What happened on Easter? Pt 4

Some self-professing Christians try to make the resurrection less offensive or far-fetched by claiming Jesus was resurrected in spirit, but not in body.

This "solution" tries to ride the fence and satisfy both sides, but it ends up satisfying nothing. This does not answer the question of the empty tomb, since the body would still be there if it was only a spirit resurrection. It would still be a miracle and a supernatural event, but would not be what the New Testament writers say they saw. Jesus told Thomas to place his hands in the scars. Jesus ate bread and fish with his disciples.

He purposefully set out to prove that He was not simply a spirit, but He was alive with a glorified body. If you believe in a miracle, why not believe what the authors wrote? And what do you do with the empty tomb? This solution is too politically correct and not supported by any evidence.

Comments

[keith johnson]

Hi

The whole dispute seems like a sideshow to me, straining at gnats as it were while missing the camel. Supposing (as I do) that Jesus' self sacrifice provides us with justification and life, whether or not his Resurrection was physical or spiritual is an irrelevant bit of trivia. If being open to the idea of Spiritual resurrection makes it possible for a particular person to embrace the Lord, what would be your beef with that?

your friend
Keith

[seeker]

I'm not sure if there is a doctrinal reason why, except to say that the scriptures are clear that he had a physical body after he rose from the dead.

So, if you want to disagree with the written record, you can, but why would you? Why would someone want to argue for a non-physical body?

One other reason why - if people are motivated to do good by a lie (no physical resurrection), that in principle is not good. Truth matters.

[Aaron]

Because as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 if Jesus was not resurrected (and he is talking about a bodily resurrection) then our faith is in vain.

Besides, there is no evidence for a spiritual resurrection. It doesn't answer any of the questions - empty tomb, etc.

If it is part of someone's moving toward God and belief in Christ that is one thing, but it should not be part of the theology of a mature believer.