(1) THE “CRUCIFICTION” OF JESUS
In John 20:19-31, about the risen Jesus and the Doubting Thomas, there are nail holes in Jesus’ hands.
But the Romans used two separate methods for crucifixion – the fast and the slow. The Romans did not mix the two.
THE SLOW – The wrists were nailed to the cross with the weight of the body supported by a horn or saddle between the legs. Death by thirst and exposure in days (e.g. Spartacus?)
THE FAST – The saddle or horn to support the body was replaced by a platform on which the victim stood and instead of nailing the wrists to the cross they were bound.
The Executor then broke the legs with a club, the crucifragium.
Deprived of support the body sagged with the weight now supported by the bound wrists, resulting in suffocation and paralysis and death within an hour or two.
From the description in the gospels (John 19:33) Jesus was to be crucified by the fast method and this is further corroborated by the fact that sunset, and hence the start of the Jewish Sabbath was only a few (3) hours away from when he gave up the ghost (Mark 15:37, the ninth hour 3 p.m.)
The Romans observed the Jewish Law ‘that no man was to hang on a cross into the Sabbath (Dt. 21:23).
So Jesus was bound and not nailed to the cross. Yet in the Doubting Thomas verses (John 20 25,27) Jesus has nail holes in his hands (note also not wrists).
Why didn’t God send an angel to correct these Biblical mistakes and contradictions? A shortage of Angels? Moslem, like Almed Deedat, call the Crucifixion, crucifiction (see the Koran 4 157).
(2) THE RESURRECTION OF WHAT BODY?
When Jesus was resurrected he came back only 2 (or 3?) days older, although disguised as a gardener (John 20:15).
Now when ordinary people die are they to be resurrected the same age as they died, or as a one 20, 40, 60, 80 year old or what?
If born crippled or mentally handicapped, do they come back crippled or mentally handicapped or what?
(3) EUTHANASIA
It is the highest level of humbug and hypocrisy for Christians to talk about the sanctity of life and only God has the right to take life. For 600 years from 1234 to 1836 the Christians burnt alive witches, pagans and heretics. The burning alive of witches was justified by Exodus 22:18 Dt. 18:10, Galatians 5:19. Again why didn’t God send angels to tell the religious Authorities they had misinterpreted the Bible and were wrong?
The basic reason for the Christian religion’s opposition to euthanasia is because of their religious doctrine of Redemptive Suffering people who suffer are ennobled and reach maturity and realise the need for Jesus and God. Furthermore people then appreciate, compensate, payback, redeem the suffering Jesus himself underwent when He sacrificed Himself for the Sins of humankind on the Cross. Sick.
For the Jewish religion however there is nothing positive or redeeming in suffering. Suffering can only be endured.
CONFIRMATION: (a) Rev R. Paech (The Advertiser 6/4/95) “….that one aspect on euthanasia that seems to have escaped notice is the ‘positive value of human suffering.”
(b) Father James Murray (The Australian 28/6/95)”….. the Governor-Generals’ arguments are consistent with ‘his liberal humanist stance. They are motivated by compassion, but they collide with the religious view that pain is not the ultimate ill, nor its avoidance the ultimate salvation.”
(c) Steve Bunk (The Australian 25/8/95) “Embedded in the idea that death is preferable to suffering is a hatred of imperfection. How ironic this is, when the wisdom of ages tells us that only through suffering do we attain true humanity, only on the anvil of pain can we forge perfection,” Sick again.
Christians make the preposterous claim that Jesus was of a Virgin Birth and after 3 (or 2?) days of rigor mortis He rose from the dead. What is the evidence for these claims?
But anyone who believes the virgin birth (due to a translation error) and the Resurrection on THE evidence in the Bible is certifiable. (“Religious belief is a form of insanity” – Prof Richard Dawkins).
Who can believe Matt 27:51 – 53, “And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, and the earth shook and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”?
Matt 28:2, “And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.” Matt 28:5, “But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified’ — – .” Angels must be physical.
Paul 1 Cor 15: 3 – 8 “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures and that he appeared to Cephas (Peter) then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than 500 brethren at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James then to all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born he appeared also to me.”
But let us look at “In accordance with the scriptures.”-
Matt 12: 39,40 – “But he answered them, ‘An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign (miracle), but no sign shall be given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the whale, so will the Son of man be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth.”
This is 72 hours. But how do you get 72 hours between sunset on Friday and before sunrise on Sunday (John 20:1,2.) ie 36 hours for the Resurrection to occur “in accordance with the scriptures”?
By Dean R Dowling