Is there Evidence for Jesus?
MAN? MYTH? MADMAN? MANIPULATOR? MESSIAH?
© David Bedford 2018.
The Case for the Easter Story
If there is one thing that is central to the Christian Faith, it is undoubtedly the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. How much evidence is there? Did Jesus die? Was the tomb empty? And was the Resurrection a fact, or myth? Everything depends on this.
THE EVIDENCE FOR THE EASTER STORY - CRUCIFIXION, EMPTY TOMB AND THE RESURRECTION
Did Jesus die?
Gethsemane - Luke 22: 44
“And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”
“Hematidrosis” - associated with high degree of psychological stress
Causes release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands.
Makes the skin fragile and very sensitive.
The Beating and Flogging:
The Beating - blindfolded, punched and spat at
Roman floggings were brutal
Usually at least 39 lashes
Whip of braided leather thongs with with metal balls woven in with pieces of sharp bone
Metal balls cause bruises and contusions
Bone rips the flesh down to the spine, bowels, veins, muscles
From shoulders down the back, buttocks and back of legs
Many died.
Extreme pain
Hypovolemic shock - “Hypo= low”, “Vol=volume”, “Emic=blood” i.e. the loss of a lot of blood
Increase heart rate, blood pressure, fainting or collapse, kidneys stop producing urine, person becomes thirsty and craves liquid.
Jesus collapsed on way to Calvary
“I thirst”
Jesus' life was already under threat
The Crucifixion:
Laid down on the horizontal beam - patibulum
Nailed with 5-7 inch spikes
Into the wrists not palm of the hand!
Hits the median nerve (worse than ulna nerve aka funny bone!)
Imagine that nerve pinched with pliers and twisted
Pain so indescribable - “excruciating” = “out of the cross”
Hoisted onto vertical beam
Nails through feet by ankles
Arms immediately stretched by 6 inches - shoulders dislocated
Crucifixion - slow death by asphyxiation
Have to push up to breathe
Pain in ankles where nailed
Rub bare and bleeding back against wood
Crown of thorns shoved into sensitive skin which would bleed
Breathing slows - respiratory acidosis = carbon dioxide is dissolved as carbonic acid
Irregular heartbeat - know you are near death
Hypovolemic shock causes heart failure
Results in collection of fluid in membrane around the heart = pericardial effusion
Fluid around the lungs - pleural effusion
Significant?
John 19: 34 “Instead, one of Jesus' side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.”
Spear went through lung and heart into right side
Pericardial effusion and pleural effusion - clear fluid (like water) followed by blood
Jesus was dead. No doubt.
