Email "Messages". Steven A. Crane
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half of those beaten died from this alone.
4. Jesus suffered five other major wounds: a crown of thorns, three 5–7 inch nails used to secure his hands and feet to the cross, and a spear in his side.
5. The thrust of the spear through the rib cage, pierced Jesus’ right lung, the sack around the heart, and the heart itself. This insured that Jesus was dead.
6. The professional executioners did not break Jesus’ legs because there was no doubt in their minds about his demise.
7. Jesus was embalmed in nearly 100 pounds of spices. This alone would have killed him. Jesus was then wrapped in bandages from which he could not have escaped.
8. Many hours (parts of three days) were spent in a cold, dark tomb. This would likely have sent Jesus into hypothermia—even if he had somehow survived the events to this point.
9. Pilate asked for assurance that Jesus was really dead.
10. If Jesus merely appeared to witnesses after having been resuscitated, his appearance would not have convinced the world that he was indeed a resurrected Savior.
Add to this list the fact that Jesus himself testified that he was risen from the dead. Are we to conclude that he was lying? All these facts point to the logical and insurmountable conclusion that Jesus truly died for our sins.
Email “Messages”
Inbox [11/70]
To: Dr. Crane [eaglechristianchurch.com]
Subject: Did Jesus Really Rise Again?
---Original Message---
What is the evidence regarding the resurrection of Jesus?
Reply:
Christianity lives or dies with the resurrection. Understanding this, opponents of Christianity have tried to explain away the resurrection by every possible means—to no avail. Here are twelve obstacles critics must overcome in order to deny the resurrection.
1. There was an empty tomb.
2. There were grave clothes lying on the shelf of the tomb, neatly wrapped and folded.
3. Jesus’ body could not have been stolen—the tomb was sealed with an official seal and guarded by Roman soldiers.
4. The Jews and Roman authorities had no desire to steal the body, in fact, they wanted it kept in the tomb. Even if they did remove the body, they would have produced it when the disciples began to preach the resurrection.
5. Three women visited the empty tomb. Peter and John also ran to the empty tomb. Even if you suggest they all went to the wrong tomb, why didn’t the Roman authorities correct them when they proclaimed the resurrection?
6. Jesus did not merely “swoon” or come out of a coma. If he did, how could he find the strength to unwrap himself, push away the stone, overpower the Roman guards, walk to Jerusalem on wounded feet, and then convince the world he was “resurrected with power”?
7. The resurrection was evidenced by twelve different post-resurrection appearances by more than 500 people: Mary Magdalene (John 20:11); other women (Matthew 28:9–10); Peter (Luke 24:34); two disciples (Luke 24:13–32); to ten apostles without Thomas (Luke 24:33–49); to the apostles with Thomas (John 20:26–30); to seven apostles in Galilee (John 21); to all the apostles (Mattthew 28:16–20); to all the apostles again (Acts 1:4–9); to 500 people at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6); to James (1 Corinthians 15:7); and to Paul (1 Corinthians 15:7).
8. Thomas was encouraged to touch his hands and feet and to place his fingers in the nail holes and his sword-pierced side.
9. The changed lives of the apostles are proof they saw the resurrected Christ.
10. The apostles’ willingness to die for their belief in the resurrection evidences its reality.
11. The growth of the church in Jerusalem immediately following the resurrection.
12. The continued growth of the church throughout the centuries.
The historical evidence is overwhelming in favor of the resurrection—Christ died for our sins, he was buried, and he was resurrected on the third day. His life and teachings have influenced and shaped the world as no other. The evidence validates his claims. He is more than just a great man or a moral teacher; he is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Email “Messages”
Inbox [12/70]
To: Dr. Crane [eaglechristianchurch.com]
Subject: Was Jesus Really Dead Three Days?
---Original Message---
If Jesus was crucified on Friday, how could he have been in the grave three days and nights?
Reply:
Some scholars do believe that Jesus was in the grave for three full days and nights (72 hours). Those who hold to this suggest that he was crucified either on Wednesday or Thursday. In support of their view they posit that Passover was not a fixed day (Friday), but that it floated from year to year. They then point out that the Bible does not record any activity for Jesus on Wednesday—allowing them to move the crucifixion up accordingly.
Most biblical scholars, however, believe that Jesus was crucified on Friday and acknowledge that Jesus was only in the tomb for parts of three days—pointing out that the phrase “on the third day” (Matthew 16:21; 17:23; 20:19; 26:61) can legitimately be understood to mean “within three days,” rather than 72 hours. It is certainly used this way elsewhere (cf. Esther 4:16).
This second view certainly fits best within the chronological order of events given by the gospel writers (see Mark 14:1ff) as well as the fact that Jesus died on Passover day (Friday) to fulfill the conditions of being our Passover Lamb (1 Corinthians 5:7; Leviticus 23:5–15).
Email “Messages”
Inbox [13/70]
To: Dr. Crane [eaglechristianchurch.com]
Subject: Did Jesus Really Preach in Hell?
---Original Message---
Did Jesus really go to the depths of hell to preach the gospel to spirits who were held captive there?
Reply:
The question you ask finds its basis in 1 Peter 3:19–20. The great theologian, Martin Luther, said that this section of Scripture was: “. . . a more obscure passage perhaps than any other in the New Testament,” and that he did not know “for a certainty just what Peter means.”
No one can come to such a passage with an air of certainty, but that does not mean we cannot wrestle with it. To attempt to understand this passage, a person must ask and answer a number of questions. When did Jesus go and preach? To whom did Jesus preach? What was the message Jesus preached, and what does this illustration of baptism and Noah mean?
There are many opinions, and not all scholars agree. I will give you the most common interpretations, and then my opinion (you are certainly free to disagree).
When did Jesus go and preach? (3:18–19)
Jesus is said to have preached to “spirits in prison.” When did this happen? There are three answers given.
1. Some say this happened in the O. T. before Jesus came to earth. Christ’s spirit was in Noah as Noah preached to those imprisoned by sin (but now in hell). Through the preaching of Noah, the spirit of Christ was revealed, but those who heard him preach rejected his message, so they are now in spiritual prison. This is referring back to Genesis, and it was not Christ preaching, but Christ’s spirit being preached by Noah.
2. A second view (the most popular) holds that between his death and resurrection, Christ preached to those people who had previously died without hearing the gospel message. During the period when Jesus was in the grave, his spirit went and