Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!cs.utexas.edu!bcm!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: ta00est@unccvax.uncc.edu (elizabeth s tallant) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The missing body/Empty tomb Message-ID: Date: 23 Apr 91 07:02:36 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of NC at Charlotte Lines: 40 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu In article , irani@brahms.udel.edu (Jennifer Irani) writes: Hi Jennifer, You certainly have asked a very important question - a question whose answer separates Christians from Jews and Moslems. First, the Old Testament scriptures foretell that the Servant or Annointed One (as Jesus is called) would spend three days in death and then arise. Jesus said, "I will tear down the temple and rebuilt it in three days." Thus, we can see that Old Testament prophecies talking about a temple are not talking about wood and stone but about Jesus. Secondly, the Bible says that at least around 2,000 people saw Jesus after he arose. Included in that number are people whose opinions we greatly respect - the disciples, who are noted for their honesty and "level-headedness." Many of the people who saw Jesus refused to accept the fact that He had died and risen. One trane of thought said that his body had been stolen. This is what the "Jewish" religion teaches today. I use "" because it is not the same Judaism that Jesus taught. Another trane of thought said that Jesus has never died. This is what Moslems believe. Thus, the two "logical" explanations for his death and resurrection are totally devoid of faith. They do not include that fact that God can raise Himself from the dead. Yet, Christians believe that God did indeed raise Himself from the dead, and it is this faith in God that has brought us salvation, which other religions can never offer. > However, many poeple seem to ask, how can Christians assume that > He rose and that someone just didn't steal the body? I have always heard > And yes, Jesus appeared to people after His death, but then, so is > Elvis. Could anyone please give some logical answers. It does matter, this > is what the Christian faith is founded on--that Christ didn't just die, but > rose!