Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!mips!dimacs.rutgers.edu!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!christian From: ejprosser@ucdavis.edu (Eric J. Prosser) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The missing body/Empty tomb Message-ID: Date: 25 Apr 91 02:53:03 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: Computing Services, UC Davis Lines: 62 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu I usually just read your comments in this group and like to read about the different views because it causes me to did deeper into scripture to find answers; I couldn't pass this one up. Some replys have been that Jesus' body could have been taken from the tomb or he just didn't die. Let me propose some things for you to think about: We have these guys who are following Jesus. They are pretty close to Him. They totally support Jesus and are supporting His teachings. When it comes time for Jesus to be arrested and taken away, all these guys deny that they were with Him or that they supported Him (I suppose they were afraid they might be dragged away too). Now, Jesus is crucified, put in a tomb that is sealed, Roman guards are put on the post because they feared His disciples might take His body and say He rose. The guards who were on duty were paid to say His disciples took the body. (the thought of Jesus never died is stupid. One of the guards stuck a knife in Him and blood and water--I'm not an expert hear--came out. From what I've heard from medical doctors is that this means Jesus was as dead as dead could be) Anyway, this is what took place. Now, to some thoughts...... If Jesus' body were taken and people were saying His disciples took it, for fear of their life, wouldn't they have brought the body out of hiding to save their lives? And if some other people took the body wouldn't they have brought it out of hiding to prove He didn't rise? Jesus appeared to both beleivers and non-believers alike. They all saw Him and couldn't deny that fact. And who was the disciple Jesus walked up to and said put your finger in the scar and touch me? This disciple was doubting this whole thing and this must have made quite an impression on this him. Ok, what about this.......Today, as far as I know, there has been no proof that Jesus didn't rise from the dead. It seems to me that everything else (eg, documents, eye-witness, etc.) points to this being true. Elvis,....Well, you tell me. At any given point in time when a person "sees" Elvis they are alone or with a "witness." Jesus didn't just appear to one or two people at a time, He appeared to hundreds! This seems to me to make it more credible. As a last note, READ your Bible! Study the Hebrew and Greek words and what they really mean in their context. Don't stop there, look into they culture of burial and what they did to prepare a body. Read the manuscripts found, you'll find lots of support here. If you really do your homework well, you'll get a better picture than I can portray or anyone else, and you shouldn't take anything that any man says as fact! You need to do the homework first before you can really agree or disagree with anyone who has also done their homework. Me personally, I have dug into this subject off and on for the past year. I'm still learning, so don't take my words as fact. They are just some conclusions that I am beginning to arrive at. Jesus is a totally awesome God! Following Him is not easy! But I will follow Him till the day I die! Eric Jon Prosser ejprosser@ucdavis.edu I&P Computing Services (916) 752-2906 University of California, Davis