Truth About The Crucifixion — Page 139
disciples so as to convince them that God had saved him from death on the Cross as is written: As they were saying this, Jesus himself stood among them. But they were startled and frightened, and supposed that they saw a spirit. And he said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do questions rise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit has no flesh and bones as you see that I have. (Luke 24:36-40) 7. Another factor that reinforces the contention that Jesus had been saved from death upon the cross is that after the event of the crucifixion he met only his disciples, and that in secret, and did not show himself to the common people. He did not go about in his normal dress so that he should not be identified. He sent a message to his disciples that they should proceed to Galilee where he would meet them. He left Jerusalem in a hurry and walked all the way to Galilee by an indirect route. He had so disguised himself that his two disciples who met him on the road were not able to recognise him. He adopted all these precautions lest the Jews should identify him and seize him again and hang him once more on the cross. Had Jesus possessed a resurrected body he could not have been seized by any one, nor could such a body have been crucified. There would thus have been no occasion to take precautions. In such case he should have appeared in his spiritual body before the Jews and should have demonstrated to them that though they had compassed his death upon the cross, he had been resurrected and had no longer any fear of them as they could not now seize him. Had he done so surely all the Jews would have believed in him and would have been remorseful over their conduct, for 131