchristian.net/3/

Hey whatz up long time no see?

Oh yeah me too, he visited me in a different form, too! Yeah, I thought he was a gardener, found out later, it was Jesus. This is an interest situation. Why didn’t she immediately recognize him. Was it from a distance, did he physically appear different after the resurrection? Jesus did however often go away for time to be alone with the Father so maybe that is what he also did it this case and then he would meet up with them later. I remember that Jesus said I am always about my father’s business. I am sure that sometimes we are not privied to what that business might be. It may also have been used to gather up those who scattered during the time of the crucifixion. Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:32-33 ESV) At the time they didn’t have the internet or the Jeruselum post ya know. It probably would take a gret deal of time to first persaude them to gather and the

Hey!! You remember me? I was 1stpatatime and sumamen on Bloop Diary. I also used to be on here as well.. Nice to see a familiar face.

RYC: Not alot going on except working, paying the bills and trying to figure out why everything goes up faster than my income. My daughter is getting married and I am just going about preaching and singing as the Lord gives me oppurtunity. Sometimes a feast, sometimes a famine. Either way I guess it is alright. Good to see you are still here. I am sure we can have some more candid discussions here in the future. 🙂

cont cutoff note…certainly must have been the idea that some of them would be killed if they returned looking for the Lord Jesus. Persecution was not something new and would only get worse with time as Christian were persecuted as Paul mentions in an attempt to exterminate them. Unfortunately as you know the resurrection cannot be put in a test tube and to know exactly what happened at every single moment does require a belief in the supernatural. People don’t raise from the dead, they certainly do not go Heaven on the local mass transit so there must be the miraculous as the resurrection itself is a miracle.

I wrote a response to this entry. It is very easy to find in my diary. It’s currently the latest entry, but if I make another entry before you have a chance to see it, you can’t miss it. I hope it answers your questions adequately.

Actually, upon doing some research, I couldn’t find any Old Testament prophecies that foretold His resurrection (it seems the prophecy that was fulfilled last was the one where He would be buried in a rich man’s tomb — Isaiah 53:9). Perhaps this is why the disciples were so afraid after it happened, because they didn’t really believe Jesus would raise from the dead.

But the fact still remains that Jesus prophecies His *own* death and resurrection and fulfilled it, proving that He was the Christ. After all, no one can resurrect themselves unless they’re God Himself.

I have edited my entry based on the information I just gave you.

This is the note I left in CC’s diary in response to your note to me. My apologies to ATB…I was directing this toward An Atheist and not toward him. I was also thinking about other atheists that I read here at Open Diary. As far as I know..I have never heard ATB say one way or the other whether he believes Jesus really lived. So please accept my apologies.

As to how Jesus got out of the tomb….He got into a locked room where the disciples were without using the door. Why couldn’t He have gotten out of the tomb without moving the rock?

“So please accept my apologies.” Apology accepted. Thank you. “As to how Jesus got out of the tomb….He got into a locked room where the disciples were without using the door. Why couldn’t He have gotten out of the tomb without moving the rock? – hope0500” The idea isn’t that it’s impossible. The question is about the kind of physical body that he had. It was a physical resurrection, yet, he could pass through walls like a ghost? Why wasn’t he known for physically walking through walls pre-death?

ATB — actually, I answered that question in my entry, that Jesus did many signs and wonders which aren’t recorded down so He very well may have walked through walls pre-resurrection. He also walked on the water, which the disciples then supposed Him to be a spirit, also.

Now, RYN: Actually, there are no explanations as to how Jesus’ body was absent from the tomb, save the explanation given in Scripture — the He resurrected and left. As for the one you gave, your argument doesn’t hold water and here’s why: First, upon further inspection of Matthew 27 you will see that the chief priests were aware that someone may come during the night and steal Jesus’ body away.

When Pilate gave them the order to seal the stone and set the guard, they very likely (in fact, it would have been foolish not to) checked inside the tomb to make sure the body was still there. It was, so they sealed the stone and set the guard so that no one would have been able to steal the body. Then you have the guards, who reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.

They reported that Jesus resurrected and the angel rolled the stone away, yet they were bribed to keep their mouths shut. The soldiers knew what had happened. No one stole the body away during the night. The chief priests made sure of that.

Finally, Judas didn’t hate Jesus. Yes, he was very greedy and agreed to betray Jesus for a mere 30 silver pieces. So remorseful that he returned the 30 pieces of silver. “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood!” he declared. If he had hated Jesus, he would not have felt remorseful, would have kept the 30 silver pieces and would not have hanged himself.

“He betrayed Jesus for a mere 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 26: 15). In fact, after He had delivered Jesus to the chief priests and learned that they meant to crucify Him, he was immediately remorseful. In fact, he returned the 30 pieces of silver and went and hanged himself (Matthew 27: 3-5). – CC” I’m sorry, but you’re mistaken. He did not feel sorry and return the money, he went and bought a field with the it. Acts 1:16-19 (NRSV) “16‘Friends, the scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit through David foretold concerning Judas, who became a guide for those who arrested Jesus— 17for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.’ 18(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their language Hakeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)”

Actually, you are mistaken. If you keep reading in Matthew, the chief priests didn’t accept Judas giving the money back, so Judas threw the pieces on the ground and left. The chief priests didn’t want to put it in the collection because it was blood money. The chief priests bought the field with the “reward” money. Thus, Judas indirectly purchased the field with the money he was paid.

“Thus, Judas indirectly purchased the field with the money he was paid.” It didn’t merely say that “his money was used to purchase a field”, it said that Judas acquired the field. How does Judas get ownership of a field if the priests purchased it? And if Judas hung himself that night, how does he end up, as Acts put it, “falling headlong” and “burst[ing] open in the middle and all his bowels gush[ing] out” in the middle of the very field that priests acquired? As a side matter, I’m curious, how did Matthew know what Judas said when he threw the money? (I mean, you claim to know that based off what Matthew says Judas said and did, we can somehow know that he was remorseful [which is debatable, of course — what if only after throwing Jesus’ body into the ravine he felt that he had finally gone too far?]) But beyond being remorseful or not, how could Matthew know what was said?

Maybe he hung himself on a branch over a cliff…only the branch wasn’t strong enough to hold him and it broke and he fell headlong into the field and his stomach burst open from the fall. Maybe not probable but possible and maybe one told one aspect of it and the other told the other aspect of it. Both tales correct but from two different viewpoints.

hope0500 – If you read each story they are complete and coherent in and of themselves. In Matthew Judas throws the money away and goes out somewhere and hangs himself. Then, separately, the chief priests purchase the field. Matthew explains that the field became known as the Field of Blood because it was bought with blood money. There is no suggestion that Judas even comes near it. Acts explains that the field, this time purchased by Judas , became known as the Field of Blood because he spilled his own blood there. In this Two different explanations for the same designation. The field is purchased by different individuals. And Judas dies in two different ways. Your explanation, even if it was plausible, still does not work.

I gave an entry on my diary about Matthew vs. Acts. Additionally, the reason that Matthew knew what was spoken is because God is the one ultimately responsible for writing the Scriptures. In the same way that Moses was able to recount the Creation account, Matthew knew what was spoken because God revealed it to him.

Also, AA, just because Matthew doesn’t mention where Judas hanged himself, that doesn’t mean it was impossible for him to have hanged himself in that very same field. That would be like saying “My wife went to the store,” and then a good friend comes by and says, “Your wife didn’t go to Vons, because all you told me was she went to the store, you didn’t tell me where she went.”

“AA, just because Matthew doesn’t mention where Judas hanged himself, that doesn’t mean it was impossible for him to have hanged himself in that very same field.” Of course not. If you simply stick to what is written in Matthew, however, neither is such an interpolation warranted by the text. Matthew writes that Judas went away and hanged himself after throwing the money down in disgust. Then he writes that the priests conferred and decided to buy the plot. The flow of the narrative suggests that Judas hanged himself either before the plot was purchased while they were conferring or around the same time. Either way, Matthew never in any way links the field with Judas’ death. If there was such a link, and Judas did kill himself in the very field that was bought with his blood money, then it seems to me that this would have been an important and relevant detail. By not making this connection, it seems that Matthew did not find the place of Judas’ death to be of much importance.