As it’s Easter and the topic is at hand, I’d like to ask the informed masses about the story. Why was it assumed that Jesus went into heaven? Was it because it had been prophesied? Did anyone suspect anything else? Does anyone today suspect anything else? Clearly, there are a number of alternative explanations for something that occurred which was not observed. Why did that one explanation have such power to convince? How do scholars view these events today?
Your thread title mentions Resurrection (rising from the dead), but the question you posted is about Ascension (disappearing into heaven); these are two separate events in the bible.
Which would you like to discuss.
[sup]Oh, and I’d be asking a mod to move this to GD if I were you[/sup]
I’m confused by your question, but I’ll try to address what I can.
For clarification: The resurrection was the rising from the dead. After the resurrection, Jesus spent further time with his apostles. He was with them for a while, then he ascended into Heaven.
The questions you are asking are some that I have to take on the basis of faith. I cannot prove a bit of it to you, but because of my faith, I believe that it happened. There are many out there who do not believe any of it, or who do believe the other explanations for the tale of Jesus.
For the apostles, it was believed, because they saw Jesus, and because it was prophesied. Sure there were folks then who suspected something else - I believe one of the passion stories has Pilate setting guards at the tomb because of the prophecies.
Am I coming anywhere close to answering your question? Let me know before I continue.
Mangetout, Lsura, I appologize for my naivete. I used the wrong term, I see, but my question is merely this: He disappeared, and then went into heaven, and I’m wondering why that particular explanation was so readily accepted in those times, and what scholars say today about those events. Perhaps, as you suggest, it is simply a matter of faith: That’s the story and I believe it. So I think I’m asking why didn’t alternative explanations have the same power? What did others think? Do any biblical scholars today question the account? I mean, other stories are accepted as apocrypha, or at least as metaphor, aren’t they? Am I muddying the waters? I just want to know why people believed that then and still believe that in light of the rather far-fetched nature of the claim. And please, I mean no disrespect. I don’t know any other way to understand something that has puzzled me for quite some time. thanks.
Well, I think that one reason that the ascension has been readily accepted is that it is presented as having been witnessed by the eleven remaining disciples (Judas absent) and that he said that’s where he was off to; I realise, of course, that this proves nothing, but I’ve never heard any alternative explanations or accounts, except the views of people who say it is simply fiction.
In my experience, most people find it sufficient to poke around at debunking the resurrection; in doing that, they can logically discount anything claimed to have happened afterwards.
Oh, and I don’t think it’s an outstandingly far-fetched claim, no more than many others in the New Testament, that is.
People often laugh and say “Rose from the dead? - come now, that sort of thing simply doesn’t happen”, but they are missing the whole point; it’s meant to be unusual.
I’ll be honest, I’ve never heard any other explanations. The description is in Acts 1:9-11. This passage states that the apostles saw the ascension. These apostles were sent out “into the world” to spread what they knew. If you were a first century citizen and heard this story from someone who saw it (or claims they did), would you believe it?
I don’t know that anyone presented any other explanations - can you provide a cite of one such explanation from that time period?
It’s possible there are biblical scholars today who question the account - I can certainly think of a number of simpler explanations. I don’t know who they would be - someone more knowledgeable may be along shortly.
I’m not at all offended by your question - I just feel that I’m not answering it well.
Everyone knows he went to France with Mary Magdelene, jeez.
Yes, I do believe in the Ressurection and the Ascension