¶ Door Number Thirteen
¶ The Resurrection of Jesus Christ
¶ “And he shall speak to the people when in the cradle and when of old age, and (he shall be) one of the good ones.”
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most important topics in Christianity. Christians insist it was a physical Resurrection of Jesus whereby he returns from the dead after three days and emerges with his crucified body from the grave. Muslims believe there was no Resurrection as Jesus was not crucified to begin with and believe he was simply raised into heaven at the age of thirty-three, only to return in the end times. The Christians use as evidence for their claim the biblical accounts where the disciples find the tomb empty and Jesus (PBUH) appearing to them. The Muslims use the Qur’an and some hadith. But do the Bible and the Qur’an actually support the claims of Christians and Muslims?
One day I asked Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace), “Christians ask me, what is the reason for the Crucifixion? Was it in order to lift sin from the people as the Christians say and thereby this erases sins or mistakes from mankind, or what was the Crucifixion for?”
Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace) responded, “The Crucifixion and the crucified were a ransom and sacrifice and it is as they say, in order that the sins of mankind are forgiven, but not all of them. And not all sins from the beginning of creation until the end. Only the sins of those people who lived in that time. The sins of the believers and all those who were regretful but not the sins of the criminals.”
I asked Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace), “When Jesus (PBUH) appeared to the disciples after the Crucifixion it is written that he had markings in his hands from the Crucifixion, what is the meaning of this?”
Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace) replied, “This is not true, there were no marks from the Crucifixion in his hands or his body.”
I asked, “What about your sacrifice in Karbala?”
He (From Him is Peace) replied, “It is the same. And John the Baptist died for the same.” (Meaning Al-Hussein and John the Baptist (PBUT) sacrificed themselves in order that the people alive in their time be forgiven their sins).
I asked, “Is this a matter which happens by the choice of the Proof of God?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “It is a matter which falls by the choice of the Proof of Allah.”
¶ Different Ages: Sabi, Fata, Shab, Kahil, & Shaikh
I asked Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace), “What is the difference between a boy (Sabi) and a lad (Fata) and a young man (Shab) and an old man (Kahil) and an elderly man (Shaikh)?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “The difference from what aspect?”
I said, “I mean the boy (Sabi) is from what age to what age?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “The boy (Sabi) is someone from age ten to fifteen.”
I said, “And what about the lad (Fata)? There is no lad (Fata) except for Ali.”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “The lad (Fata) is from age fifteen to twenty.”
I asked, “And the youth (Shab)?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) responded, “And the youth (Shab) is from age twenty to forty.”
I asked, “And the old man (Kahil)?”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “The old man (Kahil) is from age sixty-five to seventy-five.”
I said, “Wow! And what about the elderly man (Shaikh)?”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “The elderly man (Shaikh) is above seventy-five years of age and onwards.”
I said, “God is great! Now here lies a great secret! God said about Jesus (PBUH): ‘And he shall speak to the people when in the cradle and when of old age, and (he shall be) one of the good ones.’ Then in this case, Jesus (PBUH) remained alive on the Earth until old age, until his seventies, correct?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “Yes, continue.”
I said, “Because people of all religions agree that Jesus (PBUH) was either raised or crucified at the age of thirty-three. So where then did he go, my Father, and did he meet up with the disciples? This is a huge topic and a big deal. The lost years of Jesus Christ post-Crucifixion.”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “You are correct my son, you are correct in every single word you spoke.”
I praised and glorified God and then I said, “This by God is a topic that the Christian and Muslim world will be amazed over.”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “Yes, exactly.”
I said, “My Father, what happened to Jesus after that, may I be your ransom, where did he go and what did he do?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied to me, “Why don’t you come to know the answer? Just as you came to know this. Not now, but go and reflect. You shall know and you shall see the events that took place in that time, you shall see it with your own eyes.”
¶ The Mystery of Jesus’ (PBUH) Body and Burial
One day I said to Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace), “What happened to the body of Jesus (PBUH) and where was his body buried?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “You would like to know where the body of Jesus was buried or what happened to it?”
I said, “Yes, and whether or not it was ever taken to the grave which Mary Magdalene visited.”
He (From Him is Peace) said, “In the beginning his body was not taken to that grave. Jesus (PBUH) was originally buried in another grave.”
I asked, “And then afterwards he was moved to the famous burial site?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “Yes.”
I said, “So when Mary Magdalene came to the site, he was not yet buried there?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) said, “Yes, he was placed temporarily in another site in order to safeguard him, then later he was transferred to that famous site.”
I asked the Imam (From Him is Peace), “What about the Talpiot Tomb that they discovered recently that bears the name of Yeshua bar Yehosef?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “Son, that grave that was discovered is a lie. They made it in order to divert attention away from the true grave because they are afraid of people uncovering the body.”
I asked, “So it was Simon Peter who buried Jesus (PBUH)?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “That is correct.”
I said, “But the rest of the disciples didn’t know and also Mary Magdalene didn’t know?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “Yes they didn’t know.”
I asked, “So Jesus (PBUH) had intentionally intended for people to believe that he was resurrected from the grave?”
The Imam (From Him is Peace) replied, “It was not Jesus (PBUH) but rather his disciples.”
¶ The Reality of the Resurrection
After the Crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, two secret disciples of Jesus (PBUH) went forth to Pilate and requested the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission for them to take the body away and they delivered the body to Simon Peter (PBUH), who was the vicegerent of Jesus (PBUH). Simon Peter took the body of Christ and buried it temporarily in a secret location in order that the Jews and Romans not defile his body. It was then that Mary Magdalene went forth to the grave where everyone thought Jesus (PBUH) was buried, but she found the tomb empty. The Gospels record that over the next forty days, Mary and the disciples saw Jesus a total of ten times. In reality, he appeared to them a dozen times. Each time that he appeared to them, they did not recognize him at first. They thought him to be a mere stranger only to later suddenly conclude that he was Jesus (PBUH).
Here are three of the accounts from the Gospels:
- 1. Jesus appears as a gardener to Mary Magdalene:
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
- 2. Jesus appears on the road to Emmaus as a stranger:
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him. He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
- 3. Jesus appears as a fisherman to the disciples:
Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus. He called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?” “No,” they answered. He said, “Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some.” When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, “It is the Lord,” he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water. The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards. When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus said to them,“Bring some of the fish you have just caught.” So Simon Peter climbed back into the boat and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” None of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
In addition to those examples from the Gospels, I will supply you with an additional example from the Gnostic Gospels. In the Nag Hammadi collection, a manuscript by the name of The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles tells us of another strange incident where it becomes abundantly clear that Jesus (PBUH) was appearing to the disciples in new bodies every time they met.
- 4. Jesus appears as Lithargoel the mysterious pearl merchant:
[...] which [...] purpose [... after ...] us [...] apostles [...]. We sailed [...] of the body. Others were not anxious in their hearts. And in our hearts, we were united. We agreed to fulfill the ministry to which the Lord appointed us. And we made a covenant with each other. We went down to the sea at an opportune moment, which came to us from the Lord. We found a ship moored at the shore ready to embark, and we spoke with the sailors of the ship about our coming aboard with them. They showed great kindliness toward us as was ordained by the Lord. And after we had embarked, we sailed a day and a night. After that, a wind came up behind the ship and brought us to a small city in the midst of the sea. And I, Peter, inquired about the name of this city from residents who were standing on the dock. A man among them answered, saying, “The name of this city is Habitation, that is, Foundation [...] endurance.” And the leader among them holding the palm branch at the edge of the dock. And after we had gone ashore with the baggage, I went into the city, to seek advice about lodging. A man came out wearing a cloth bound around his waist, and a gold belt girded it. Also a napkin was tied over his chest, extending over his shoulders and covering his head and his hands. I was staring at the man, because he was beautiful in his form and stature. There were four parts of his body that I saw: the soles of his feet and a part of his chest and the palms of his hands and his visage. These things I was able to see. A book cover like (those of) my books was in his left hand. A staff of styrax wood was in his right hand. His voice was resounding as he slowly spoke, crying out in the city, “Pearls! Pearls!” I, indeed, thought he was a man of that city. I said to him, “My brother and my friend!” He answered me, then, saying, “Rightly did you say, ‘My brother and my friend.’ What is it you seek from me?” I said to him, “I ask you about lodging for me and the brothers also, because we are strangers here.” He said to me, “For this reason have I myself just said, ‘My brother and my friend,’ because I also am a fellow stranger like you.” And having said these things, he cried out, “Pearls! Pearls!” The rich men of that city heard his voice. They came out of their hidden storerooms. And some were looking out from the storerooms of their houses. Others looked out from their upper windows. And they did not see (that they could gain) anything from him, because there was no pouch on his back nor bundle inside his cloth and napkin. And because of their disdain they did not even acknowledge him. He, for his part, did not reveal himself to them. They returned to their storerooms, saying, “This man is mocking us.” And the poor of that city heard his voice, and they came to the man who sells this pearl. They said, “Please take the trouble to show us the pearl so that we may, then, see it with our (own) eyes. For we are the poor. And we do not have this [...] price to pay for it. But show us that we might say to our friends that we saw a pearl with our (own) eyes.” He answered, saying to them, “If it is possible, come to my city, so that I may not only show it before your (very) eyes, but give it to you for nothing.” And indeed they, the poor of that city, heard and said, “Since we are beggars, we surely know that a man does not give a pearl to a beggar, but (it is) bread and money that is usually received. Now then, the kindness which we want to receive from you (is) that you show us the pearl before our eyes. And we will say to our friends proudly that we saw a pearl with our (own) eyes” - because it is not found among the poor, especially such beggars (as these). He answered (and) said to them, “If it is possible, you yourselves come to my city, so that I may not only show you it, but give it to you for nothing.” The poor and the beggars rejoiced because of the man who gives for nothing. The men asked Peter about the hardships. Peter answered and told those things that he had heard about the hardships of the way. Because they are interpreters of the hardships in their ministry. He said to the man who sells this pearl, “I want to know your name and the hardships of the way to your city because we are strangers and servants of God. It is necessary for us to spread the word of God in every city harmoniously.” He answered and said, “If you seek my name, Lithargoel is my name, the interpretation of which is, the light, gazelle-like stone. And also (concerning) the road to the city, which you asked me about, I will tell you about it. No man is able to go on that road, except one who has forsaken everything that he has and has fasted daily from stage to stage. For many are the robbers and wild beasts on that road. The one who carries bread with him on the road, the black dogs kill because of the bread. The one who carries a costly garment of the world with him, the robbers kill because of the garment. The one who carries water with him, the wolves kill because of the water, since they were thirsty for it. The one who is anxious about meat and green vegetables, the lions eat because of the meat. If he evades the lions, the bulls devour him because of the green vegetables.” When he had said these things to me, I sighed within myself, saying, “Great hardships are on the road! If only Jesus would give us power to walk it!” He looked at me since my face was sad, and I sighed. He said to me, “Why do you sigh, if you, indeed, know this name ‘Jesus’ and believe him? He is a great power for giving strength. For I too believe in the Father who sent him.” I replied, asking him, “What is the name of the place to which you go, your city?” He said to me, “This is the name of my city, ‘Nine Gates.’ Let us praise God as we are mindful that the tenth is the head.” After this I went away from him in peace. As I was about to go and call my friends, I saw waves and large high walls surrounding the bounds of the city. I marveled at the great things I saw. I saw an old man sitting and I asked him if the name of the city was really Habitation. He [...], “Habitation [...].” He said to me, “You speak truly, for we inhabit here because we endure.” I responded, saying, “Justly [...] have men named it [...], because (by) everyone who endures his trials, cities are inhabited, and a precious kingdom comes from them, because they endure in the midst of the apostasies and the difficulties of the storms. So that in this way, the city of everyone who endures the burden of his yoke of faith will be inhabited, and he will be included in the kingdom of heaven.” I hurried and went and called my friends so that we might go to the city that he, Lithargoel, appointed for us. In a bond of faith we forsook everything as he had said (to do). We evaded the robbers, because they did not find their garments with us. We evaded the wolves, because they did not find the water with us for which they thirsted. We evaded the lions, because they did not find the desire for meat with us. We evaded the bulls [...] they did not find green vegetables. A great joy came upon us and a peaceful carefreeness like that of our Lord. We rested ourselves in front of the gate, and we talked with each other about that which is not a distraction of this world. Rather we continued in contemplation of the faith. As we discussed the robbers on the road, whom we evaded, behold Lithargoel, having changed, came out to us. He had the appearance of a physician, since an unguent box was under his arm, and a young disciple was following him carrying a pouch full of medicine. We did not recognize him. Peter responded and said to him, “We want you to do us a favor, because we are strangers, and take us to the house of Lithargoel before evening comes.” He said, “In uprightness of heart I will show it to you. But I am amazed at how you knew this good man. For he does not reveal himself to every man, because he himself is the son of a great king. Rest yourselves a little so that I may go and heal this man and come (back).” He hurried and came (back) quickly. He said to Peter, “Peter!” And Peter was frightened, for how did he know that his name was Peter? Peter responded to the Savior, “How do you know me, for you called my name?” Lithargoel answered, “I want to ask you who gave the name Peter to you?” He said to him, “It was Jesus Christ, the son of the living God. He gave this name to me.” He answered and said, “It is I! Recognize me, Peter.” He loosened the garment, which clothed him - the one into which he had changed himself because of us - revealing to us in truth that it was he. We prostrated ourselves on the ground and worshipped him. We comprised eleven disciples. He stretched forth his hand and caused us to stand. We spoke with him humbly. Our heads were bowed down in unworthiness as we said, “What you wish we will do. But give us power to do what you wish at all times.” He gave them the unguent box and the pouch that was in the hand of the young disciple. He commanded them like this, saying, “Go into the city from which you came, which is called Habitation. Continue in endurance as you teach all those who have believed in my name, because I have endured in hardships of the faith. I will give you your reward. To the poor of that city give what they need in order to live until I give them what is better, which I told you that I will give you for nothing.” Peter answered and said to him, “Lord, you have taught us to forsake the world and everything in it. We have renounced them for your sake. What we are concerned about (now) is the food for a single day. Where will we be able to find the needs that you ask us to provide for the poor?” The Lord answered and said, “O Peter, it was necessary that you understand the parable that I told you! Do you not understand that my name, which you teach, surpasses all riches, and the wisdom of God surpasses gold, and silver and precious stone(s)?” He gave them the pouch of medicine and said, “Heal all the sick of the city who believe in my name.” Peter was afraid to reply to him for the second time. He signaled to the one who was beside him, who was John: “You talk this time.” John answered and said, “Lord, before you we are afraid to say many words. But it is you who asks us to practice this skill. We have not been taught to be physicians. How then will we know how to heal bodies as you have told us?” He answered them, “Rightly have you spoken, John, for I know that the physicians of this world heal what belongs to the world. The physicians of souls, however, heal the heart. Heal the bodies first, therefore, so that through the real powers of healing for their bodies, without medicine of the world, they may believe in you, that you have power to heal the illnesses of the heart also. The rich men of the city, however, those who did not see fit even to acknowledge me, but who reveled in their wealth and pride - with such as these, therefore, do not dine in their houses nor be friends with them, lest their partiality influence you. For many in the churches have shown partiality to the rich, because they also are sinful, and they give occasion for others to sin. But judge them with uprightness, so that your ministry may be glorified, and that my name also, may be glorified in the churches.” The disciples answered and said, “Yes, truly this is what is fitting to do.” They prostrated themselves on the ground and worshipped him. He caused them to stand and departed from them in peace. Amen.
Here are three examples from the New Testament and one example from a Gnostic source of incidents whereby Jesus (PBUH) appears to his disciples who always accompanied him, and yet they do not even recognize him. How could this be the case? They lived with Jesus (PBUH), learned from him, ate with him, and witnessed his final moments; yet, none of them even remembered what he looked like? While they finally recognized him through his words and deeds, they did not recognize him by his physical body or voice. How could they not know what he looked like or what he sounded like? There is no evidence that he was wearing a disguise even.
The answer, in short, is that Jesus (PBUH) appeared to them in different bodies. The stranger, the gardener, the fisherman, and Lithargoel were four different human bodies that Jesus’ soul transmigrated into. In Al-Haft Al-Shareef, Imam Al-Sadiq (From Him is Peace) interprets the verse of the Qur’an:
“They ruin their own Houses by their own Hands and at the Hands of the Believers; therefore learn a lesson, O those who can perceive!”
He (From Him is Peace) said:
“Their Houses are their Bodies and the Body is the House of the Spirit.”
Imam Ahmed Al-Hassan (From Him is Peace) further clarified: “Certain souls reach a degree that they can choose to enter into any bodies they want.” As the Qur’an says: “It is no fault on your part to enter houses not used for living in, which serve some (other) use for you.”
Clearly, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ (PBUH) was one of the return of the soul or transmigration of the soul from the body that was crucified to other bodies. Only the Proof of God could have solved such a perplexing mystery that has confounded people of faith for more than two millennia.
¶ Sources
- The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 3 (Al-Imran), Verse 46
- The Holy Bible, Book of John, Chapter 20, Verses 11-18
- The Holy Bible, Book of Luke, Chapter 24, Verses 13-35
- The Holy Bible, Book of John, Chapter 21, Verses 4-14
- The Acts of Peter and the Twelve Apostles
- Al-Haft Al-Shareef, Al-Mufaddel ibn Omar Al-Jofi, Door 20, p. 33
- The Holy Qur’an, Chapter 24 (Al-Nur), Verse 29