Controversy - Was Jesus' Resurrection Spiritual or Physical?
Is it possible that the traditional understanding of Jesus' resurrection could be wrong?
For 2,000 years Catholicism and Christianity have based their core doctrine of resurrection on the idea that Jesus resurrected physically. This article gives evidence to support a new idea contrary to traditional thought. This principle also helps clear up much of the confusion over the events that took place after Jesus' crucifixion.
A comic by Shaun McMillan that illustrates how only spiritual people can see Jesus in his resurrected state.
The Resurrection - According to Scripture
Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46
There is little actual doubt whether Jesus died or not. However, as to whether his resurrection was physical or spiritual a great debate has persisted. In Providence the consequences of a spiritual resurrection does not negate the outcome of Jesus’ purpose and mission, part of which was to call the world to repentance and forgive the sins of those who do. Jesus accomplished this because he was chosen by God, and for that he was able to forgive sins even before his death.
“Come now, let us reason together” Isaiah 1:18
The Protestant church was founded upon the principle of ‘sola scriptura’. So with this in mind, let us lay aside our traditional assumptions and consider “only the Scriptures” in relation to Jesus’ resurrection. Let’s consider the evidence carefully and ponder each concept prayerfully.
Teacher Joshua Jung Myung Seok's Findings
Let’s consider what the bible scriptures say in light of Teacher Joshua Jung (Jung Myung Seok)’s perspective on Jesus’ resurrection. Because Teacher Joshua Jung refused to gloss over any details when considering the larger picture he was able to hold the entirety of Scripture in context as to the resurrection, rather than isolating it as a solitary event in God’s history.
Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
Questions are always the best place to start when considering a contradiction. When the weight of the questions overwhelms the mass of the prevailing assumption it should be a natural and logical step to re-examine the evidence, a standard practice in such fields as science, medicine, history, engineering and criminology. Only a person who prefers tradition and nostalgia over the pursuit of truth would persist in an explanation beyond its tenable limits. Those who choose not to question, do so because they hold fast to a blind and prejudiced faith, and their uninformed faith is understood to be a “crutch” for the weak minded and the spiritually lazy. Let’s consider a few examples:
If Jesus resurrected in body, why did he always “appear” or suddenly show up unexpectedly (Corinthians 15:6)? How did he just “suddenly” arrive in the presence of the two Marys when they went to investigate the tomb (Matthew 28:9)? Why would he use an angel to tell them that he was “going ahead” to Galilee? Why would he have told them to go and tell the disciples to go to Galilee and not go tell them himself? What was he doing in the mean time?
Contradictions in Bible
Here’s a larger question: How long will Christians persist in their double standard of Scripture being infallible, and yet contradictory? In Providence it is understood that every word in the Bible is precious and with a specific meaning—discerning that meaning is the key.
Let’s look at some of the contradictions between Christian doctrine and Scripture:
In John 20:26 Jesus appears among them even though… “the doors [were] locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them.” Here is where Christians want to have it both ways: Jesus’ body was physical they contend, yet still able to bend physical law by teleporting through a solid door. In a pre-scientific era this misunderstanding of Scripture persisted because many of the laws of nature were unknown to humankind. But with increased knowledge of God’ universe, theologians must ask themselves an important question: how does the breaking of one natural law affect all of the natural laws supporting it? How can we understand a God that breaks his own laws?
Why didn't Jesus do more after his death?
If Jesus was resurrected physically, what became of his body? If Jesus was resurrected in a physical body, why didn’t he stay and teach even greater crowds of people? Many Christians contend that he left in order to send the Holy Spirit. But as evidenced and recorded at the birth of John the Baptist the Holy Spirit was already active in the world.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11"Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:10-11
In Matthew 28:16-20, Jesus is not specifically said to be taken into heaven as in Luke 24:51 or Acts 1:9. Many Christians choose a contradiction again by interpreting Jesus’ ascension literally (a physical body floating into the sky) despite their agreement that “flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 15:50) Interestingly enough, this very same chapter of the letter to Corinth speaks of the futility of faith if we do not believe in Jesus’ resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). Paul confronts today’s understanding of the resurrection: was it physical or spiritual? The passage doesn’t distinguish a condition of the flesh itself. So has CHristian doctrine concerning this matter merely participated in a grand assumption?
Acts 1:3 relates a rather convincing proof of Jesus being alive. He was reported to have been touched as well as to have eaten food. This is a physical sense and action, but how much do we truly understand a spirit’s capabilities? We know from Psalms 78 that angels eat. In John 21:22-23 is the word ‘alive’ not given even greater meaning and definition by Jesus. when he speaks of a never-ending life?
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. Matthew 27:52-53
If Jesus resurrected in such a stunning and tangible way, with a new physical body that was still functional despite all the pain and torture, why did the Jews still not believe that he is the Christ? Why would Jesus not simply have walked into the Temple and modeled his resurrected body to the Sanhedrin? Why not go back to Pilate and show him too?
Why was Jesus so grieved at the end of his life?
In John 19:30 the words “It is finished” are a deciding ultimatum to all that occurred but are only spoken in the last book of the series about his life. Why does Jesus also ask just before his death , as recorded in other accounts, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34).
Can anyone truly say what exactly is “finished” using scripture from the Bible? Perhaps the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13 gives us a clue: “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” If Jesus came to save mankind and connect us to God, and if he accomplished this by dying on the cross, why isn’t there heaven on earth, between the environment, between people, friends, families, faith? Why are there so many clues to his Second Coming if he already finished his work?
Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many people; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him. Hebrews 9:27-32
If Jesus was sent to die on the cross, then Judas, who betrayed him, can be seen as a righteous man because he did the will of God by betraying Jesus. But then what does that do to our concept of free will? Acts 2:23 reads, “This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”
Matthew 21:33-42 gives a particularly poignant parable of Jesus himself. Who shall we interpret the son to be? How was he treated and received by the tenants? Who do the tenants refer to?
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5
Concerning the Second Coming… Jesus says that no man will know the hour of his return, so how will we ever know? Yet all of Matthew 24 reads like a contradiction to this with dramatic signs of the End of the Age. “The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the heavenly bodies will be shaken.” And yet it says that the day and hour are unknown. How can this one chapter be justified?
Be careful of mysterious answers
All of these points and passages are written in order for us to reason and interpret. Be wary of answers that must be derived from hunches or rely on assumption or tradition. Be wary of people who answer your questions with the pat reply, “it’s a mystery.” All mysteries must ultimately be solved—even if the answers to those mysteries is not what we prefer. Trust in the Holy Spirit who will guide us in all truth using our hearts and reasoning in order to make sound judgments. People with fixed ideas are those Jesus spoke of who have hardened hearts—they resist truth that did not originate with them. Teacher Joshua is a man who is villified by many religious elites because he dared to dedicate his life to answering these mysteries of the Bible. People in Providence appreciate him as the one who opened their eyes and hearts to God’s truth. Being open to new perspectives requires discernment, vigilance and faith. The answers to the questions raised in this article are celebrated in Providence because they help us understand the heart of the Creator, as well as change the lives of the created. Let’s not be people who fear change.