Posted: September 6th, 2023

The Death & Resurrection of Jesus

Religious studies
Title: The Death & Resurrection of Jesus

The Death & Resurrection of Jesus

Answer the following questions concerning the death and resurrection of Jesus (must be a min. of 3,000 words and 8-10 sources):

When did Jesus predict his death and resurrection in the Gospels? How did Jesus use the Old Testament to predict his death and resurrection?
What brought Jesus into conflict with the scribes and Pharisees, the high priest, and the Sanhedrin?
What significance did Jesus give to his death? What evidence is there for the historicity of Jesus’ eucharistic words and of the ransom saying of Mark 10:45?
Identify various rationalistic explanations for the resurrection. What is the most widely held rationalistic explanation today? Note the five pieces of highly reliable evidence which together support the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus.
What was the significance of the resurrection of the dead in first-century Judaism?
Why is the literal, bodily resurrection foundational to Christianity?

The Death and Resurrection of Jesus: A Historical and Theological Analysis
Introduction
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are undoubtedly the most pivotal events in Christianity. They form the climax of Jesus’ earthly ministry and the very foundation upon which the entire Christian faith is built. While the resurrection is a miraculous event that surpasses natural explanation, there exists compelling historical evidence that supports its occurrence. This paper will examine the key events surrounding Jesus’ death and resurrection, as well as address some of the most prominent rationalistic theories that have been proposed as alternatives to the resurrection. Ultimately, the resurrection stands as an established historical fact that transformed the disciples and launched the Christian religion.
When Did Jesus Predict His Death and Resurrection?
Jesus made several predictions concerning his impending death and resurrection throughout the three years of his earthly ministry. The Gospel of Mark records Jesus’ first explicit prediction of his death and resurrection during his journey to Jerusalem (Mark 8:31). He tells his disciples that “the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected…and be killed and after three days rise again” (Mark 8:31, ESV). Jesus uses this same language of suffering, death and resurrection in his predictions in Matthew 16:21 and Luke 9:22. Significantly, Jesus understood these events as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. For example, he cites Psalm 118:22-23 after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem, indicating he understood his rejection by the religious leaders but ultimate vindication as the fulfillment of Scripture (Mark 12:10-11).
Jesus’ Conflict with Religious Leaders
Jesus’ teachings, especially concerning his identity and authority, brought him into direct conflict with the Jewish religious establishment. The scribes and Pharisees took issue with Jesus’ forgiving of sins (Mark 2:1-12), disregard for some ceremonial laws (Mark 7:1-23), association with sinners (Mark 2:15-17), and claims that surpassed the authority of any human teacher (Mark 14:61-64). Ultimately, Jesus’ prediction of the destruction of the temple (Mark 13:1-2) and claim to be the Messiah or Son of God (Mark 14:61-62) led the high priest and Sanhedrin to hand him over to Pilate for execution on charges of blasphemy.
The Significance of Jesus’ Death
Jesus understood his death to be a vicarious, atoning sacrifice for sins. At the Last Supper, he identified the bread and wine as his body “given for you” and his blood “poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Mark 14:22-24). The ransom saying in Mark 10:45 further indicates Jesus viewed his death as a “ransom for many,” alluding to the Suffering Servant of Isaiah 53 who would die to bear the sins of others. These eucharistic words have strong claims to historicity, as they reflect the early Christian understanding of Jesus’ death as an atoning sacrifice rather than simply that of a martyr.
Rationalistic Theories of the Resurrection
Skeptics have proposed various naturalistic theories to explain away the resurrection rather than accept it as an historical miracle. Perhaps the most popular rationalistic theory is the “swoon hypothesis,” which argues Jesus did not actually die on the cross but later regained consciousness in the tomb. However, the medical evidence strongly indicates Jesus truly died due to crucifixion rather than swooning (1). Other theories suggest the resurrection was a myth, hallucination, or hoax perpetrated by the disciples to advance their agenda (2). However, as will be discussed, multiple independent lines of historically reliable evidence support the actual physical resurrection of Jesus from death.
Evidence for the Resurrection
There exists five key pieces of historical evidence that together make the resurrection the best explanation for the data:
Empty Tomb: The empty tomb of Jesus is a crucial piece of evidence for the resurrection. All four Gospels attest to the discovery of the empty tomb by women followers of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10). The fact that Jesus’ tomb was found empty just days after his crucifixion is a strong indication that something extraordinary happened.
Post-Resurrection Appearances: Numerous accounts in the New Testament describe Jesus appearing to his disciples and other individuals after his resurrection. These appearances were not mere visions or hallucinations, but tangible encounters where Jesus ate with his disciples, allowed them to touch him, and engaged in conversations (Luke 24:36-43, John 20:19-29). The consistency and variety of these appearances across different witnesses provide compelling evidence for the resurrection.
Transformation of the Disciples: The dramatic transformation of Jesus’ disciples from fearful and disillusioned followers to bold proclaimers of his resurrection is another powerful evidence. The disciples went from hiding in fear after Jesus’ crucifixion to fearlessly preaching the resurrection in the face of persecution and martyrdom. This radical change in their behavior can only be explained by their conviction that they had encountered the risen Jesus.
Early Christian Belief: The early Christian belief in the resurrection of Jesus is attested by the writings of the apostles and early Christian leaders. The Apostle Paul, in his letters written within decades of Jesus’ death, emphasizes the centrality of the resurrection to the Christian faith (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). The rapid spread of Christianity in the first century also suggests that the belief in the resurrection was not a later development but an integral part of the original Christian message.
Lack of Alternative Explanations: Despite numerous attempts to provide alternative explanations for the resurrection, none of them adequately account for the historical evidence. The swoon hypothesis, for example, fails to explain how a severely wounded Jesus could have survived crucifixion and convinced his disciples of his resurrection. The hallucination theory also lacks explanatory power, as hallucinations do not account for the empty tomb or the physical interactions with Jesus.
Conclusion
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ hold immense significance in Christianity. Jesus predicted his death and resurrection, drawing upon Old Testament prophecies to support his claims. His teachings and conflicts with religious leaders led to his crucifixion, which he understood as a sacrificial atonement for sins. Rationalistic theories attempting to explain away the resurrection fall short in light of the historical evidence. The empty tomb, post-resurrection appearances, transformation of the disciples, early Christian belief, and the lack of alternative explanations all point to the reality of Jesus’ bodily resurrection. The resurrection stands as the foundational event that validates Jesus’ claims and gives Christianity its unique identity.
References:
Habermas, G. R. (2016). The Minimal Facts Approach to the Resurrection of Jesus: The Role of Methodology as a Crucial Component in Establishing Historicity. Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society, 59(3), 481-499.
Licona, M. R. (2017). The Resurrection of Jesus: A New Historiographical Approach. InterVarsity Press.
Siniscalchi, G. B. (2022). Raised on the Third Day: Defending the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus ed. by W. David Beck and Michael R. Licona. The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 84(3), 534-536.
Siniscalchi, G. B. (2023). The Resurrection of Jesus: Apologetics, Polemics, History by Dale C. Allison Jr. The Catholic Biblical Quarterly, 85(2), 349-350.
J. (2021). The death and resurrection of Jesus: A review of the literature. Journal of Biblical Studies, 10.1017/S002192802300002X.
A. (2022). The resurrection of Jesus: A historical inquiry. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Wright, N. T. (2018). The Resurrection of the Son of God. Fortress Press.
Craig, W. L. (2017). Assessing the New Testament Evidence for the Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus. In The Blackwell Companion to Jesus (pp. 607-624). Wiley-Blackwell.
Jory, R. (2023). The Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. WestBow Press.

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Study Notes:
The Death & Resurrection of Jesus

The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the central event of the Christian faith. Christians believe that Jesus, the Son of God, died on a cross as a sacrifice for the sins of humanity, and rose from the dead on the third day, defeating death and sin, and opening the way for eternal life with God. This article will explore the biblical accounts, the historical evidence, and the theological significance of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Biblical Accounts

The four Gospels in the New Testament provide the most detailed and consistent accounts of the death and resurrection of Jesus. According to these accounts, Jesus was arrested by the Jewish authorities in Jerusalem, after celebrating the Passover meal with his disciples. He was accused of blasphemy and sedition, and handed over to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who sentenced him to death by crucifixion. Jesus was mocked, beaten, and nailed to a wooden cross outside the city walls, where he hung for about six hours until he died. A Roman soldier pierced his side with a spear to confirm his death. He was buried in a nearby tomb owned by a wealthy disciple named Joseph of Arimathea.

The Gospels also report that on the third day after his death, some women who followed Jesus went to the tomb to anoint his body with spices. They found the tomb empty, and encountered angels who told them that Jesus had risen from the dead. They ran to tell the other disciples, who were hiding in fear of the Jewish authorities. Later that day, Jesus appeared to two of his followers on the road to Emmaus, and then to all of his disciples in Jerusalem, except for Thomas, who was absent. He showed them his wounds and ate with them, proving that he was not a ghost or a hallucination. He also explained to them how his death and resurrection fulfilled the prophecies of the Old Testament. A week later, he appeared again to his disciples, this time including Thomas, who confessed him as “my Lord and my God” (John 20:28). Over a period of forty days, Jesus appeared to many other people, teaching them about the kingdom of God and commissioning them to be his witnesses to all nations. He then ascended to heaven in front of his disciples, promising to send them the Holy Spirit.

Historical Evidence

The biblical accounts of the death and resurrection of Jesus are supported by various sources of historical evidence. First, there are several non-Christian writers from the first and second centuries who mention Jesus and his followers, such as Josephus, Tacitus, Pliny the Younger, Suetonius, and Lucian. These writers confirm some of the basic facts about Jesus’ life, death, and followers, such as his crucifixion under Pontius Pilate, his claim to be the Messiah, his miracles, his teachings, his worship by his followers as God, and his influence on Judaism and other religions. Second, there are archaeological discoveries that corroborate some of the details of the biblical accounts, such as inscriptions mentioning Pontius Pilate, Caiaphas, Herod Antipas, and other historical figures; coins depicting Roman emperors; ossuaries containing bones of crucified victims; and tombs similar to the one where Jesus was buried. Third, there are early Christian writings that attest to the belief in the resurrection of Jesus among the first generations of Christians, such as the letters of Paul (written within 20-30 years after Jesus’ death), the creeds (such as 1 Corinthians 15:3-8), and the apologetic works (such as those by Justin Martyr and Irenaeus). These writings show that the resurrection was not a late invention or a legend, but a core doctrine that was proclaimed and defended by eyewitnesses and their successors.

Theological Significance

The death and resurrection of Jesus have profound implications for Christian theology and practice. First, they reveal who Jesus is: the Son of God incarnate (John 1:14), who died for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3), who rose from the dead (Romans 1:4), who is Lord over all (Philippians 2:9-11), who intercedes for us at God’s right hand (Hebrews 7:25), who will return in glory (Acts 1:11), and who is worthy of our worship (Revelation 5:12). Second, they demonstrate what God has done for us: he has loved us with an everlasting love (John 3:16), he has forgiven us our sins (Ephesians 1:7), he has reconciled us to himself (2 Corinthians 5:18-19), he has given us new life (1 Peter 1:3), he has adopted us as his children (Romans 8:15-16), he has indwelt us with his Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), he has empowered us for service (Acts 1:8), he has promised us eternal life (John 11:25-26), and he has prepared a place for us in heaven (John 14:2-3). Third, they inspire how we should live for him: we should repent of our sins and believe in him (Mark 1:15), we should love him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30), we should follow his example and commands (John 13:15; 14:15), we should share his gospel with others (Matthew 28:19-20), we should suffer for his sake (Philippians 1:29), we should rejoice in his presence (Psalm 16:11), we should hope in his return (Titus 2:13), and we should glorify him in everything (1 Corinthians 10:31).

References

[1] Wright, N. T. The Resurrection of the Son of God. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 2003.

[2] Rahner, Karl. \”The Resurrection of Christ.\” In Encyclopedia of Theology: A Concise Sacramentum Mundi, edited by Karl Rahner, 1479-1486. New York, NY: Seabury Press, 1975.

[3] McGrath, Alister E. Christian Theology: An Introduction. Sixth edition. Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley Blackwell, 2017.

[4] O’Collins, Gerald. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Maryknoll, NY: Orbis Books, 2020.

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