There is one thing that could destroy Christianity, effectively erasing it from the theological map forever–and that is if someone could produce the body of Jesus. The resurrection is the Achilles’ Heel of Christianity. No resurrection, no Christianity.
But nobody has been able to do that for almost 2,000 years. The deceased body of Jesus was put in a tomb, and three days later, the tomb was empty. Soon after, the resurrected body appeared to hundreds of people.
True to form, however, skeptics conjure up excuses for the empty tomb. Let’s consider some of them to determine why they just do not work.
Before we do so, however, I would like to point out that the disciples started preaching about the resurrection of Jesus in Jerusalem–the town where the tomb was located. They could have migrated to any other place in the world, where people could not have easily communicated back with Jerusalem. But they stayed in Jerusalem where any cynic could personally check out the tomb.
If Jesus’ body was still in the tomb, that is the last place they would be able to get this thing off the ground. But they had nothing to fear—He wasn’t there. They had an empty tomb and no dead body.
So, what do we do with the mystery of the disappearing Jesus? We have to either accept that He rose or try to find some other explanation, which some have done. Let’s look at them and find out why they don’t work.
Explanation #1: It was the wrong tomb
Maybe everyone just got confused and forgot where the tomb was!
Ok, sure. That really is a wild idea for four reasons:
1. The friends of Jesus knew where it was
Do you think it is possible that Joseph knew where his own tomb was located? Might Nicodemus have remembered from three days earlier? Also, the women who showed up at the tomb knew exactly where it was.
And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid. (Luke 23:55)
Why did they observe it? They were planning to return after the Sabbath with some spices for the body. It is unlikely that they forgot how to get there.
2. The angels knew where it was
And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. (Luke 24:4)
John describes these two men as angels (John 20:12). I would think they would have a good idea where the tomb was located.
3. The enemies of Jesus knew where it was
The religious Jewish leaders wanted Jesus dead, and they asked Pilate to call for guards at the tomb. I would think that they would be quick to point out a wrong location. “Hey, everyone, you got the wrong tomb! The real one is over here!”
Also, we cannot forget that the tomb had been sealed. It is likely that a cord or string would have been stretched across the stone and attached with clay on either end. If they had the wrong tomb, someone surely would have noticed that there was no broken seal. But no one said a word.
4. The grave clothes were there
When Jesus’ friends showed up at the tomb, they were careful to note that the graveclothes that had been tightly wrapped around Jesus were present (sans body, of course). I am sure no one else left them there. I can hear the cemetery director now: “Oh, I can explain those. We just had a resurrection last week and haven’t cleaned up yet.”
Hardly.
When Jesus left the tomb, He discarded the graveclothes, probably as evidence that they had the right tomb and that His body had not been stolen.
Explanation #2: The disciples stole the body
Maybe the disciples moved the body of Jesus to another place then claimed that He rose. This is a ridiculous idea for several reasons.
- The origin of this excuse is explained in the Bible
Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day. (Matthew 28:11-15)2
2. The change in the disciples indicates that they truly believed that Jesus was alive
If they would have stolen the body, why would they be so bold about it and be willing to give their lives for what they knew was a lie? People just aren’t willing to die for something they know is a lie.
3. How did the disciples get past the professional Roman guards and into the tomb?
- Jesus appeared in person
The resurrected body of Jesus is the smoking gun. Even if it were possible that everyone had the wrong tomb or the disciples could have stolen the body, how do we explain the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus? Over five hundred people personally viewed the risen Christ.
Explanation #3: The swoon theory
The “swoon theory” is the idea that Jesus was in such bad physical condition on the cross that He fainted, then revived in the cool tomb and came out. It does not take a lot of thinking to see the folly of this theory.
1. Lack of evidence
When we come up with an alternate theory to what seems the most obvious, we cannot simply say, “I don’t believe it, so I think something else must have happened.” Just about anything is possible: give evidence why your idea is plausible. An alternate explanation needs some kind of evidence. The Bible says Jesus rose, so if you come up with some other idea, the burden of proof is on you. There is no evidence for the swoon theory.
2. Jesus died completely
In a previous article, we discussed the evidence that He did not swoon, but completely died:
- The gospel writers claim that He died
- Experienced Roman soldiers declared Him dead
- The Disciples knew He was dead
- His body was prepared for burial
3. It would be impossible to escape the tomb
Apparently, Jesus, having lost most of His blood and nursing a gaping hole in His lungs and heart, got out of His grave clothes, pushed huge rock (possibly weighing hundreds of pounds) up a slope by Himself from inside the tomb, walked past the guards on wounded feet, and showed up later that day looking refreshed.
That’s ridiculous.
I love how Sean and Josh McDowell put it in Evidence for the Resurrection:
Then, according to the swoon theory, an incredible thing happened. The cool damp air inside the tomb somehow revived and energized him. He split out of his garments, single-handedly pushed the stone away, either fought off the guards or somehow broke the seal and moved the stone without their noticing it, walked naked and barefoot on badly wounded feet through a city stirring in the morning, and appeared to his disciples as the Lord of life.[i]
4. The believers anticipated being raised like Jesus
…knowing that He who raised up the Lord Jesus will also raise us up with Jesus, and will present us with you. (2 Corinthians 4:14)
For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, (Romans 6:5)
If Jesus had merely swooned and found His way out of the tomb, can you imagine what He would have looked like? Black and blue, bloody, mangy hair caked with blood, and a big hole in His heart and lungs. Not a great picture of the resurrection we would like to have. Yet the early Christians earnestly desired becoming like Him.
Apparently, they knew He had resurrected.
[i] Dowell, Sean, and Josh. Evidence for the Resurrection: What it Means for Your Relationship with God, Ventura, CA: Regal, 2009, 222.
