1 Corinthians 15: 16-17, 20

For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins…but in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

I have several friends who have trouble believing I could possible believe in the resurrection of Christ. Their naturalist worldview can not accept a miracle of any kind and certainly not of this kind of proportion. Yet, if Christ was not raised from the dead this series of emails and everything a follower of Christ believes is absolutely worthless. That’s Paul’s point in the verses above when he states that “if in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.” Pitied, because of our own self-deception.

And so, some have created what may be the least believable false theory contradicting the resurrection of Christ by maintaining that Jesus didn’t really die. It’s called the “swoon theory” meaning that he simply passed out (fainted) on the cross and then, in the coolness of the tomb, he was resuscitated, pushed away the stone and walked away.

There are at least three separate groups of people who would refute the idea of the swoon theory.

• The Roman guards who served as professional executioners. Some of these men may have been involved in the scourging Jesus received before the crucifixion and they recognized a dead man when they saw one. When told to break the legs of the men who were dying on the cross, “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” (John 19:33-34).
• Pilate was satisfied with the work of his soldiers and released the corpse of Jesus to Joseph of Arimathea only after Jesus was confirmed to be dead. (Mark 15:42-45).
• Joseph of Arimathea is named as part of the Jewish leadership as a member of the ruling council. Other Jewish leaders witnessed his death and there is no record that they challenged his death – only his resurrection.

It is fair to say none of these were allies of Jesus. Some may have been indifferent and viewed the day’s crucifixion as another day at work, while others were sworn enemies of Christ and they all agreed on one fact. Jesus died on the cross.

It is the resurrection that the swoon theory targets indirectly because, without a real death, there can be no resurrection. 

The resurrection is key, isn’t it?  Knowing that you believe in the resurrection of Christ may be a tipping point in your life, but knowing why you believe takes you to a deeper level and a more effective light in our culture today. So read the Gospel accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection. Read all of 1 Corinthians 15. Know what and why you believe.