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Is God Dead?
David Mirsch’s hypothesis of a clandestine use of drugs to render Jesus comatose on the cross is an ad hoc claim. He offers no supporting data, and the assertion cannot be proven. Beyond that, all swoon theories should address the most critical question: Could He have survived?
The evidence seems clear; there is no amount of liniment or spice or, as Brandht suggests, “nutriment from the tomb,” that could heal his contusions, mainly the ankle bones of Jesus, in such a timeframe (if ever) to allow him to be seen upright and walking a mere few days after the crucifixion.
In fact, biblical scholar Michael Licona concludes that even if Jesus had been removed from the cross prematurely and medically assisted, his chances for survival would have been very bleak.”
David Strauss, the nineteenth- century liberal theologian, presented the unrealistic nature of the swoon claims, stating, “It is impossible that one who had just come forth from the grave half dead, who crept about weak and ill, in need of medical treatment, of bandaging, strengthening, and tender care, and who at last succumbed to suffering, could ever have given to the disciples that impression that he conquered over death and the grave.”
No doubt, such a presentation of Christ to the disciples would have weakened the impression of one who had conquered death. Matthew records that Jesus appeared to the eleven disciples at Galilee and that “When they saw Him, they worshiped him; but some were doubtful.” (Matthew 28:17). The fact that some were doubtful gives testament that Jesus was fully healed and well.
Had he appeared before them in the condition described by Strauss, no one would have doubted; the evidence that he had been so abused by crucifixion would have been overwhelmingly evident. Due consideration needs also be given to the excruciating, post-crucifixion pain that would have been. Dr. Michael Carnahan, board-certified pain management physician, states, “It is medically impossible, from a pain tolerance perspective alone, to think Jesus could have appeared three days later to the disciples as fully healed.” Even had the proper narcotics been available, the dosages needed would have rendered Jesus incoherent, not the glorified presence portrayed to the disciples.
Most convincingly, the spear thrust was not a beneficial “bloodletting” as Deedat proposed, nor was it a superficial flesh wound as proposed by Mirsch. To claim either is to deny the fact that the soldiers of Rome were professional and practiced killers adhering to a duty on which they prided themselves.
The embarrassment and corporal punishment of botching a crucifixion in the presence of witnesses was to be avoided with diligence, and to assume otherwise is unrealistic and in opposition to the records of Paul, the Gospels, and Rome. In addition, the spear thrust to the heart was not a Gospel myth; it “has also been verified as a Roman crucifixion technique by the Roman author, Quintilian (A.D. 35-95).
Edwards and Gabel write, “Clearly, the weight of historical and medical evidence indicated Jesus was dead before the wound to his side,” Adding that had he not been dead, the spear thrust by the Roman soldier would have ensured death.
Considering the overwhelming medical testimony, the fact is, even if Jesus were not dead when removed from the cross, anything short of a modern, fully staffed Intensive Care Unit, a staff of highly skilled surgeons, and at least 6-weeks of immobile recovery, the swoon hypothesis that Jesus did not die on the cross and later walked from the tomb is unfounded and unsupported by modern medical knowledge.
For these reasons and more, we can safely say that David Mirsch’s Swoon Theory fails to acknowledge two of the three minimal historical bedrock facts: Jesus Died by crucifixion; Recall, a broad consensus of scholars, both Christian and atheistic, believe this fact. Mirsch, however, disagrees.
Very shortly after Jesus’ death, the disciples had experiences that led them to believe and proclaim that Jesus had been resurrected and had appeared to them. Mirsch does provide a theory for this appearance fact, but it is implausible.
Within a few years after Jesus’ death, Paul converted after experiencing what he interpreted as a post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to him. Mirisch fails to address the minimal bedrock fact of the Pauline appearance of Jesus on the Road to Damascus.
All in all, having failed to address two of these three minimal historical bedrock facts and provide a plausible explanation of what happened to Jesus after His crucifixion, we can set aside David Mirsch’s theory and all swoon-type theories. Since it is a historical fact that a man named Jesus of Nazareth lived, was crucified by the Romans, and was buried, what can explain the other two bedrock facts of his appearance to his disciples and to Paul?
It has been suggested by critics that the disciples hallucinated a risen Jesus. Join us next week as we begin to investigate; “were the disciples tripping?” Until then, think about the evidence so far, then ask yourself: is God dead?
Gloria in excelsis Deo!
Ty B. Kerley, DMin., is an ordained minister who teaches Christian apologetics and relief preaches in Southern Oklahoma. Dr. Kerley and his wife, Vicki, are members of the Waurika church of Christ and live in Ardmore, OK. You can contact him at [email protected].
