Truth About The Crucifixion — Page 94
designs of his enemies he would have to spend a certain period of time in the heart of the earth. The sign was that as Jonah entered the belly of the whale alive and remained therein alive for a certain period and emerged therefrom alive and rejoind his people, in the same way Jesus would enter the earth alive and abide therein alive and emerge therefrom alive and would thereafter join his people. . This was the essence of the sign prophesied by Jesus, that he would be placed in a situation in which his life would be despaired of but that by Divine grace he would be preserved alive as a sign of his righteousness. He would enter the sepulchre alive and would remain therein alive and would emerge therefrom alive. Thereafter, as Jonah after emerging from the belly of the whale rejoined his people who accepted him and held him in great honour, so would Jesus after the event of the crucifixion meet his people who were scattered in diverse lands and they would listen to him and do him honour. . If the affirmations of the Christians are accepted that Jesus had died on the cross and had entered the sepulchre as a corpse and remained therein as a corpse and on the third day he was bestowed spiritual life, then how would this series of events constitute a sign like the sign of Jonah? Every one who dies enters the earth as a corpse and remains therein a corpse. Besides, the sign was promised to the Jews and yet after his resurrection, which in effect was resuscitation, Jesus did not inform a single Jew that he had accepted death. If the. Christian affirmation is accepted, the Jews would be entitled to claim that no part of the prophecy made by Jesus was in fact fulfilled. But the truth is that, in accordance with the prophecy made by Jesus, God Almighty delivered him from the accursed death upon the cross and by bringing him down from the cross alive completely frustrated the design of the. Jews. 2. The warning administered by God Almighty to. Pilate through his wife just when he had taken his place on the judgment seat, was designed to inform Pilate that it was not God's design to let Jesus die upon the cross as is written:. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him: Have nothing to do with this 97