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: uriel@oak.circa.ufl.edu (Scott Whitmore) Newsgroups: soc.religion.christian Subject: Re: The missing body/Empty tomb Message-ID: Date: 25 Apr 91 03:05:53 GMT Sender: hedrick@athos.rutgers.edu Organization: University of Florida CIRCA VAX Cluster Lines: 55 Approved: christian@aramis.rutgers.edu [In response to a question about the credibility of Jesus' resurrection and resurrection appearances, Mark Sandrock writes >The work "In the Light of Truth", the Grail Message, by Abd-ru-shin does in >fact give logical answers about this critical point. [stuff zapped] >Yes, Jesus WAS seen by many following His death on the cross, but it was >NOT the physical body of Jesus which was seen. It was His spiritual body, >or better said, His soul, which naturally at that time still manifested >the wounds that He had so recently been forced to suffer. It was given >to those close to Jesus to be able to see and hear that which normally they >would not see and hear for the sake of strengthening their faith in Jesus >and the truth of His Message. --clh] I hate to seem like I'm picking on you, but I propose this answer. C.S. Lewis offers this explanation (I can't remember which book right now) for Christ's Resurrection. He says that Christ does indeed assume his body on Sunday morning, but that he assumes it in glory -- that is, the body of Jesus becomes part of the Son and part of God and is glorified therein. This is very meaningful, because it counters the Gnostic argument (which has been around for millenia and is preserved in the Grail Message as elsewhere) that the Spirit goes on to higher planes of existence while Gross Matter, which is 'less', stays behind; matter is portrayed as being somehow less *good* than spirit. Gnosticism denies physical resurrection. Yet Paul says, "For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised. If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile, and you are still in your sins." (I Cor 15:16-17, RSV) > >This is the reason that those who had been close to Jesus did not immediately >recognize Him. It is also the reason He was able to enter into a locked room. > In other words, the disciples were lied to by God when they touched his wounds and watched him eat fish? And as for the locked room, apparently he was no longer BOUND to the laws of physics, even though physical-ness was part of him. >As for the physical body of Jesus, one would have to assume then that it was >in fact taken from the tomb, by persons unknown and for reasons unknown, but >I expect that in the future this too shall be made clear. Yes, His return in glory (with His body) may help to clear that up. :) >I hope these explanation will prove helpful to serious questioners. > >Mark Sandrock How about to silly questioners? Scott Whitmore Internet: uriel@maple.circa.ufl.edu 24-510 Tolbert Hall or uriel@maple.decnet%pine.circa.ufl.edu Gainesville, FL 32612 (USA) Friendly Neighborhood Standard Disclaimer "The Devil...the prowde spirit...cannot bear to be mocked." --Thomas More (?)