the resurrection

Charlote the Old Testament has prophecies describing the Messiah to come, that spredicted his death, and that his body wouldn't corrupt. If you are interested I can give those scriptures to you. Jesus claimed to be God when he said before Moses was I AM. I AM is the name of God that He used when talking to Moses from the burning bush.

Some more historical references to Jesus are: Cornelius Tacitus A.D. 64-116 he refers to Christians as followers of "Christus" who had undergone the death penalty in the reign of Tiberius, by sentence of the procurator Pontius Pilatus. Writings from Jewish Rabbis 40-180 A.D. several passages from the Talmud and other Jewish &nbsp;writings refer to Jesus Christ: hanging on a cross (passover), identifies him along with 5 of the disciples, healing in the name of Jesus, scoffing at the "claim" of the virgin birth calling it illegitmate. The evidence of Jesus crucifixion is overwhelming. So how do we prove the <SPAN style="COLOR: #ff0000"><B>resurrection</B></SPAN>? I will try to give a little of the reasons it can be stated it that happened "beyond a reasonable doubt".

Even the critics of Jesus have had to acknowledge his miracles as actual, but that doesn't necessarily prove he is who he said he was, because Moses, Elijah, Elisha, performed miracles and even satan can perform "signs and wonders". Jesus fulfilled over 300 prophesies written long before his birth. Investigators have stated that the statistical probability of all the prophecies about the "Christ" being fulfilled in one man is 10 to the 99th power, that is its impossible without Jesus &nbsp;being divine. Since the crucifixion is historically proven, did He really raise from the dead or was something else done with his body? Because of the miracles and powerful speaking of Jesus, the people were desiring to make him their king. The Romans and Jewish leaders could not let that happen. Jesus crucifixion was very important and conducted correctly for this reason. From the scripture the implication is that Jesus died from a cardiac arrest as a result of hanging on the cross. To secure the body in the tomb a Roman guard consisting of 16 soldiers (not 2) was posted,and they had a disciplined policy against sleeping at night and so they rotated every 4 hours so as to avoid this. The penalty for sleeping on duty was death by crucifixion. The idea that all 16 guards were asleep with the death penalty hanging over their heads is not plausable. Next, a 2 ton stone was rolled in front of the tomb, breaking the seal placed there by the Roman governor was punishable by crucifixion upside down. The explanation the Jewish leaders gave is that the disciples stole the body. Is it reasonable to think that the disciples would have hatched a plan so immense in scope as to steal and hide the body? No it isn't because having just witnessed the crucifixion of their master they were shocked and afraid. Also, what would be their reason for stealing the body? If Jesus wasn't who he said he was why would they perpetrate this lie, his death would be of no purpose to them. That the disciples all except John were martryed for their belief is historical fact. Why would they allow themselves to be martyred for a known lie? Lying would be of no purpose because it would make everything Jesus taught them of no effect. Did Jesus think he was God? He confirmed he was the Messiah in Mark 14:62,63. Jesus used the words I AM in John 8:56-58. I AM is the way God refered to himself to Moses when he recieved the 10 commandments. Jesus prophecied about his death,giving the means, method, and even precise time, and those prophecies came true to the letter. The evidence that Jesus truly is God and actually did resurrect is overwhelming. His prophetic fulfillment and claims to diety alone give verification of Jesus Deity. Most of the information in the above is from Ralph O. Muncaster's "How Do We Know Jesus Is God?" Harvest House Publishers, Eugene Oregon, 2000.

Originally posted by charlottetu
why do christians believe that jesus had to die and be resurrected? i understand that it was God's plan for Jesus, and to fulfil prophecies but is there any more to it? do any Christians believe that Jesus didn't have to die?

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The reason Jesus had to die was because God's&nbsp;righteous Law required that that penalty for sins be paid.&nbsp; God said, "the wages of sin is death" (Rom 6:23).&nbsp; However, the propitiation had to be a worthy sacrifice that would appease God's wrath.&nbsp; The only worthy sacrifice for the transgression of God's righteous Law would be a righteous sacrifice.&nbsp; It would do no good for a sinner to die for the sins of other sinners.&nbsp; As the sinner would not be righteous, his/her death would not appease God for the transgression of mankind.&nbsp; As there were no righteous people on earth, God sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to fulfill the role as propitiation to God's wrath.

If God had&nbsp;just said, "I think I'll just overlook your transgression this time" then He would not be a just God, and therefore, not God.&nbsp; So, someone righteous had to die.&nbsp; Jesus had to be that person because no one else "fit the bill."&nbsp; The pivitol point that many Christian's fail to realize is that God's just and righteous penalty of "death for sin" was exacted.&nbsp; It just wasn't exacted on us.&nbsp; We were saved by works, just not ours.&nbsp; We were saved by Jesus' obedience to God's Law, His innocence, and His Love for God's children that made Him a worthy sacrifice.

As to His resurrection, if we were to overcome the sting of death (1 Cor 15:55 "O Death, where is your sting?"), Christ had to overcome&nbsp;death.&nbsp; Baptism signifies our death and burial with Christ, and, as we&nbsp;now live in&nbsp;Him, our resurrection into eternal life.&nbsp;

also, are there any other possibilities for the body's disappearance?

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As long as there are people, there will be opinions contrary to the Bible regarding Jesus' "actual" resurrection.

christians must believe thats that Jesus died and rose to heaven but as 1 of the gospel writers suggests, the disciples might have stolen the body away.

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Well, I'm not exactly sure where you're talking about, but first off, all of the gospel writers (by this I mean the four gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)&nbsp;were disciples, in fact they were apostles.&nbsp; Secondly, there are many times when the&nbsp;apostles, whom we oftentimes contribute superhuman faith to, were admonished for their lack of faith.&nbsp; They were fallen, though regenerate, humans who, like us,&nbsp;occasionally give in to the lusts of their flesh.

I hope this explanation serves you well.

Take care and God bless.&nbsp;

Jesus gave many physical miracles as witnesses to His identity (God). What better way to show that He's God then the act of resurrection, which testified that God has overcome death? [it also gives evidence to God's promise of eternal life. For only He has the power to overcome death.]

"do any Christians believe that Jesus didn't have to die?
"

Romans, chapter 5.

"1 of the gospel writers suggests, the disciples might have stolen the body away."

All excuses I've seen have been debunked so far. On this one, ask yourself, would you be killed for a lie?? Be tortoured slowly and then killed if you knew it wasn't true? Doubtful.

Jesus had to die and rise again in order to take the punishment of our sins or we would all goto hell. His death took the punishment of our sins and his ressurection showed his power.

charlottetu-

Why would the disciples steal the body away and fake the whole thing? What did they gain? I will tell you what they gained...torture and death. One by one they were hunted down, but they never stopped telling the world what had happened. If it were a lie, why be tortured and killed for a hoax?

Originally posted by s0uljah
charlottetu-

Why would the disciples steal the body away and fake the whole thing? What did they gain? I will tell you what they gained...torture and death. One by one they were hunted down, but they never stopped telling the world what had happened. If it were a lie, why be tortured and killed for a hoax?

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The 9/11 terrorists died for their religious beliefs, does that make their beliefs valid?

"The 9/11 terrorists died for their religious beliefs, does that make their beliefs valid?"

YOu miss the point. If they knew they were false they wouldn't die for them. they believed them to be true so they died for them. This debunks the arugment "the disciples stole his body". Read the context neo.

It's also possible that he physically survived, (read 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail').

"It's also possible that he physically survived, (read 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail').
"

NO, its not at all. There has been tons of medical studies done on what happened to him on the cross and before the cross. Jesus couldn't have survived.

Originally posted by LouisBooth
"It's also possible that he physically survived, (read 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail').
"

NO, its not at all. There has been tons of medical studies done on what happened to him on the cross and before the cross. Jesus couldn't have survived.

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Actually, it is possible. Should I start a thread on this subject in the apologetics section?

"Should I start a thread on this subject in the apologetics section?"

if you want sure. Its pretty impossible. Plus in addition these guards knew what they were doing. They dealt with it everyday. their business was killing people on crosses. To get it wrong would mean their death.