The “Swoon Theory” is the theory that Jesus never really died on the cross. It is the theory that Jesus never really died on the cross but that He was crucified and was close to death. It also states that He was taken down from the cross and put in the tomb. After three days in the tomb He revived and managed to roll away the stone, escape from the tomb and appear to the disciples making them think He had risen from the dead.
Oh yes, there are flaws in this theory!
1. Both friends and enemies of Jesus believed that He was dead. The Roman executioners were very good at their jobs. They drove nails into his feet and wrists after they whipped and beat Him to a pulp. They stuck a spear into His side! A tradition with the Romans was to break the legs of the crucified to speed up the death process, they didn’t break Jesus’ legs because they knew He was already deceased. Breaking of the legs made the victim unable to push himself back up to breathe, the victim would then die from asphyxiation, cruel indeed! Pilate confirmed His death afterward.
2. Jesus was wrapped in about 75lbs of bandages and spice. Would they embalm a living body?
3. How could Jesus still be alive 36 hours later in that tomb? A man that was badly bleeding and with horrific injuries?
4. Even if He could survive that length of time in a tomb, how did he roll extremely (historians say the rock was 2 tons) heavy stone away from the mouth of that tomb?
The Islamic Faith holds onto this theory as evidence that Jesus is NOT the Christ! They have some outlandish ideas of how the body went missing, but fall flat. One is that the disciples stole the body. How did the disciples not get noticed by the Roman guards that were trained to guard the tomb with their very lives? Another theory trying to debunk the rising Christ is that there was a substitute Jesus on the cross. This assertion has no evidence at all to back it up. How do they explain all the friends and enemies of Jesus watching this punishment not know it was Jesus Himself? His Mother too?
Many skeptics have many many lies to discredit the Word of God. Please pray for the unbelievers, and take solice in the fact that Jesus said He will return and all knees will bow!
John 14:1-3 NASB
In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.
Psalm 22 prophesied Jesus’ crucifixion centuries before crucifixtions were even around! Praise God!
22 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?
Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.
2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer;
And by night, but I have no rest.
3 Yet You are holy,
O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.
4 In You our fathers trusted;
They trusted and You delivered them.
5 To You they cried out and were delivered;
In You they trusted and were not disappointed.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
A reproach of men and despised by the people.
7 All who see me sneer at me;
They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,
8 “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”
9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
10 Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.
11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near;
For there is none to help.
12 Many bulls have surrounded me;
Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me.
13 They open wide their mouth at me,
As a ravening and a roaring lion.
14 I am poured out like water,
And all my bones are out of joint;
My heart is like wax;
It is melted within me.
15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
And my tongue cleaves to my jaws;
And You lay me in the dust of death.
16 For dogs have surrounded me;
A band of evildoers has encompassed me;
They pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
They look, they stare at me;
18 They divide my garments among them,
And for my clothing they cast lots.
19 But You, O Lord, be not far off;
O You my help, hasten to my assistance.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
My only life from the power of the dog.
21 Save me from the lion’s mouth;
From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me.
22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren;
In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him;
All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,
And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.
24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;
Nor has He hidden His face from him;
But when he cried to Him for help, He heard.
25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly;
I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him.
26 The afflicted will eat and be satisfied;
Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.
Let your heart live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
And all the families of the nations will worship before You.
28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s
And He rules over the nations.
29 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship,
All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him,
Even he who cannot keep his soul alive.
30 Posterity will serve Him;
It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation.
31 They will come and will declare His righteousness
To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.
God Bless
Brian Mason
Beacon Apologetics 