The Resurrection of Christ (12:2)

The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead two days after His crucifixion: (12:3) 11

And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. (12:4)

But God raised him from the dead: And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. (act 13:29-31) (12:5) see

Some verses in the New Testament describe a resurrection of Christ's physical body and its assumption into the physical heaven. Other verses describe the spiritual nature of the Resurrection. The Baha'i understanding of the Resurrection is that it was a divine, spiritual body that was resurrected and seen by the apostles. (12:6) 76

Paul speaks of the spiritual nature of the Resurrection: (12:7)

So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.. (12:8)

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. (1co 15:42-44, 50) (12:9) see

God is a spirit (joh 4:24), and since Christ is the Son of God, His reality is, most importantly, spiritual. Christ was the Resurrection even before He was crucified: (12:10) see

I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live. (joh 11:25) (12:11) see

So "resurrection" clearly has a deep spiritual significance. (12:12)

Christ was seen risen by His apostles; He spent time with them, taught them, ate with them. However, many times when Christ appeared to His disciples after His crucifixion, they did not recognize Him. How could this be? Wouldn't they have recognized Him if He appeared to them with His physical body? Remember that Paul says that he was a witness to the Resurrection, and yet He only saw a bright light. Could it be that Christ's appearances after the Resurrection were spiritual experiences, such as Paul describes? A reference to Christ in Hebrews reads Who in the days of his flesh, indicating a distinction between his body of flesh, which He had in the days of his flesh (now past), and his spiritual body, which is the condition in which He now exists. (12:13) see

What does the word "flesh" mean, as spoken in the Bible? Jesus raised the station and meaning of the word "flesh": (12:14)

I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (12:15)

The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? (12:16)

Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. (12:17)

Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. (12:18) 04

This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (12:19)

These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? (12:20)

It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. (joh 6:51-63) (12:21) see

Those disciples who interpreted these words of Jesus in a physical sense-and there were many-left Him because of them. But to those who could perceive their inner significance, how meaningful were His words. He compares His body to His Teachings. Should He ascend to Heaven, His disciples should know that His Words, not His body, are spirit and life. (12:22)

The Baha'i understanding is this:
The reality of Christ, the Spirit of Christ, the perfections of Christ all came from heaven. Consequently, by saying He was the bread which came from heaven He meant that the perfections which He showed forth were divine perfections, that the blessings within Him were heavenly gifts and bestowals, that His light was the light of Reality. He said, "If any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever." That is to say, whosoever assimilates these divine perfections which are within me will never die; whosoever has a share and partakes of these heavenly bounties I embody will find eternal life; he who takes unto himself these divine lights shall find everlasting life. How manifest the meaning is! How evident! For the soul which acquires divine perfections and seeks heavenly illumination from the teachings of Christ will undoubtedly live eternally. (pup 450-451) (12:23)

So, Christ's flesh is His divine perfections, His heavenly teachings. This is the flesh that He commanded us to eat. If Christ were actually dead for two days then how could He have promised the man who was crucified with Him that He would be with him that same day? (12:24)

Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (luk 23:43) (12:25) see

Clearly, Christ's spirit, His divine soul, did not die on that day, but was alive and in heaven. This is also confirmed by the following verses: (12:26)

And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. (mrk 15:37) (12:27) see

If He gave up the ghost, then where did it go? (12:28)

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (luk 23:46) (12:29) see

Christ commended His spirit into His Father's hands. His spirit left His body and went to the Father. He was with the man who was crucified with Him on that same day. The Baha'i Writings explain: (12:30) 76

Therefore, we say that the meaning of Christ's resurrection is as follows: the disciples were troubled and agitated after the martyrdom of Christ. The Reality of Christ, which signifies His teachings, His bounties, His perfections and His spiritual power, was hidden and concealed for two or three days after His martyrdom, and was not resplendent and manifest. No, rather it was lost, for the believers were few in number and were troubled and agitated. The Cause of Christ was like a lifeless body; and when after three days the disciples became assured and steadfast, and began to serve the Cause of Christ, and resolved to spread the divine teachings, putting His counsels into practice, and arising to serve Him, the Reality of Christ became resplendent and His bounty appeared; His religion found life; His teachings and His admonitions became evident and visible. In other words, the Cause of Christ was like a lifeless body until the life and the bounty of the Holy Spirit surrounded it. (saq 104) (12:31)

Paul confirms that the "body" of Christ refers to the Church: (12:32)

For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (eph 5:30) (12:33) see

Baha'is believe that this is the body-the Church-that was resurrected after the crucifixion. The eternal Spirit of Christ, which has existed for all time did not die, nor does Christ need a physical body now that He has left the earth. (12:34)

After the martyrdom of Christ, to Whom be glory, the disciples were greatly disturbed and disheartened. Even Peter had denied Christ and tried to shun Him. It was a woman, Mary Magdalene, who confirmed the wavering disciples in their faith, saying, 'Was it the body of Christ or the reality of Christ that ye have seen crucified? Surely it was His body. His reality is everlasting and eternal; it hath neither beginning nor ending.' (pup 282) (12:35)

The spiritual nature of Christ's reality is demonstrated in the daily lives of His followers: (12:36)

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (mat 18:20) (12:37) see

If we truly believe this, then we are testifying that His spirit, not His physical body, is His true reality. (12:38)

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