8. The Resurrection of Our Bodies

 

 

 

The Resurrection of Our Bodies

The representation of not few people about the resurrection is more in the domain of a certain abstractness, of an event with impalpable beings without body, not being part of our reality and ocurring rather in a world of floating and immaterial spirits.

Their interpretation is that of a resurrection only of the spirit, in other words the risen people are supposed to take merely shapes of spirits without a physical body.

The resurrection of the body is for many people out of the question, as this is for the human mind unthinkable.

But let us consider in which way had Jesus risen from the dead. The apostle Peter relates the following about Jesus:

39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:
40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;
41 ... even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.”

(Acts 10.39-41)

Could a spirit have been able to eat and drink?
When Jesus had appeared to his disciples for the first time after his resurrection, these also thought of seeing a ghost, just because as – the same way as today – the resurrection of the body was something unimaginable. The evangelist Luke relates:

36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.”

(Luke 24.36-43)

What is said about the ones who accept Jesus in faith?
How will they rise?
The Bible is telling it to us:

11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies ...”

(Romans 8.11)