The Promised Messiah and Mahdi — Page 51
THE PROMISED MESSIAH AND MAHDI. Pilate was extremely sympathetic to Jesus as he considered him innocent. He appointed Friday as the day of trial knowing that crucified persons could not be left on the cross after sunset as it was the start of the Jewish Sabbath. A few hours on the cross were not enough to kill Jesus. His legs were not broken unlike the bandits who were still alive proving that the few hours Jesus was on the cross (3-6) hours) were not sufficient to kill him. . Death by crucifixion was always a slow process. Victims died. slowly due to pain, exhaustion and dehydration and it took generally three or four days. Several biographers of Jesus have expressed grave doubts about death of Jesus on the cross including William Hanna,. William Stroud and Ernest Renan. . When a soldier pierced the side of Jesus with a spear, blood. flowed out at once. Flowing out of blood is a clear sign that activity and circulation were intact and Jesus was still alive. He had only fainted and probably was in shock, but was mistaken as dead. His body was given to his secret disciples who kept him in a large airy chamber and treated him with spices. With the effects of lying recumbent in the cool airy chamber, which restored his blood pressure and stimulation of aromatic spices, Jesus regained consciousness. On the third day he was able to leave the sepulchre with help of his secret disciples who were members of the Essene Brotherhood. Later his appearances were confined to his disciples only and were in secret. . When disciples mistook him for a ghost, he dispelled their doubt by showing his body of flesh and bones. Probably a rumor had spread in. Jerusalem that Jesus had died on the cross. He ate with them. He travelled on foot. He showed his healing wounds to Thomas. What greater proof than this is required that Jesus was same mortal human being as before and that he had survived crucifixion. He was now in hiding and helped by his disciples and the Essene Brotherhood. He did not appear to his enemies even once, showing his fear of re-arrest. . If he could conquer death, as Resurrection implies, what else could he be afraid of? But his behavior in post-crucifixion period shows that he was afraid. He never appeared to Jews or Romans. When he met his 51