Chapter 12: The Ascension-not a journey into space

 

“Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God.” 

(1 Cor. 15:50)             

“… the Cause of Christ was like a lifeless body until the life and the bounty of the Holy Spirit surrounded it.”

(`Abdu'l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 104)

Ascension of Elijah

The crude image of the physical body of Jesus rising up from earth forty days after the Resurrection is not a very inspiring image for Christians living in the 21th century, the space age.   

There is nothing unique in the Bible about the story of Jesus’ ascension as several minor prophets, for example Enoch and Elijah, were also taken bodily into heaven. 

“By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him …” (Hebrews 11:5)

Elijah lived hundreds of years before Jesus.  He performed many miracles that are recorded in the Bible.  Just like Moses, Elijah stood in front of a great river (Jordan) and divided the waters so that he could walk through it. (2 Kings 2:8)  Also, according to the Bible, Elijah did not die but he went bodily to heaven.

 “… suddenly a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven …” (2 Kings 2:11)

We can conclude that this is a story to illustrate the important Jewish belief that that Elijah would return.  Ascension is related to return.  Without Ascension there could not be a second coming. 

The Romans and the early Christians were familiar with the concept of an ascent into heaven.  Several of the Roman emperors were consider to be divine and often after their death a new cult was established. 

For example following the death of Augustus in 14 AD, the senator Numerius Atticus declared under oath to have witnessed the bodily ascension of the emperor [i]. .  The Augustus cult was established and a temple was erected for the worship of Augustus.  

Ascension and the Gospels

In the very early church there is no tradition of an Ascension of Jesus.  The event of the Ascension is not a part of the original text of the Gospels with the exception of Luke who describes the exaltation (resurrection) of Jesus and ascension of Jesus as separate events.  

Gospel of Mark 

There is no mention of the Ascension in the Gospel of Mark.  Early transcripts (see Christianity Renewed, Vol. 1) make no difference between the Resurrection and the Ascension.  At the end of his Gospel the message is given by an angel:  “He has risen

.                                                                                (Mark 16:6)[ii].  

Gospel of Matthew

The Ascension is not mentioned.  The story ends with the promise of Jesus:  “I am with you always, to the close of the age.”

                                                                           (Matt. 28:20)

Gospel of Luke

In some versions of Luke’s Gospel the following text is found:  “While He blessed them, He parted from them.”  Some later versions add: “and was carried up in heaven.” 

Gospel of John

No Ascension is mentioned.

Book of Acts

The event of the Ascension is only mentioned in the Book of Acts, which was written also by Luke.

“Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight.”

                                                                                  (Acts 1:9).

Many Bible scholars have studied this short sentence because it leaves many questions unanswered.  The Bible does not tell us who witnessed the Ascension.  No surprise is expressed in the Bible for such a spectacular event.  There are many indications that the story has a spiritual meaning.  This spiritual meaning, which is given by angels, is that Christ will return.

“And while they looked steadfastly towards heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, ‘Ye men of Galilee, this same Jesus which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”  (Acts 1:10–11)

Is the forty days calendar days?

No. Only the later written Acts of the Apostles mentions “forty days” between Easter and Ascension (Acts 1:3), obviously recalling the sacred biblical number of forty (Moses forty days in the wilderness, Elijah’s and Jesus’ forty days of fasting). 

Luke’s gospel would play an important role in the establishment around 300 AD of the Feast of the Ascension which commemorates Jesus' ascension into heaven 40 days after his resurrection.  

It was many centuries before the Ascension became a part of Christian church dogma.  Only around ad 400 was the feast of the Ascension established by the church-fathers.

To gain a better understanding of the Ascension, it is important to know the spiritual meaning of heaven, and the spiritual meaning of the body of Christ.

Spiritual meaning of Heaven

In the story of the Ascension Jesus rose up into the clouds.  Two thousand years later we are inclined to ask questions that are more scientific. 

As the earth is part of a universe of trillions of stars and planets, and the body of Jesus kept rising, where in the universe is the body of Jesus now?  Since such reasoning is absurd in the light of present knowledge it becomes clear that Heaven is not another star, billions of light years away, but that we are dealing with a spiritual reality.

Jesus tells us in the Bible that He came down from heaven.

“For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 6:38)

Yet Jesus was born from the womb of Mary.  The Jews at that time asked:  “And they said, is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know?  How is it then that He says, ‘I have come down from heaven’?” (John 6:42).

When it is said that Jesus is come from heaven, this has not an outward but an inner significance; it is a spiritual, not a material reality.

“The meaning is that though, apparently, Christ was born from the womb of Mary, in reality He came from heaven …. therefore, His disappearance under the earth for three days has an inner signification and is not an outward fact.    Likewise His ascension to heaven is a spiritual and not a material ascension.” (‘Abdu’l-Bahá:  Some Answered Questions, p. 103–104)      

The body of Christ symbolizes the Christian church

The church is often called the body of Christ in the Bible.  For example, when Paul addresses the first Christians, he said:

“Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular.”

                                                                        (1 Cor. 12:27)

Paul even said that the believers are made of the flesh and bones of Christ.  “For we are members of His body, and His flesh, and of His bones.” (Eph. 5:30)

These statements show how, in the early church, the body of Jesus was often used as a symbol for the church. 

The Bahá’í Writings tell us that after the Crucifixion, the apostles of Jesus were very confused; “they were like a lifeless body”.  Only after the power of the Holy Spirit enabled them to realize the true station of Jesus, that Jesus was raised up[iii] or exalted by God, did the apostles start to teach. 

Once the spiritual eyes of the early followers were opened to the understanding that the prophecies of the Old Testament were indeed fulfilled in Jesus, it was then that the “sect of the Nazarene” started to grow within the Jewish community and soon the church came alive.  This is the meaning of the rising of the body of Christ. 

The Cause of Christ was like a lifeless body; and when after three days the disciples became assured and steadfast, and began to serve the Cause of Christ, and resolved to spread the divine teachings, putting His councils into practice, and arising to serve Him, the Reality of Christ became resplendent and His bounty appeared; His religion found life; His teachings and His admonitions become evident and visible.  In other words, the Cause of Christ was like a lifeless body until the life and the bounty of the Holy Spirit surrounded it.”

(‘Abdu’l-Bahá:  Some Answered Questions, p. 104)

The Christian dilemma

After a detailed study of the Greek text, most Christian scholars (see endnote 20) came to the conclusion that there is no historical foundation for a belief that Jesus physically rose up to heaven. 

When the well-known Christian scholar Hans Kuhn was asked, “How do we have to imagine the Resurrection?” he answered:  “Not at all.  ‘Rising up’ and ‘Resurrection’ are metaphorical, pictorial terms, as used for awakening and rising from sleep.  (Professor Hans Küng, Eternal life p.10).

Hans Küng is a priest and was one of the brightest and rising stars in the church.  He was professor of fundamental theology and played a major role as a theological consultant in the writing of the documents for the second Vatican council.  He sincerely tried to renew Christianity from within the church but was disappointed with the official response from the church.[iv]

His research concluded that the raising up of Jesus by God, the Resurrection from death, exaltation, the sitting at the right hand of God, and the Ascension are all one and the same in the New Testament. 

Bahá’í teachings

The Bahá’í Faith doesn’t decrease the importance of the Resurrection and Ascension of Jesus.  For Christians and Bahá’ís alike Easter is a belief that the crucified Jesus is the One who was raised up, risen, exalted by God, and would return to inaugurate the Kingdom of God on earth.

When ‘Abdu’l-Bahá was asked to explain is the meaning of Christ’s Ascension He replied:

“The resurrections of the Divine Manifestations are not of the body.  All Their states, Their conditions, Their acts, the things They have established, Their teachings, Their expressions, Their parables and Their instructions have a spiritual and divine signification, and have no connection with material things … apparently, Christ was born from the womb of Mary, in reality He came from heaven, from the centre of the Sun of Reality, from the Divine World and the Spiritual Kingdom.  And as it has become evident that Christ came from the spiritual heaven of the Divine Kingdom, therefore, His disappearance under the earth for three days has an inner signification and is not an outward fact.  In the same way, His resurrection from the interior of the earth is also symbolical; it is a spiritual and divine fact, and not material; and likewise His ascension to heaven is a spiritual and not a material ascension.

“Beside these explanations, it has been established and proved by science that the visible heaven is a limitless area, void and empty, where innumerable stars and planets revolve….as, for example, this subject of the ascension of Christ with an elemental body to the visible heaven is contrary to the science of mathematics.  But when the truth of this subject becomes clear, and the symbol is explained, science in no way contradicts it; but, on the contrary, science and the intelligence affirm it.” 

           (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, p. 103–5)



[i])     Roman historian Suetonius in his biography of Augustus called Vita Divi Augusti p.100.  Ascension was often connection with great figures of antiquity such as Hercules, Empedocles, Romulus, Alexander the Great, Apolonius of Tyana and many others.

[ii])      As we explained earlier, the term “risen” meant for Jews, that Jesus, the Messiah was returned to God.  All other souls, good or bad, suffered in the underworld of the ‘Sheol’ until the day of Judgement when they would receive their body back.  (See Chapter 4,  Spiritual meaning of heaven and hell.)

[iii])     Paul even says that all of us were ‘dead in sins’ but we were ‘all made alive again in Christ’.  “And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly palaces in Christ Jesus” (Eph. 2:6)  This means that in a spiritual sense the resurrection and ascension happen to everybody who believes and follows the Messenger of God.

[iv])     “Professor Hans Küng, in his writings, has departed from the integral truth of Catholic faith, and therefore he can no longer be considered a Catholic theologian nor function as such in a teaching role." Declaration on Hans Küng promulgated by Pope John Paul II, 18 December, 1979.

Christianity Renewed was written by Marc and Helen Vloeberghs when Marc was a senior lecturer at the University of Technology, Lae, Papua New Guinea. 

The books were written as a result of an ongoing dialogue with his students who were Christians sincerely seeking answers. 

It was Dr. Peter Khan, at the opening of the Temple in India, who encouraged the authors to make a world edition.

Due to the success of the books which were reprinted more than fifteen times, Marc and Helen were invited to give workshops in many countries, China, Singapore, Malaysia, India, Philippines, South Africa, Zambia, Israel, England, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, New Zealand, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Fiji, Tuvalu and Tonga. 

From these workshops the books were revised to reflect a worldwide perspective and are now distributed by the BPT of India under the pen-name Maxwell Alexander (the names of their two sons to whom they are dedicated).

More information is available on their website:

www.christianityrenewed.com

Chapter 11:  Spiritual meaning of the Resurrection

“For Christ … being put to death in the flesh, but quickened [made alive] by the Spirit …” (I Peter 3:18)

Introduction

Easter is a time of great celebrations.  It is a major event in the Christian calendar.  First, there is the sadness of ‘Good Friday’, the day when Jesus was crucified.  This is the time when all reflect on the suffering and pain of Jesus.  Then on Sunday comes the time of rejoicing with the remembrance of the Resurrection.

Until the end of the 19th century, all Christians accepted the Resurrection and the Ascension of Jesus as two different events separated by a period of forty days in which the risen Jesus appeared to his followers. But during the 20th century when Bible scholars started to study the Bible more critically they came to different conclusions.  Some Christians take the Resurrection stories of the Bible literally whilst others are not sure of their real intention.  The Bahá’í Writings offer guidance for a better understanding of the great significance of the Resurrection in which Jesus was raised up.

Spiritual meaning of the ‘Resurrection of the Saints’

Several stories about dead people who arose from their graves are found in the New Testament.  Matthew tells us about a strange event that occurred when Jesus died on the cross:

“And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”

(Matt. 27:52–3)

In this passage Matthew tells that the saints arose from their graves after His Resurrection.  Yet according to the text this event occurred just after Jesus died on the cross.  So this statement of Matthew is telling us that the death and the Resurrection occurred at approximately the same time (in other words – there is no three days in between).  Much later the Christian calendar began to commemorate the death of Jesus on Friday whilst the Resurrection is celebrated on Sunday.

We could also ask ourselves what happened to those saints who came out of the grave.  There are only three possibilities; either they are still walking around; or they returned back to the grave; or that the story has a symbolic meaning.

It is indeed very unlikely that an event such as bodies of the saints arising physically from the dead really happened.  If such an amazing incident had really occurred it would certainly have been mentioned in history books.  Also, everyone who witnessed it would have been compelled into belief.  Other than this Gospel, no mention of such an occurrence has ever been made by historians.  Even the renowned Jewish historian, Josephus, who recorded in detail many events in Jerusalem during that time, did not mention it.

The fact that this story only appears in the Gospel of Matthew and not the other three Gospels, further supports the idea that it has a symbolic or spiritual meaning.  Perhaps the reason why Matthew related these events was because he was trying to convince a hostile Jewish population that Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Old Testament.  He knew that the day of the coming of the Messiah would also be the day of Judgement.  Jews believed that on the day of Judgement the dead would be physically resurrected and appear before the Lord to be judged.  For Matthew, the day of Judgement had now come. 

The transfiguration of Jesus 

Mark’s gospel tells us that Jesus took Peter, James and John up on a mountain.  Jesus becomes radiant (transfigured) and suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them “And there appeared unto them Elijah with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus.” (Mark 9:4)  This story has many spiritual meanings. 

The transfiguration convinced the three that Jesus was indeed the Promised One as it raised Jesus to the same level as the pre-eminent figures of Judaism.  (Also Moses was transfigured on Mount Sinai)

But they were very confused as they knew that according to the scripture Elijah had to come before the coming of the Messiah.  Jesus told them plainly Elijah had returned as John the Baptist .[i]

This appearance of Moses and Elijah both of whom had died many centuries ago must have been a tremendous shock for the disciples but the appearance was of a spiritual nature and not an appearance of the body. 

In this way, they received an understanding that the spirit of Moses and Elijah had eternal life and that this spiritual existence was not dependent on a body. 

The sorrowful heart finds it hard to accept separation.  By showing the disciples that Moses and Elijah still existed in a spiritual way, Jesus gave them strength and prepared them to accept His physical death.  Those three disciples Peter, James and John later understood the spiritual meaning of the resurrection of Jesus.  “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins … being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:” (1 Peter 3:18)

They remembered the promise of Jesus:  “… I am with you always, even until the end of the world.” (Matt. 28:20).  Belief in the resurrection meant that God raised Jesus up and placed Him on His exalted, eternal throne.  Modern theologians call the resurrection `the act of God to raise Jesus in the meaning of God’.

Raising from the dead

We should note that there are several stories in the Bible about the bringing of the dead back to life.  We have already in the previous chapter on miracles mentioned how Elisha raised a dead child. 

The story of how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, after he had been in the tomb for four days, is only told in the spiritual Gospel of John.  (Surprisingly, Mark, Mathew and Luke do not mention this sensational raising of Lazarus from the dead at the gates of Jerusalem).  Since the story of such an extraordinary event is not found in the other Gospels, one could understand that John was giving us a spiritual truth within a story that only serves as an illustration.  Indeed John’s Gospel, the last Gospel to be written, places the greatest importance in presenting Jesus as a divine miracle worker.  Many of the stories told about miracles have a deep spiritual meaning as their foundation.  The stories mostly illustrate spiritual principles.  Most theologians believe that the story of Lazarus was told in the early church to illustrate the power of Jesus and that John used this story to bring us a spiritual truth.  Let us study the spiritual meaning behind the story.  This is found at the end of the story when Jesus concluded: 

“… I am the resurrection, and the life:  he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live …” (John 11:25)

Obviously, Lazarus, and all the others who believed in Jesus, would later have died physically anyway.  Therefore, what Jesus meant by ‘life’ was to believe in Him and accept His Teachings.  What Jesus meant by ‘dead’ is made very clear in the following sentence:  “And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.” (John 11:26)  Naturally, everyone has to die one day.  It is best to understand this statement spiritually - that those who do not believe in Jesus are spiritually dead.

Resurrection in the Old Testament

The oldest reference to the resurrection of the dead is found in the Book of Daniel:  “And many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2)  This verse reminds us how Saint Paul employs similar terminology describing the Resurrection in his Epistles. 

Another reference is found in the second book of the Maccabees which describes the cruel torture and agonising death of seven Jewish martyrs (brothers) in detail. The reason for execution is that they refused to eat pork. The King is outraged but even under the greatest torture they refuse to break this Jewish law.

The second brother exclaimed with his last breath “the King of the world will raise us up, since it is for his laws that we die, to live again for ever” (2 Maccabees 7:9)

In Judaism the injustice of martyrdom is answered by the above quotation.  Indeed what is the meaning of a martyr’s death if after suffering the greatest injustice in this life they are not raised up by God in the life hereafter? 

There can be no doubt that this was the main question the apostles were asking after the terrifyingly cruel death of Jesus when He cried out  “My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34)

It was only through the power of the Holy Spirit and by searching the scriptures for further clues that the early believers were able to understand the significance of His death.  For example Jesus was the suffering servant foretold by Isaiah.  “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not” “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3) 

These beautiful verses of Isaiah would provide the background against which the evangelists would much later paint the drama of the crucifixion of Jesus. 

Resurrection appearances of Jesus according to Paul

  Paul said:“…And that he was seen of Cephas then of the twelve; after that he was seen of above five-hundred brethren at once …After that he was seen of James then of all the apostles and and last of all, he was seen of me also…”  (1Corinthians 15:5-7)

This list is very different from the list found in the Gospels. 

First we must explain what Paul means with the verb “seen”.  Paul is using the Greek word “ophthe” .  This is a passive verb which simply expresses Paul's claim that Jesus "appeared" to them.  This verb “ophthe” is used often in the Bible.  For example “And a vision 'appeared' to Paul in the night. (Acts 16:9) This verse connects “ophthe” with a vision at night. 

Paul is also using the same verb “ophthe” when he describes his personal experience on the way of Damascus.  It is surprising that Paul claims to have `seen’ Jesus.  It is important to study Paul’s resurrection appearance as it is the only written account in the Bible of someone who `saw’ the resurrected Jesus.  None of the apostles told us about their experience.  The stories are told to us by the evangelists who were not direct witnesses.  What happened to Paul was a miraculous conversion experience.  By `seeing’ Jesus Paul explains how he was spiritually blind to the truth of Jesus but then he `saw’ the truth it was with his inner vision.  When Christ manifested himself in this powerful vision (light, the voice of Christ) it was a spiritual not a physical vision.  The companions of Paul didn’t see or hear the physical appearance of Jesus.  Paul explains that he was the only one who heard the voice. 

“And they who were with me…heard not the voice of him that spake to me.  (Acts 22:6) 

Exaltation of Jesus

In the early church, there was no difference between the resurrection and the ascension.  Both of them were connected together in the expression of ‘the exaltation’ or ‘rising up’ of Jesus.  In a text written before the Gospels Paul says:  “And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.  Wherefore God also had highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.”

                                                                 (Phil. 2:8–9)

In this passage, which may well be earliest part of the New Testament, there is no mention of the Resurrection.  The words move directly from death on the cross to exaltation into heaven. 

For Paul, the Jewish belief in a our own resurrection and the resurrection of Jesus were inextricably linked  “And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise up us by his own power”.  Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ?  

                                                            (1 Corinthians 6:14) 

Paul never uses any of the stories which as were later developed in the Gospels to prove a miraculous resurrection.  It is doubtful if Paul was aware of the empty tomb story as he doesn’t mention it in his Writings.  The grave would spiritually symbolize the grave of ignorance.  This is the grave in which most people are buried before they hear of and accept the Word of God. 

Most Bible scholars regard the empty tomb story as a much later development due to Roman influence dated from the time when more and more stories about a miraculous physical Resurrection started to circulate in the early church.  It was also during that time that the Gospels were written. 

If one compares Paul’s experience with the appearances of the resurrected Jesus to Peter and James, one realizes that the experiences were all of a similar nature as suggested by Paul’s own words in his first letter to the Corinthians.  It was a personal experience.  It confirmed Peter, James and the others that Jesus was truly the Messiah, the Christ, and the Saviour who was expected by all Jews.

Resurrection appearances of Jesus in the Gospels

A very different list of resurrection appearances from that of Paul’s is presented in the Gospels.  Also most Christians are not aware that there are many contradictions with the endings when we compare the Gospels of Mark, Matthew, Luke and John.  A detailed study of the Bible shows how the story of the resurrection gradually unfolded from a short sentence in Mark, “He has risen”, into a long embellished story in Luke’s Gospel which was written much later. 

The Gospel according to Mark

Mark’s Gospel is often considered to be the oldest Gospel as it was written around ad 60.  Christian scholars are aware of the many contradictions in the short story given by Mark about the events that occurred after the crucifixion of Jesus. 

Mark’s Gospel does not tell about the event of the Resurrection itself.  The story of Mark tells us about an event that occurred after the Resurrection.  It tells us about a messenger, a young man, who tells a few frightened women who brought spices to anoint the body of Jesus, that Jesus was raised.  This young man in white clothes asks the women to tell the apostles to go to Galilee and that there they will see Him.  Mark tells us about the women: “neither said they anything to any man for they were afraid” (Mark15:8) 

This end of the story is very surprising as there is not the usual Easter joy. It is so different from the end of the other Gospels that bring the.  Because of its sad ending, for centuries the last verse wasn’t read in the churches.  Also they added a new ending.  Scholars universally came to the conclusion that the last paragraphs of the Gospel were definitely not written by Mark but were added much later.  This can be deduced from the fact that the most ancient manuscripts of Mark’s Gospel do not contain the verses nine to twenty in Chapter sixteen.  Therefore, the additional verses in which Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene, (out of whom he had cast seven devils), then in another form to the disciples, and then ascended into heaven are definitely later additions.  Actually, most modern Bibles and all scholarly study Bibles now indicate in small print that the verses (Mark 16:9-20) were added later. 

The gospel according to Matthew

Matthew, a Jewish scribe lived in a time of increasing hostility from Jews.  Mark’s gospel left many questions unanswered and He was eager to defend the Christian claims.  Therefore he added, expanded and embellished Mark’s narrative further fitting many images from the Old Testament into his narration.  As well as writing how saints came out of their graves after Jesus’ resurrection, he also introduced earthquakes, blinding light and angels into his story.  He also used and adapted the story which was read in the synagogues shortly after Passover:  “And Joshua said, Roll great stones upon the mouth of the cave, and set men by it for to keep them:” (Joshua 10:18).  Jews were also familiar with the story in which Daniel is put into a lion’s den and a great stone is put over its entrance and is sealed by the King.  But miraculously an angel had shut the lion’s mouths and Daniel emerges alive.  Also the description of the angel is very similar to the description of the angel in Daniel 2-9 (“face was like lightning”, garments were “glittering white”, Daniel’s guards were overcome with great trembling). 

However scholars pointed out that Matthew went too far in his anti-Jewish sentiments when he wrote in 27:62-66 that the chief priests and Pharisees went the next day (after the burial) to Pilate, secured guards, and placed them on duty at the tomb.  This event according to Matthew took place on a Sabbath which would have been in clear violation of the rules of the Sabbath.  No priest or Pharisee would have broken this most important Jewish law. That is utterly impossible.

But the most important change in Matthew’s story is that outside the garden the women encounter the risen Christ.  In Matthew’s story it is not the same as Mark’s version “a man in white clothes” but it is Jesus Himself who gives the message:  “Then said Jesus unto them, “Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me” (Matt. 28:10)

This is the first account in written Christian history where the appearance of the risen Christ was described.

The Gospel according to Luke

Another great change came with the Gospel of Luke.  About forty years had passed since Paul’s claim to be a witness of the resurrection.  Christianity had already moved away from Jerusalem and had been preached outside of Israel.  Christianity was not a Jewish movement anymore.  It was a time when many Roman gentiles became Christians.  The Romans were not interested in the Messiah of the Jews but they were more interested in a replacement for their gods who had miraculous powers over life and death..  To adapt the Jewish message for a gentile audience and use the Roman way of thinking Luke changed the emphasis from a spiritual to a physical aspects of the Resurrection.  Therefore Luke’s risen Christ walks with some believers on the road of Emmaus, materializes in the midst of his apostles and eats with them. 

The New Testament scholar Edward Schillebeeckx stated that this Lukan image of Christ could easily be understood by the gentiles because it was very popular in Roman mythology.  In this model[ii], when the heroic person dies his earthly remains would disappear as he has gone to heaven.  From heaven this now divine hero would regularly materialize especially to his followers.  When the heroic figure returns from heaven he would be recognizably human.

Thus Luke created - for the first time – different to Mark and Matthew - an Easter narrative divided into two separate actions - separated by time.  First there is the resurrection of Jesus.  Forty days later is the Ascension.  Between those two actions are the appearances.  This change had dramatical consequences as much later it became part of the Christian calendar.  Most Christians today believe that the risen Christ appeared for forty days as the physically resuscitated but not yet ascended Jesus.  After forty days he went to heaven to prepare for his Return at the end of times. 

Luke is also the author of the Book of Acts

In this book Luke continues by telling stories about the missionary work of the apostles after the death of Jesus crucifixion.  Luke spreads resurrection, ascension and the gift of the Spirit over a period of fifty days.  This was convenient as the story culminates in a Jewish festival of Shavu’ot/Pentecost which is the anniversary of the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai  Pentecost was celebrated 50 days after Pesach (Easter) or Passover in which Jews ate a Passover meal in preparation for the exodus from Egypt.  There is a great similarity between the events in the time of Moses and the story told by Luke.  

The Holy Bible tells us:  “And Moses … gathered the seventy men of the elders of the people ... And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease” (Numbers 11:24-25) )

A similar story is told by Luke but the elders have now been replaced with the apostles:  “And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost…” (Acts 2:4)

In this way the Jewish festival of Pentecost received a Christian meaning. 

According to Luke, it was during Pentecost that Peter would proclaim to the masses the resurrection of the crucified Jesus.  This proclamation is very important as it gives us some insight in the understanding of Peter.  Did Peter proclaim that Jesus appeared to him in a physical body.  No, definitely not.  Nowhere does Peter ever mention that he was a witness of the resurrection.  Instead Peter expresses the deep spiritual experience of the disciples in realizing that the crucified Jesus was indeed the Saviour, the Messiah, the Christ, who promised to be with them until the end of time.

Using the symbols which could easily be understood by the Jewish people, Peter tells us that Jesus was raised up by the power of God and was exalted by sitting on the right hand of God.  This concept was well understood by the Jews.  “He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ …  This Jesus had God raised up …  Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted …” (Acts 2:31–33).

Jesus was the Messiah as He was fulfilling the words of David:  “The Lord [God] said unto my Lord [Messiah], Sit thou on my right hand, until I make my foes thy footstool.” (Acts 2:34–5)

After this proclamation three thousand Jews accepted Jesus as their Lord and were baptised.  In this way the Jewish festival of Pentecost became a celebration for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In contrast to Luke, in the John’s Gospel there is no specific event called Pentecost but the risen Christ gives the Holy Spirit to the disciples.  And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: (John 20:22) 

Also the Bahá’í Writings confirm that the apostles received the Holy Spirit to go out and teach the Message of Christ. 

The Gospel according to St John 

The Gospel of John was written much later, about 100 AD.  It is the most difficult book to date as it was written over a number of years.  As it was written in different layers it reflects in many ways an early tradition.  In other ways it reflects the time about twenty years after the Gospel of Luke when Christian leaders had already made a spectacular miracle of the Resurrection instead of the deeply spiritual experience of the first believers[iii] 

John’s Gospel further enhances the story of the empty tomb when he describes a race between the disciples to be the first one to reach the tomb. 

Today, many Christians still believe that the apostle Thomas has doubts about the resurrection appearances.  He wanted to touch the wounds of Jesus physically before he would believe.  Therefore he is often called “the doubting Thomas”.  Most scholars believe (as only the Gospel of John relates the "Doubting Thomas” episode) it was a reaction of the traditional church against the growing so-called “Thomas community" who believed that the resurrected Christ was a spirit - not a body.  The verse at the end of the story provides an explanation as in John 20:29 Jesus says: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.".  John used this story to prove to the growing heretic Thomas community that they were wrong.. [iv]

The resurrected Jesus – a new dimension

When we study the stories in the gospels we see that the resurrected Jesus is often spoken of as a spirit, one who suddenly appeared to people, who walked over the water and straight through walls.  The main idea was that people had to be empowered by Jesus to recognize Him, and that by their vision their faith was strengthened.  For example in John’s Gospel Mary Magdalene encounters the risen Christ but did not recognize Him until He spoke to her and called her name.

      “And saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus.  (John 20:14) 

Two believers on the road to Emmaus met Jesus and didn’t recognize

“But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.” (Luke 24:16)  Finally after Jesus strengthened them to believe then their eyes were opened.

      Appearing only to a few selected ones who had faith and were able to recognize Him:  “… when they [the eleven disciples] saw Him [Christ], they worshipped Him:  but some doubted.” (Matt. 28:17).  How could they doubt Him if He was standing before them in a physical body?  Only those who had faith were able to see Him.

“Jesus stood on the shore:  but the disciples knew not it was Jesus.” (John 21:4)  It was only after Jesus strengthened them to believe by a miraculous event (the catching of many fish) that they recognized Him.

The above examples show that the resurrected Christ was very different from the physical Jesus who had just recently died.  If the appearances had been physical they would have recognized Him immediately.  It was only when the disciples took the first step and tried to teach His Cause “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”  (Matt. 4:19) that they were divinely assisted by Jesus Who strengthened them by His appearances and gave them courage and confidence.

“Through the spirit of the love of God they gained a new life, and they saw Christ living, helping and protecting them. They were like drops, and they became seas; they were like feeble insects, and they became majestic eagles; they were weak and became powerful. They were like mirrors facing the sun; verily, some of the light became manifest in them”

                               (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, p. 106)

Are the days mentioned in the Bible calendar days?

Sometimes they are but in most cases they have symbolic meanings.

For example the third day has a very special meaning.  Christians commonly believe that Jesus was raised up on the third day.  However, if Jesus died on Friday, then Sunday is only the second day.  The reason is that `the third day’ has a spiritual meaning for Jews.  In the Old Testament it is stated that “In the third day he will raise us up”. (Hosea 6:1)  There are many other references to the significance of “the third day” in ancient Jewish Scriptures.  For example “for the third day the   Lord will come down in the sight of all people upon mount Sinai”  (Exodus 19:11)  Ancient Talmudic texts of the Jewish people tell us that the general resurrection will take place at dawn following the third day after the end of the world.  The third day had nothing to do with real days.

     Also the fifty days is not calendar time.  It is important to understand that the fifty days between Easter and Pentacost (the gift of the Holy Spirit followed by the public proclamation by Peter in Jerusalem after which three thousand people were baptised) could have been a time period of several years. 

Spreading the Easter events over a much longer period had enormous consequences.  Many scholars now believe that when Jesus was crucified the apostles left Jerusalem and returned back to Galilee.  This makes sense as much later both Mark and Mathew would write; “behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him”(Matt. 28:7).  (Luke’s story is very different as in his gospel the resurrection appearances happen in Jerusalem but many scholars believe that this is very unlikely.  Who is correct? Is Luke’s version or is John’s version correct?.  Bahá’í understanding supports John’s understanding)  

What happened next is difficult to determine and the debate between scholars has not led to a definite conclusion..  May-be it was when the apostles were fishing in the calm natural environment of the lake that one morning, at dawn the risen Jesus appeared to them.  This would be the Easter moment in which the apostles received the absolute certainty that death could not contain their beloved Jesus who had the words of eternal life.  The message was simple and the risen Christ repeated it three times when he appeared the third time according to the Gospel of John;  “If you love me you will feed my sheep”  [v]  (John 21:14-17)  The meaning of feeding the sheep is to teach His Cause. 

Many scholars believe that when the apostles started to spread the joyous message about the risen Christ that they received the gift of the Holy Spirit.  This is confirmed in John’s gospel “And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (John 20:22) 

Again it is Luke’s Book of Acts who tells us a very different story.  In Acts 2:1-4 Luke wrote that the apostles received the Gift of the Spirit Pentecost in a spectacular way (sound from heaven, cloven tongues like as of fire and speaking in several tongues) in Jerusalem.

It is with that vision of the eternal Christ that the apostles would return back to Jerusalem to spread the glorious message and establish the church of Jerusalem which originally was part of Judaism.  Unfortunately historical events would take over, Jerusalem would be destroyed, the Temple of Jerusalem burned and soon the Jewish roots would be forgotten and a new Christian theology would be formulated based on evangelizing the pagan masses.  At this point Judaism and Christianity parted their ways becoming separate religions.  It is also the time when the Gospels were written.

Conclusion from Modern Scholars

The literal interpretation of the verses in the Bible after the death of Jesus is full of contradictions.  It is impossible to reconcile all the different stories.  More and more Christians are aware of this and feel confused. 

A number of Christian scholars have, based on their meticulous research published the truth about the resurrection of Jesus (see list in bibliography).  This required great courage as many of them have important positions in the church.  Often the traditional church would interfere and forbid them to continue their research. 

However once we have removed the literal interpretation that the resurrection is a physical event which happened within a limited time period then the Easter message becomes very simple:  It is the action of God who raised Jesus into the meaning of Christ, the Son of God.  It means that Christ is eternal giving us hope eternal.  The Easter message also contains a call to follow Him, to be like Him without fear of death as expressed in the letters of Paul. 

It is estimated that at  present 95% of New Testament scholars do not accept a physical resurrection as it is not supported by an in depth study of the text.  The well known Protestant theologian Reinold Niebuhr summed up today’s position when he wrote:  “There are very few theologians today who believe that the resurrection actually happened” (The new Theologian, by Ved Mehta, p. 34).[vi] 

The authorative well-respected Harper’s Bible dictionary (p. 864, 1985 edition) gives the following definition of Resurrection.

 “Resurrection is to be distinguished from resuscitation or reanimation of the physical body. It denotes a complete transformation of the human being” ….

Faith in the resurrection is based not on empty tomb but on the appearances of the Lord. The word used for “appeared” is the same Greek word used elsewhere for visionary experiences. We may today characterize these experiences as revelatory disclosures from the transcendent realm.  No distinction was drawn between the resurrection and ascension.  The resurrections are manifestations of the resurrected and already ascended Christ from heaven”

For most scholars the Gospel traditions are pointers to the truth.  They are not the truth itself. 

These scholars are sincere truthful Christians but they do not longer carry the Easter truth in a literal framework.  They gained a deeper understanding and realise that in this century the renewal of Christianity can only occur if we remove the shackles and the traditions of the past. Indeed, if Christianity is not renewed it will become irrelevant, a little sideshow in a busy world. 

Bahá’í belief in the Resurrection is very similar to the belief of these scholars. Their understanding is based directly on the Revelation of Bahá’u’lláh. 

Bahá’ís believe in the resurrection but their belief has moved beyond angelic messengers, empty tomb and ghostlike appearances. 

Bahá’ís say;

-  Yes, to Jesus who manifests God .

-  Yes to the resurrection – which asserts it is the Resurrection which raised Jesus into the meaning of God.

- Yes to life after death, because one who has entered in a relationship with the eternal God has entered life eternal.

We will now end this chapter with a dialogue between a Christian and a Bahá’í about the Resurrection. 

Dialogue.

Christian:  Do you believe in the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ?

Bahá’í:  Yes, absolutely. “Such is the meaning of the resurrection of Christ, and this was a true resurrection.  But as the clergy have neither understood the meaning of the Gospels nor comprehended the symbols, therefore, it has been said that religion is in contradiction with science, and science in opposition to religion”. (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, p. 105)

I believe in the Resurrection exactly as is written in the earliest testimony which we find in the letters of Paul.  Paul spoke of resurrection as spiritual event.  The Risen Christ was a spiritual body.  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1 Cor 15:50)  

For Paul there was not a two stage process in which Jesus first came back to earth (the Resurrection) and than forty days later from earth to heaven (the Ascension). For Paul, God raised Jesus from death to sit at right hand of God.  The resurrection appearances show how Jesus kept working to build His church.  For Paul, the body of Christ became the church itself.  

Paul affirms the resurrection was real.  Without the resurrection the teachings of Christianity are in vain.  Paul wrote: “But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain”    (1 Corinthians 15:13-14) 

Christian:  What does it mean to you: “Christ is risen”?

Bahá’í:  We believe that the risen Christ has a spiritual significance.

The Bible tells us “For Christ … being put to death in the flesh, but quickened [made alive] by the Spirit …” (I Peter 3:18)

The gradual development of the Easter experience is over a long period.  But first there was the resurrection experience.  When Jesus was arrested and crucified the apostles fled in fear.  This fear was removed when the apostles saw the resurrected Christ.  To quote from the Bahá’í Writings“they saw Christ living, helping and protecting them.”

                    (`Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions p. 107). 

Bahá’ís do not deny the Resurrection.  The Bahá’í Faith explains that the Resurrection has both earthly and heavenly manifestations.  For us, Christ's Resurrection was real, it was important, and without it Christianity becomes meaningless.  [vii]

Christian:  I am happy to hear that Bahá’ís believe that the apostles saw Jesus.  This is the most important for me.   But what is the real proof of the resurrection for you? 

Bahá’í: In the Bahá’í Faith the greatest objective proof for the resurrection is the fact that the teachings of Christ were not dead and buried after His crucifixion but that His Words live on and His influence has circled the globe and influenced mankind.

`Abdu’l-Bahá said: “Recollect that Christ, solitary and alone, without a helper or protector, without armies and legions, and under the greatest oppression, uplifted the standard of God before all the people of the world, and withstood them, and finally conquered all, although outwardly He was crucified. Now this is a veritable miracle which can never be denied. There is no need of any other proof of the truth of Christ”

                    (‘Abdu’l-Bahá, Some Answered Questions, p. 101)

Christian:   I always thought that Bahá’ís did not believe in the resurrection but now I can see that this is not the case.

Bahá’í:  Yes we do believe in the Resurrection.   `Abdu’l-Bahá tells us the story of what happened with the disciples at the time.

“After the death of Christ the disciples were troubled, and their ideas and thoughts were discordant and contradictory; later they became firm and united, and at the feast of Pentecost they gathered together and detached themselves from the things of this world. Disregarding themselves, they renounced their comfort and worldly happiness, sacrificing their body and soul to the Beloved, abandoning their houses, and becoming wanderers and homeless, even forgetting their own existence. Then they received the help of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit became manifested; the spirituality of Christ triumphed, and the love of God reigned. They were given help at that time and dispersed in different directions, teaching the Cause of God, and giving forth proofs and evidences.

So the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles means their attraction by the Christ Spirit, whereby they acquired stability and firmness. Through the spirit of the love of God they gained a new life, and they saw Christ living, helping and protecting them.

       (‘Abdu’l-Bahá: Some Answered Questions, p. 106)



[i]The last book of the Old Testament is the Book of Malachi which gives as a sign for the coming of the Kingdom the return of Elijah.  It is interesting to note that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that the prophet Elijah appeared to Joseph Smith on April 3, 1836 (Passover). As recorded in Joseph Smith's history, Moroni appeared to Joseph in the year 1823 and told him that parts of Malachi chapter 3 and all of chapter 4 had not yet been fulfilled but soon would be.  As explained in Volume 3 the Bahá’í era started in 1844.

[ii])  Scholars speak about the Christ of Luke, the divine Christ of John’s gospel as there is so much difference between the resurrected Christ in the different Gospels. Edward Schillebeeckx finds a strong similarity between the stories written by Luke and the stories about pagan heroes which were very popular at hat time. (see Edward Schillebeeckx: Jesus, An experiment in Christology  Newyork: Seabury Press 1979). 

To gain some understanding of the pagan culture we will give an example of a pagan resurrection story which is found in the legendary life of the heroic person Romulus, the founder of the city of Rome.  It is interesting to read how the well-known classic gentile historian Plutarch wrote about the legendary Romulus around 25 BC.   It  gives us some idea about the pagan culture which later would built temples for the god Quirinus  founder of Rome (The new name for Romulus). 

This extract is taken from Plutarch’s writings: Life of Numa Pompilius.

“And Proculus, a man of note, took oath that he saw Romulus caught up into heaven in his arms and vestments, and heard him, as he ascended, cry out that they should hereafter style him by the name of Quirinus."….    Later Proculus … declared, Romulus the father of our city descended from heaven at dawn this morning and appeared to me. In awe and reverence I stood before him, praying for permission to look upon his face without sin. "Go", he said, "and tell the Romans that by heaven's will my Rome shall be capital of the world. Let them learn to be soldiers. Let them know, and teach their children, that no power on earth can stand against Roman arms". Having spoken these words, he was taken up again into the sky."  Plutarch’s style of writing, the oaths, the descent fromheaven, the taken up in the sky and the return all reminds us of the Gospel according to Luke.

[iii])  Who was the first witness to the resurrection?  This is a difficult question.  Both the Gospels of Mark and John tell us that Mary Magdalene was the first to see the risen Jesus.  Did Mary Magdalene return to Galilee with the apostles we will never know?  Maybe some clues could be found in the Gospel of Mary.  In Volume 1, it was mentioned that other Gospels were written, but they never became an accepted part of the Bible.  When the church became more powerful, these Gospels were burned, but some were hidden and later discovered.  The Gospel of Mary opens with the disciples mourning Jesus’ death and are terrified for their own lives.  Then Mary Magdalene stands up, explains that she saw the Lord in a vision, but the disciples do not believe her.  Then Mary wept and said to Peter, “My brother Peter, what do you think?  Do you think that I thought this up myself in my heart?”  Levi answered and said to Peter, “Peter you have always been hot tempered.  If the Saviour made her worthy, who are you to reject her?  Then the apostles go out to preach and are confirmed in their belief in the risen Jesus Christ. (Elaine Pagels:  The Gnostic Gospels, Penguin books, p. 43)

Also in the Baha’i Faith the importance of Mary Magdalene is confirmed.:  “Jesus Christ had twelve disciples and among His followers a woman known as Mary Magdalene. Judas Iscariot had become a traitor and hypocrite, and after the crucifixion the remaining eleven disciples were wavering and undecided. It is certain from the evidence of the Gospels that the one who comforted them and reestablished their faith was Mary Magdalene” (Abdu'l-Baha, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 134) 

[iv])   This story and this belief in the authority of Thomas are unique to the gospel of John.  Thomas is named as a disciple in the three other New Testament Gospels, but has no speaking role and is unimportant. In contrast, in the gospel of John on two occasions prior to this story Thomas does speak.  In John 11:16, when Jesus is determined to go to Judea again despite the threats against him, Thomas says to the other disciples: "Let us also go, that we may die with him." The fourth gospel presents Thomas as a man of strong conviction and courage. Then in John 14, when Jesus is explaining to his disciples that he is about to go away, Thomas is the first of two disciples to question Jesus. "Lord," he asks, "we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" And Jesus answers, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life." (John: 14:5-6)

It may be that the authors of the other New Testament gospels did not know of these statements, for it is hard to imagine that they would omit this material from their gospel accounts. These passages in the gospel of John remind us that the fourth gospel is remarkably different from the other three gospels.

[v])   “This is now the third time that Jesus showed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.  So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my lambs.   He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.   He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep”.  (John 21:14-17)

[vi])    An ever growing number of well respected Catholic and Protestant Christian New Testament scholars do not accept the traditional view of the Resurrection.  They do not allow their logical mind to be compromised by stories of a pre-science era.   All of them are sincere but critical Christians who realise that Christianity must be renewed to survive in the future.We will only give a few names:  H. Anderson B. W. Bacon, G. Bornkamm . R. Bultman J. Knox, M. Goguel, , G. Gloeye, H. Grass, G. W. H. Lampe, , G. H. C. Mac Gregor, R. Gregor Smith,E.C. Hoskyns, C.H. Dod, Rudolf Bultmann, Reginald Fuller, H. D. A. Majer, W. Marxsen, Joseph Fitzmyer, W.E. Albright, Raymond Brown, Paul Minear, R.H. Lightfoot, Herman Hendrickx, Edward Schillebeeckx,  Hans Kung, Karl Rahner, Phyllis Trible, Jane Schaberg, D.H. Nineham, Maurice Goguel, bishop John Shelby Spong and countless others.  .

Modern scholars believe the resurrection is primarily based on resurrection appearances (of the already ascended Christ) and the empty tomb story is considered as a later development. 

It is beyond the scope of this short introductory book to discuss their understanding and findings in detail but in general it is the same understanding as found in the Baha’i Holy Writings. 

[vii])  There was the proclamation within Palestine that Jesus fulfilled the Jewish scriptures through His resurrection.  The apostles proclaimed: “Death cannot contain him Jesus is Lord”, “Come Lord Jesus”, and as further explained in the Book of Acts: “God raised Jesus” - “God exalted Jesus” - “Jesus is now sitting on the right hand of God”.   This satisfied the Jewish people’s expectation of the Messianic age in which on the third day the resurrection of the dead would take place.  Through this belief many Jews were baptized accepting Jesus as their Lord.

This story demonstrates that by following the example of Paul and the early Christians you can be a Christian.  The resurrection narratives and the empty tomb story were developed much later. 

It is also important to realize that Paul and the early witnesses always proclaimed that it was God who rose up Jesus – in other words God had the power - and Jesus was the recipient of that power – He was chosen by God for that purpose. In his Epistles Paul spoke of Christ being raised up by the power of God about forty times - for example: "And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His  power."  (1Cor.  6:14)

It is a simple distinction to make i.e. that God raised Jesus and that Jesus did not raise Himself up - but it has overwhelmingly important consequences.  As we will see, when strict monotheist Judaism came in contact with Greek and Roman culture this difference would become more blurred and they said that Jesus raised Himself up.

 In a further development around 70AD, Christianity lost its Jewish roots during the Jewish wars when the temple was destroyed and all the people were dispersed by the Romans.  The original church of the Nazerene in Jerusalem, established by Peter and James who were the witnesses of the resurrection, lost its authority.  At that time the church was swamped by pagan converts.  It will be seen how Jewish concepts of the resurrection were adapted to suit the mindset of the pagans who were not interested in the fulfilment of the Old Testament. Then the earthly (bodily) aspects of the resurrections took on more importance.  In that time tales of the death and resurrection of the pagan gods were commonly known.  For example the demi-god Herakles in myth was asked by the gods to maintain a kingly authority over mankind.  He suffered agonies, resigned himself to the will of his divine father and was killed.  He was rewarded by the gods.  His mortal remains miraculously disappeared and Heracles was taken up by the gods to Olympus, home of the gods and Heracles became a god.

The death and glorious resurrection of Herakles were celebrated each year in a festival at Tarsus, the boyhood home of Paul.  This gives us some idea about the culture in which that Paul would grow up. 

Between 70AD to 110AD the Gospels were written.  Today most Christians realize that the gospels are very complex. There is an ongoing debate amongst Christian scholars about which verses in the Gospels come directly from Jesus, which verses are the voice of the Jewish Christian community and which verses contain the voice of the Christians from a pagan background. For example, let’s look at the gospel endings. Depending on which gospel we use Jesus appears predominately in a spiritual form or in a material form. Mark’s gospel is very short – there are no resurrection appearances in the first version as the women were afraid and didn’t tell anybody.  In Matthew, Jesus only appeared to those who had faith.   Luke was a disciple of Paul and he gave us more of physical bodily appearances.  John’s belief in resurrection is based on the resurrection appearances.  Modern scholars believe the resurrection is primarily based on resurrection appearances of the already ascended Christ and the empty tomb story is considered as a later development

Questions Christians ask

 

Please note that my video pages are still under construction. Any suggestions are most
welcome.

The interviews were spontaneous, no preparation.

In the fifth  video Marc explains the spiritual meaning of heaven and hell, devils and angels.

 

 

Questions Christians ask

 

Please note that my video pages are still under construction. Any suggestions are most welcome.

The interviews were spontaneous, no preparation.

 

In this interview we explain that the concept of "original sin' was not known in the time of Jesus.  It is Origin, a church-father who in the 2th century coined the phrase "original sin".  Later it was another churchfather Augustin who interpreted the story of Adam and Eve and created a theology of salvation via the sacraments unknown to Jesus.

 

 

 

 

IN THE HOT SEAT

Please note that my video pages are still under construction. Any suggestions are most welcome.

 

The interviews were spontaneous, no preparation.

 

In the fourth video Marc explains the importance of the Holy Bible.