The self-appointed advocate of Christ, Saint Paul (as he became), insisted, that if Jesus had not been resurrected then there was no hope of life beyond death. Without such a hope, what then was the point of the newly emerging Trinitarian religion that would become Christianity in all its denominations?
The proposition was that death had emerged through the sinful act of the first man, Adam. That sin banishing all humanity from Eden required atonement if God’s subsequent death sentence imposed on everyone was to be lifted.
Such an atonement could only be achieved through the blood sacrifice of God’s son, Jesus, who had to suffer the pains of death at the hands of earthly authority, only to rise again, demonstrating the overwhelmingly greater power of divine authority.
However, as made plain in Matthew’s gospel (Matthew 26:39), it seems Jesus did not share such confidence in that divine plan. Just prior to his arrest he prayed, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me…”
He knew only too well the ghastly fate of those who challenged Roman authority. It may well be he was prepared to surrender his life in pursuit of his mission, but would have naturally preferred to avoid such a dreadful fate.
Jesus’ message was simply expressed, but profound in its consequences. It is summed up in two commandments, to love God and to love your neighbour. The first, to love God, is the basis of Deism. This is love in the broadest sense, an appreciation from experience of creation of the wonder wrought by its Originator.
This does not require any religious authority, indeed it demands the denial of such authority. Each person must come to this in his or her own way. It does not depend on religious scripture or revelation, other than the gospel of nature and what it reveals to each individual.
No wonder the Jewish authorities of Jesus’ time regarded him as a threat. And such a message contradicts the political and military establishment that demands subservience, or else. The Romans would not countenance a popular movement destabilising the status quo being maintained in large part by the Jewish authorities.
Similarly, loving your neighbour, that is everyone, without qualification, would have been perceived as an assault on the religious conventions that divided humanity into God’s chosen few, the Jews, and the rest, the gentiles.
There are too many today willing enough to kill and maim to preserve or even advance their own limited view of what they impose on God as being “His will”. Hardly surprising, then, that Jesus knew only too well what was likely to happen to him.
As for the empty tomb and the post-crucifixion appearances of Jesus there can only be speculation. It is possible he did not die on the cross. If the gospel accounts are a reasonable indication it would seem he hung there for about six hours.
While this would have been horrific, in terms of crucifixion it was quite short as it often took days for those executed in this manner to die. Certainly he’d become insensible as the spear thrust demonstrated. Perhaps the Romans thought the initial severe scourging had resulted in a faster than usual demise.
Perhaps, then, Jesus survived, all be it badly wounded. Certainly those wounds were real as Thomas, Doubting Thomas, found when invited to touch them. It appears he was with his disciples long enough to send them on their way to carry his teaching into the world.
Jesus then disappears from history. Did he simply die from his terrible experience, especially the spear wound, or maybe he quietly retired to be secretly cared for, never again being able to personally continue his mission?
As to St. Paul’s insistence on resurrection being the only possible proof of life beyond death, it does not accord with Jesus’ view. He spoke of heaven during his earthly days, his Father’s mansion having many rooms.
When he was dying, according to Luke (Luke 23:46) Jesus declared, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Showing a confidence that God would care for him beyond this world.
Whether or not Jesus was correct in this view is another matter entirely, but it does show that the very basis on which the Christian church arose, Paul’s view of resurrection, was at odds with the very person he claimed to be his divine inspiration.
deismuk 