The Prove It Gospels

Doubting Thomas, was what I call a prove it gospel. Today we come across another one. These are some of my favorites, as they pull together the puzzle pieces which cement the historical event for all times.
Taken from the Orthodox Study Bible, (Mark:15:43-47; 16:1-8)
Joseph of Arimathea was a respected member of the council, who was looking for the kingdom of God. If he didn't believe in Jesus, His teachings and miracles, would he have dared to confront Pilate to ask for His body? I think not. Nor would he have dared to do so being a member of the Sanhedrin. Yet, he was not opposed to Jesus.

Now comes the second point, in doing so, he made Pilot wonder if Jesus were already dead. Pilot sought the information from the centurion that he summoned. The Centurion clearly said to Pilot that Jesus was dead, so Pilot granted to Joseph the dead body of Jesus.

The third point is that Joseph and Nicodemus laid His body, wrapped in a shroud in a tomb hewn out of rock. There was no escape. The door was sealed with a rolling stone, in which the opening had to be large enough to enter into it.

The woman make it clear that the rolling away of the huge stone was concerning to them by saying "who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?" The interior of the tomb was large enough for more than one person to be in all at once, as the scripture says "they" entered and encountered a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe. (this stone which was rolled back was huge).

Several years back I recall a conversation amongst a group of people who were not convinced of the resurrection because there were no eyewitnesses. Just a few months back, scientists were trying to disprove the resurrection with a story that because Jesus' legs were not broken, which is a fulfillment of the old testament, it is possible that the spices and healing ointments used at that time like, Frankincense, myrrh and gold could have revived someone. Soldiers were guarding His body. And remember his side was pierced with a lance which produced blood and water.

So to the doubting Thomas the question's are answered.

The eye-witnesses were not the followers of Christ. Joseph placed Him in his own tomb. Later he went on to evangelize the British Isles. Pilot asked the centurion, who again was not a follower of Christ, if and how long He had been dead. Crucified men live for many hours or even days after being hung on the cross. The centurion who stood opposite Him saw that He took His last breath and said, "Truly this Man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39).

1. The physical proof cannot be discounted, for these things took place that the scripture might be fulfilled, "Not a bone of Him shall be broken." And again scripture says, "They shall look on Him whom they have pierced."(The service book for Holy Week and Easter.) "Since it was the day of Preparation, in order to prevent the bodies from remaining on the cross on the sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. " "When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water."
2. Go here to read how Crucifixion is viewed and you will know that Christ's pierced body verifies his death. http://www.allaboutjesuschrist.org/crucifixion.htm
3. The soldier's guarding the body became as dead men. So, who moved the stone? The followers? I think not, they were hidden together in a room afraid for their own lives. Besides that fact, what would they do with a dead body?
4. The women arriving and entering the tomb clearly encountered a young man clothed in a long white robe, (an angel). Who had a message "Go and tell His disciples and Peter--that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to You." He is risen!
5. "Later Jesus appeared to the eleven, rebuking their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen."(Mark 16:14). Remember He told his followers what would happen before it did in preparation for His death and after three days, His Resurrection. We see Him meeting in Galilee and they knew Him. He ate with them. We have been given enough information to go on. While seeing is believing, blessed is he who has not seen, yet believes.