CRUCIFIXION, RESURRECTION, & ASCENSION OF JESUS CHRIST – WAS IT REAL OR MAGIC?

Rev. Linh N. Nguyen

When something strange or unusual happens, such as: a train wreck, a plane crash, a nuclear disaster, we call for a public investigation. If what happened on Easter Sunday two thousand years ago were to happen today, we would immediately call for a public enquiry. Jesus’ death could be established without doubt, for it was a public event. There were numerous witnesses. But Jesus’ resurrection is a different story. It could not be considered a public event. His several unexpected appearances to his disciples scared and puzzled them. At first, they were not certain whether Jesus’ resurrected body was a real body or just an illusive phantom. Many unbelievers, including Hollywood filmmakers, think the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been an evil spoof. 

Despite heathens’ attempts to mock the Christian belief, from generation to generation, Christians have tenaciously held on to the genuine fact of Jesus’ resurrection. The belief in Jesus’ resurrection, of course, requires us to have faith which is given to us as God’s gift for the unseen and the unknown. Yet, our Catholic faith also pivots on the Sacred Scriptures and the Apostolic Traditions.

The Evangelist Saint John tells us that Jesus himself predicted his own resurrection, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have power to lay it down, and power to take it up again. This command I have received from my Father” (John 10:18). On several occasions, Jesus asserted to have the power to raise up all who believe in him. He challenged the Jewish leaders, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up” (John 2:19). The Gospels record three specific instances of Jesus restoring the dead: (1) Jairus’ daughter, (2) the son of the widow of Nain, and (3) Lazarus. In his first preaching after Pentecost, Peter solemnly proclaimed the resurrection of Christ, “God raised this Jesus; of this we are all witnesses” (Acts 2:32).

In the modern age, we have seen, at least on TV, quite a few well-known magicians like David Copperfield, Criss Angel. Some of them could be considered occult magicians, for their skillful performances of wizardry. They perform all types of tricks that we do not understand. For example, Criss Angel, in one of his shows of Mindfreak, stopped his pulses at five points in his body under the examination of professional doctors and nurses. In other words, he could make his body appear to be dead at five areas for a short period of time. In another show, his trick was to liberate himself successfully from being buried alive in a locked coffin while his body was shackled. What Criss or other skillful magicians have done are beyond our comprehension or scientific explanation. Of course, magicians spend hours practicing their inventive, magical tricks so that their performances can be viewed by their audience as real.

In that same vein, many unbelievers challenge the reality of the bodily resurrection of Christ. They suggest Jesus was just a skillful magician who could engineer many events in his life, including his own crucifixion. They reason that Jesus did not die on the cross; perhaps he only passed out. Then he revived in the tomb and subsequently showed himself alive to his disciples. This theory is at variance with the historical logic. Crucifixion was perfected by the Romans. With this method of execution, the victim has to spend hours suffering slow torture in the throes of excruciating pain to the point of death. There was no way for Jesus to make a show of being unconscious on the cross. In addition, the New Testament declares in real terms that the executers at the crucifixion were requested to break the legs of Jesus and the two thieves being crucified with him because of the approaching Sabbath. Jesus’ legs were not broken because he was already dead, as indicated by Saint John. However, “one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and immediately blood and water flowed out” (John 19:34). In forensic science, the separation of blood and water is sufficient, admissible evidence of death.

The rejection of the bodily resurrection of Christ is also based on the report of soldiers who guarded Jesus’ tomb to the chief priests (Matthew 28:11-15). Quite a few unbelievers have suggested a theory accounting for the resurrection of Christ that his body was stolen from the tomb. They have suggested the Jewish leaders took Jesus’ dead body away so that his followers would not have a chance to steal it. If the Jewish leaders actually took Jesus’ body away, why didn’t they produce that body when Peter and other disciples began proclaiming the bodily resurrection of Jesus after Pentecost? Of course, they could not do so, for they did not have the body.

After hearing the report of Jesus’ missing body from the guards, the chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel. They gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep’” (Matthew 28:11-13). Hence, many unbelievers have suggested the disciples of Jesus stole his body in order to make it appear that their Lord had conquered death. The irony of this story is that the chief priests and elders were compelled to bribe the guards to spread the deception that they had tried to prevent.

At first, we may be impressed with this logical accusation. However, we can see many undefended gaps in its blame for the miscarriage of truth. Remember that Jesus’ disciples had run off in fear when Jesus was arrested. Why would they dare return at night to a guarded and sealed tomb in an effort to steal a body? In addition, this act could incur the death penalty for them. Furthermore, if the disciples had done so, would they have taken the time to unwrap the body and leave the burial clothes behind? The guards could have been punished with death for their negligence in their assigned duty. Besides, if the fact were in the public domain that the guards were asleep, how could they possibly have known that the disciples came during the night and stole the body? If this truly happened, why didn’t the chief priests arrest the disciples in order to indict them?

So, the disciples could not have stolen the body, for the tomb was guarded. Moreover, it is certain that the disciples would not have stolen the body, for they did not seem to believe in Jesus’ repeated predictions about his rising from the dead. In John’s Gospel, we see that the disciples did not stay to see the resurrection of Jesus. Instead, we find them trembling in the upper room together, agonizing over their potential arrest and crucifixions, fearing that they would be accused of being insurrectionists.       

We believe that Jesus was both human and God within himself. He truly died on the cross, was buried and resurrected with his own body. It was a real, physical body. Luke narrates that when the disciples saw the Lord, they “were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost.” Jesus immediately assured them that it was he himself in the flesh: “Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have” (Luke 24:37, 39). In fact, according to the narration of the Gospels and Acts, the disciples saw Jesus appearing in his real human body on at least ten different occasions. Matthew reports that Jesus appeared to Mary of Magdala and other women on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage (Matthew 28:9). Furthermore, John tells us that one of the disciples, Thomas, requested a physical examination of Jesus’ wounds. More proof is when Jesus asked his disciples for something to eat. They gave him a piece of baked fish. He took it and ate it in front of them (Luke 24:42-43).

Not only was Jesus’ resurrected body a real body, but it was also the same body that had been laid in the tomb. His body retained the nail marks in his hands and his feet as well as the wound which had been pierced by a lance in his side. The resurrected Jesus was recognized by his disciples as the same person. Mary of Magdala could identify him by the familiar sound of his voice (John 20:16).

It is true that Jesus’ resurrected body was a real human body. Yet, it was also a changed body. It was definitely not metamorphosed into an illusive figure, but it was transformed into something unfamiliar and mysterious. It was a “supernatural body,” according to Saint Paul. Jesus was not always recognized when he appeared to his disciples (John 20:14, 15; 21:12). He had the power to disappear from the disciples’ sight in an instant (Luke 24:31). He emerged from and withdrew to complete invisibility. In addition, Jesus was able to transcend physical limitations. On one occasion, he suddenly stood in the midst of the disciples. On another occasion, he came through a closed door and stood before them (John 20:19). On the last occasion, the disciples saw him ascending into heaven before their eyes (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9).

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul draws several contrasts of the changes between the natural body with the resurrected body: (1) The natural body is corruptible; the resurrected body is incorruptible. (2) The natural body is dishonorable; the resurrected body is glorious. (3) The natural body is weak; the resurrected body is powerful. The natural body is physical; the resurrected body is spiritual (1 Corinthians 15:42-44).

In the book of Acts, the Evangelist Saint Luke describes how Jesus was “lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight” (Acts 1:9). As the disciples were looking intently at the sky as Jesus was ascending, suddenly two men [angels] dressed in white garments stood beside them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why are you standing there looking at the sky? This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven” (Acts 1:10-11). From the words of the two angels, we are certain that the “same resurrected Jesus” will return from heaven to take his people with him. Our Profession of Faith declares that we look for the resurrection of the dead. Our resurrected bodies will be the same as Jesus was. The ascension of Jesus guarantees his physical return to gather up his people for heavenly glory. Are you ready?