Here is an essay I wrote in school this past year (I finished grade 8 yesterday!) As you will see I refute three theories against Jesus' Resurrection. Let me know what you think please!
Introduction
It’s a question we all must answer. If we don’t answer it in our words, then it will be answered in our actions: did Jesus really rise from the dead? I know for a fact that He did, since the evidence is clearly in His favor. Many have made theories against it, yet they are false. Three common objections to the Resurrection are: 1. the swoon theory, 2, the myth theory, and 3. the hallucination theory. In this essay, I will debunk them all using science, historical facts, and common sense.
Swoon Theory
To begin, the swoon theory simply states that Jesus never died. Instead, He was crucified, yet lived, and was buried alive. I admit that some execution methods, including crucifixion, are so slow that it is possible to survive if the execution is stopped soon enough. For example the Jewish historian Josephus, who lived at the time of Jesus, had three friends who were crucified. For some reason, the judge changed his mind and Josephus’ friends were taken down. Although they were put in the care of a doctor, only one of them survived. Therefore, you can see that even with medical care, food, and water, all of which Jesus lacked in the tomb, the chance of survival is low. In addition, consider all that He suffered, without even taking into account His crucifixion. Jesus was whipped and beaten, causing great weakness. He also received a stab wound in His side, which was most likely the fatal blow. Roman soldiers were trained to do this in battle. The spear went through the person’s side, between the ribs, and punctured the heart, causing certain death. Taking all these facts into account, it is not hard to see that Jesus did, in fact, die.
Myth Theory
Another popular theory is the myth theory, which states that the disciples made up the resurrection story altogether, knowing He really was dead. My problem with the myth theory is this: why would they make it up? What would they gain by doing so? You might say that they were so grieved by His death that they decided to say He was alive, hoping that if they said it enough, it would be true. On the contrary, you must reconsider. Even years after He died, they still told the story courageously, risking and even losing their lives for their so-called myth. For example, an early follower of Jesus named Stephen was stoned (executed by people throwing stones at you until dead) for his beliefs. Even as rocks were being thrown, he boldly declared Christ’s life and glory: “’Look’, he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man [Jesus] standing at the right hand of God.’†(Acts 7:55, New International Version, parentheses mine) Think for yourself. Would you seriously be willing to suffer and die for a story you knew was a lie?
Hallucination Theory
Lastly, the hallucination theory states that the disciples wanted to see their friend alive so badly that they hallucinated He was alive. Psychological research has found that it is possible for multiple people to have the same hallucination. On the other hand, consider this: hundreds of Jesus’ early followers saw Him alive, in addition to the twelve apostles. Research also shows that two people having the same hallucination is caused by the people involved having similar experiences. Not all of them saw the Crucifixion. Not all of them were fishermen from Galilee (a region of ancient Palestine), like the apostles were. Not all of them had the exact same beliefs about who Jesus was. They were clearly different and unique people with varied experiences. In addition, scientists know that hallucinations are auditory and/or visual. In other words, if you hallucinate something or someone, you have no sense of feel; you cannot touch it. On the other hand, Matthew 28:9 states that the disciples, when seeing the risen Jesus, “clasped His feet†in an act of adoration. If they were hallucinating when they touched His feet, all they would have felt was air. Their so-called hallucination had flesh and bones.
Conclusion
As you can see, these theories make little sense in light of basic reasoning and even scientific evidence. Jesus clearly died and rose again. If you accept Him into your heart, His resurrection power will save you from death so you can live with God forever. With the power of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and the promise of His return, we can change the world.
Introduction
It’s a question we all must answer. If we don’t answer it in our words, then it will be answered in our actions: did Jesus really rise from the dead? I know for a fact that He did, since the evidence is clearly in His favor. Many have made theories against it, yet they are false. Three common objections to the Resurrection are: 1. the swoon theory, 2, the myth theory, and 3. the hallucination theory. In this essay, I will debunk them all using science, historical facts, and common sense.
Swoon Theory
To begin, the swoon theory simply states that Jesus never died. Instead, He was crucified, yet lived, and was buried alive. I admit that some execution methods, including crucifixion, are so slow that it is possible to survive if the execution is stopped soon enough. For example the Jewish historian Josephus, who lived at the time of Jesus, had three friends who were crucified. For some reason, the judge changed his mind and Josephus’ friends were taken down. Although they were put in the care of a doctor, only one of them survived. Therefore, you can see that even with medical care, food, and water, all of which Jesus lacked in the tomb, the chance of survival is low. In addition, consider all that He suffered, without even taking into account His crucifixion. Jesus was whipped and beaten, causing great weakness. He also received a stab wound in His side, which was most likely the fatal blow. Roman soldiers were trained to do this in battle. The spear went through the person’s side, between the ribs, and punctured the heart, causing certain death. Taking all these facts into account, it is not hard to see that Jesus did, in fact, die.
Myth Theory
Another popular theory is the myth theory, which states that the disciples made up the resurrection story altogether, knowing He really was dead. My problem with the myth theory is this: why would they make it up? What would they gain by doing so? You might say that they were so grieved by His death that they decided to say He was alive, hoping that if they said it enough, it would be true. On the contrary, you must reconsider. Even years after He died, they still told the story courageously, risking and even losing their lives for their so-called myth. For example, an early follower of Jesus named Stephen was stoned (executed by people throwing stones at you until dead) for his beliefs. Even as rocks were being thrown, he boldly declared Christ’s life and glory: “’Look’, he said, ‘I see heaven open and the Son of Man [Jesus] standing at the right hand of God.’†(Acts 7:55, New International Version, parentheses mine) Think for yourself. Would you seriously be willing to suffer and die for a story you knew was a lie?
Hallucination Theory
Lastly, the hallucination theory states that the disciples wanted to see their friend alive so badly that they hallucinated He was alive. Psychological research has found that it is possible for multiple people to have the same hallucination. On the other hand, consider this: hundreds of Jesus’ early followers saw Him alive, in addition to the twelve apostles. Research also shows that two people having the same hallucination is caused by the people involved having similar experiences. Not all of them saw the Crucifixion. Not all of them were fishermen from Galilee (a region of ancient Palestine), like the apostles were. Not all of them had the exact same beliefs about who Jesus was. They were clearly different and unique people with varied experiences. In addition, scientists know that hallucinations are auditory and/or visual. In other words, if you hallucinate something or someone, you have no sense of feel; you cannot touch it. On the other hand, Matthew 28:9 states that the disciples, when seeing the risen Jesus, “clasped His feet†in an act of adoration. If they were hallucinating when they touched His feet, all they would have felt was air. Their so-called hallucination had flesh and bones.
Conclusion
As you can see, these theories make little sense in light of basic reasoning and even scientific evidence. Jesus clearly died and rose again. If you accept Him into your heart, His resurrection power will save you from death so you can live with God forever. With the power of Jesus’ death, resurrection, and the promise of His return, we can change the world.
