By Daniel Brown
The Resurrection of Christ
A Letter Defending the Bodily Resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:28
Part Two
G. Question #1: If Jesus Christ was raised in his physical body, why did his disciples not recognize him immediately when they saw him, after he was raised?
If we examine the text, we find the reason for their inability to recognize Jesus immediately. Please see Luke 24:16 & 31.
• But their eyes were holden that they should not know him. (v.16)
• And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight. (v.31)
How do you read this? What do you think of the phrases, “their eyes were holden”, and then, “their eyes were opened, and they knew him”?
“their eyes were holden” reveals that the matter is entirely with the “sight” of the disciples, and not at all with the body of Jesus Christ.
We also read in Luke 24:45, “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,”. Jesus opened their understanding just like he opened their eyes. To this I would like to add, that my prayer for you is that God would also open your understanding concerning the Lord Jesus Christ. Even as you read the scriptures, you are unable to see Him as He truly is.
A fitting passage for you to consider is Matthew 14:25-27. Keep in mind that these events took place before the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, in his pre- resurrection body.
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
Rebuttal Questions:
• Does it mean that Jesus Christ really was only a “spirit”, “ghost”, or “angel”, because he was able to walk on the sea? A normal, physical body cannot do such miracles. According to your line of reasoning (ref. John 20:26-27), only an angel or a ghost can do such things.
• How is it, that Jesus’ disciples not recognize him? They said, “it is a spirit” (ghost). Does this mean that Jesus was only a spirit or an angel because they did not recognize him? Or, was their sight simply hindered?
• Mark 6:48-49 gives a parallel account of this event. Mark writes that Jesus, “would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out:” The next verse also reveals the reason why they could not recognize him, "and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.”
• There hardened heart kept them from seeing Christ correctly, and from remembering the miracle he had done with the loaves and fish.
G. Question #2: (John 20:26-27) - How was it possible for Jesus to suddenly appear in their midst, even though the doors were shut?
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
John 20:26-27
We could apply your question to every true miracle, “How is it possible?” The answer is simply, “Because He is God, and God can do impossible things.” However, it does not automatically follow that, because Jesus was able to appear in their midst, He was a ghost or an angel.
One of the common failures of cults and false teachers is the forming of a doctrine from a question. Healthy doctrine arises out of clear scriptural declaration, not from questions or claims which originate from fleshly reasoning.
Because you believe that Jesus’ appearance in the midst of the disciples automatically means that he was in a “spiritual” body, as opposed to a physical body, I would like to offer another passage for your consideration.
Nathanael saith unto him, Whence knowest thou me? Jesus answered and said unto him, Before that Philip called thee, when thou wast under the fig tree, I saw thee. John 1:48
This is a pre-resurrection occurrence in the earthly life of Jesus. You would agree with me that Jesus was in his human, physical body at this point. Jesus saw Nathanael even though he was nowhere near him. I believe this to be a proof of his Omnipresence. However, the question I have for you is, “How could he either be invisible in Nathanael’s location, or be capable of seeing Nathanael from a completely different location while in a normal, physical body?” Your reasoning would cause someone to believe that anytime Jesus did something supernatural in his post-resurrection-body was because he was, according to you, in a “spirit-body”. That is, however, contradictory to a belief in the incarnation of Jesus Christ, which you claim to believe.
This following passage would also challenge your interpretation of John 20:26-27:
And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
John 1:13
Here are a few questions for this passage:
Where was Jesus when he was speaking with Nicodemus, in Heaven, or
on earth?
How is it possible for Jesus to be standing in front of Nicodemus and
speaking with him, yet at the same time be “in heaven”?
Does it mean that Jesus was an “angel” or a “spirit” because he was
able to do this miracle?
I have presented these passages and questions to you to show you the weakness of your argumentation. When we want to contradict a doctrine that has existed since the time of Christ and his apostles, we have to have more solid scriptural evidence than this.
Missed Part 1? Find it here: http://baptistwriters.com/blog/2019/3/15/the-resurrection-of-christ-part-1