Truth About The Crucifixion — Page 167
the faithlessness of people of his time, not because of God. ¹ In believing Jesus died on the cross, only half the story is told, for the prophecy of his survival as shown by reference to² Jonah is not fulfilled. The Spirit of every righteous person may ascend to heaven. In believing that Jesus ascended in his body to heaven we are only pretending in order to glorify him. But if we see in Jesus a man who set out to find God and worked closely with Him to fulfil the prophecies, thereby proving the existence of God, such a man we can truly glorify; we can glorify him without reservation. There are only two possibilities to be considered concerning the mysterious disappearance of Jesus. First, that Jesus died on the cross and afterwards appeared in spirit to his disciples, as Moses and Elijah had appeared to him. Secondly, that Jesus was delivered from his ordeal and appeared to his disciples in person. The answer is to be found in his own words. Luke tells us that when Jesus appeared to his disciples they were frightened "and supposed that they saw a Spirit. ” And he said to them: Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me and see; for a Spirit has not flesh and bones as you see that I have. your No statement could be more definite than this! Jesus is delighted to see his disciples once more and to show them he has survived. And then again a spirit would not eat broiled fish (Luke) nor prepare a fire and invite his disciples to “come and have breakfast”. (John 21:12). 1 The Christian saying 'God was put upon the cross' is easier to under- stand when we contemplate that Jesus was the representative of God, or God's Spirit. Therefore God was put upon the cross. 2 The only sign Jesus gave: a prophecy using the story of Jonah where Jonah emerges alive from his ordeal. 159