The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus (A Medical Perspective)

In this article we will commence a series of blog posts exploring the case for the resurrection of Jesus. We will consider some of the rationalist explanations against the resurrection, as well as the counter claims against these explanations.

In part 1 we will consider crucifixion from a medical perspective and look at the possibility of Jesus surviving the cross.

In Part 2 we will consider whether Jesus’ tomb was actually empty.

And in Part 3 we will consider whether the disciples actually saw the risen Jesus, or whether there was a rational explanation such as hallucination.

Before we begin, let’s take a brief look at who wrote the accounts about Jesus, and when they were written. There are four Gospel accounts written by four different people. We have the Gospel according to Matthew, who is believed to have been one of the apostles, and an eyewitness to the events. This was written around 50 to 60 A.D. There is the Gospel according to Mark, who was a close associate of Peter, one of the apostles. Many scholars believe this is the earliest record and was written sometime in the 50s A.D. There is the Gospel according to Luke, who was an associate of the apostle Paul. This was written around the late 50s to early 60s A.D. Finally, we have the Gospel according to John, who was also an eyewitness to the events. This was written towards the end of the first century, around 85 A.D. We also have several letters written by the apostle Paul, one of which includes an early creed regarding the resurrection, which most scholars believe was written around 55 A.D. All of these records were recorded within the lifetime of people who could dispute Jesus’ existence, death by crucifixion and the empty tomb story, if these facts were simply myths.

My two previous posts on the Historical Jesus also demonstrate how the non-Christian references to Jesus corroborate with the New Testament accounts.

Did Jesus Actually Die on the Cross, or was It A Hoax?

The idea that Jesus never actually died on the cross can be found in the Quran. Some Muslims believe that Jesus fled to India, and there is a shrine that supposedly marks his real burial place in Srinagar, Kashmir. Others have suggested that Jesus only fainted from exhaustion on the cross, or that he had been given a drug that made him appear to die, and was later revived before appearing to the disciples. This view, conspiracy theorists believe, is backed up by that fact Jesus was given some liquid on a sponge while on the cross (Mark 15: 36). As a result, it has been suggested that his reappearance was not a miraculous resurrection but rather a resuscitation, and his tomb was empty because he was still alive.

The Torture Before the Cross

To see whether these accusations are feasible we need to get a picture of what Jesus went through, so the events leading up to the crucifixion will be considered first. This is also where the first sceptical interjection comes into play.

After the last supper Jesus went with his disciples to the Mount of Olives and prayed all night. During this process he was anticipating what was about to happen to him, so was quite naturally under a great amount of physiological stress. We are told in the gospel accounts that Jesus began to sweat blood at this point - which immediately raises alarm bells to critics of the gospel accounts. It brings into question the validity of the gospel writers accounts and their imaginations.

However, there is a medical condition called ‘hematidrosis’, that is associated with high levels of stress. It results in the release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands, which allows a small amount of bleeding into these glands, so the sweat consequently comes out tinged with blood. This would have also had a very detrimental effect on Jesus’ skin, as it would have become extremely fragile and very sensitive before he was flogged by the Roman Soldiers.

Roman floggings were known to be terribly brutal. They generally consisted of thirty-nine lashes, but often more, depending on the mood of the soldier delivering the punishment. The soldier would use a whip of braided leather thongs with metal balls woven into them. When the whip would strike the flesh, these balls would cause deep bruises or contusions, which would break open with further blows. Their whips also had pieces of sharp bone woven into them which would cut the flesh severely. The back would be so shredded that parts of the spine would sometimes be exposed by the deep cuts.

Physicians who have studied Roman beatings have commented on how the lacerations would tear into the underlying skeletal muscles and produce quivering ribbons of bleeding flesh. Eusebius, a 3rd Century Historian described the floggings by saying:

“The sufferer’s veins were laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews, and bowels of the victim were open to exposure.”

Josephus, a 1st Century Jewish Historian described the outcome of a flogging:

“He was whipped until his bones showed”

Many people would die from this kind of beating even before they could be crucified. At the very least, the victim would experience tremendous pain and go into hypovolemic shock. We see evidence in the gospel accounts that Jesus had gone into hypovolemic shock, as he collapsed whilst carrying the cross and was also recorded as saying that he was thirsty. There is no doubt that Jesus would have been in a very bad condition before the nails were driven through his hands and feet.

The Cross

Historians are unanimous in confirming that Jesus survived the beating and went on to face the cross; where the real issue lies. Once Jesus arrived at the crucifixion site he would have been laid down, and his hands would have been nailed in the outstretched position to the horizontal beam. The Romans used spikes that were five to seven inches long and tapered to a sharp point. The nails were driven through the wrists (considered part of the hand in the language of the day), which would then lock the hand into place.

The nail would go through the place where the median nerve runs. This is the largest nerve going out to the hand, and it would be crushed by the nail that was being hammered in. Physician, Alexander Metherell, describes the pain being similar to a person taking a pair of pliers and squeezing, twisting and crushing the nerve; the pain would have been unbearable. The very word ‘excruciating’ comes from two Latin words: ex cruciatus, which means ‘out of the cross’. Crucifixion was the definition of unbearable pain. Next, the nails were driven through Jesus’ feet, and again, the nerves in his feet would have been crushed; resulting in a similar type of pain. Once the cross had been hoisted upright, Jesus’ arms would have been stretched about six inches in length, and both shoulders would have become dislocated.

Stoic Philosopher, Seneca adds further details about crucifixion:

“Some hang their victims upside down. Some impale them through the private parts. Others stretch out their arms onto forked poles. Anyone facing such a death would plead to die rather than mount the cross.”

The Cause of Death

The big question now is determining whether death could have been faked or eluded at this point. Once a person is hanging on the cross, crucifixion is essentially a slow and agonising death by asphyxiation. The reason for this is that the stresses on the muscles and diaphragm put the chest into the inhaled position; basically, in order to exhale, the individual must push up on their feet so the tension on the muscles would be eased for a moment. In doing so, the nail would tear through the foot, eventually locking up against the tarsal bones. After managing to exhale, the person would then be able to relax down and take another breath in. Again, they would have to push themselves up to exhale, scraping their bloodied back against the rough wood of the cross. This would go on and on until complete exhaustion would take over, and the person would not be able to push up and breathe anymore.

To be certain that the victims of crucifixion were dead, the soldiers would often break the legs of the crucified person. The gospels say that soldiers broke the legs of the two criminals being crucified next to Jesus, and sceptics question why this did not happen to Jesus. As we read in the gospel accounts, Jesus’ legs were not broken because the soldiers had already determined that Jesus was dead, and they used a spear to confirm this.

Other questions have been raised about crucifixion itself. Critical scholars claim that the feet and hands of criminals were just tied to the cross, and not nailed. Harvard Theological Review concluded many years ago that there is little evidence to suggest that victim’s hands and feet were actually nailed to the cross, so questioned the reliability of the New Testament accounts. However, alongside numerous detailed Roman references to crucifixion, in 1968 archaeologists in Jerusalem found the remains of about three dozen Jews who had died during the uprising against Rome around 70 A.D. One victim had been crucified. And sure enough, they found a seven-inch nail still driven into his feet, with small pieces of olive wood from the cross still attached.

Some other critics doubt the ability of the soldiers to actually judge if someone was dead on the cross or not. Though Roman Soldiers may not have had any special medical training, if there was one thing Roman soldiers knew how to do well, it was killing people. They knew without doubt whether a person was dead or not. Besides, the penalty for a Roman Soldier letting a prisoner escape, was death; a pretty good incentive to make sure Jesus was dead.

Closing Thoughts

If Jesus, against all the odds, survived this ordeal, his condition would have been dire; his back would have been torn to pieces, he would have had holes in hands, feet and side, as well as dislocated shoulders. If Jesus somehow managed to locate his disciples in this condition, it’s hardly likely that he would have inspired his disciples to suddenly believe he was resurrected, and that they should proclaim this to the world. They would have seen a man in a terrible condition, after suffering the flogging, beating and crucifixion. He would have suffered catastrophic blood loss and would have looked so pitiful that the disciples would never have hailed him as a victorious conqueror of death; they would have felt sorry for him and tried to nurse him back to health. It seems impossible that such a wide scale movement based on this sort of situation could have occurred.

Historians are unanimous in confirming Jesus’ death by crucifixion, however, the case does not stop here. In order for a wide scale Christian movement based on the resurrection to have commenced, there must have been something else to happen after his death. In the next post we will consider the burial of Jesus, and whether the tomb was actually found empty.