Where Did Jesus Die? — Page 222
? 222 personally of two persons pronounced dead by doctors after care- ful examination who revived in the mortuary—one of them left hospital thirteen days later on foot. In Jesus, death appears to have been diagnosed by soldiers: what could be more understandable than a mistake during the tumult of this terrible event? Changed Nor is it surprising that close associates should have failed initially to recognise Jesus afterwards. He would have looked an ill man, much changed. It might be argued that during the post-Crucifix- ion period, His words lacked somewhat their former vigour and brilliance: can it be that cerebral anoxia on the cross had left its mark? A great many people must have doubted the reality of Jesus’ death upon the cross, or else the literal truth of the Resurrection. That He fainted, and did not die was suggested by Dr. Clark, three-quarters of a century ago, and according to Renan, recov- ery after crucifixion was known to the ancients. If there was noth- ing supernatural about the reappearance of Jesus, need that be an obstacle to the acceptance of His teachings? His life is sublime without physical myths: nothing can take away the miracles of the spirit.