Last article, we looked at some passages to share with a Jehovah’s Witness when we are discussing the resurrection. We must let them know that this is of FIRST IMPORTANCE in our discussion. Share I Corinthians 15:3, 4 with them,

“For I delivered to you as of FIRST IMPORTANCE what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures and that He was buried, and that He was raised from the dead, according to the Scriptures.”

This is the heart and soul of the Good News.  And if He died and stayed dead it would not be important. The fact that Jesus was raised makes this of FIRST IMPORTANCE.

As we talk to them about the resurrection of Jesus they will bring up different objections to the physical body of Jesus being raised. Remember, they believe that He was raised a spirit creature/Michael the Archangel.

Appeared as a Gardener and Didn’t Recognize Him

One of the first things they will say is that Jesus, when he appeared to them, he appeared as a Gardener. John 20:13-17,

“And they said to her, ‘Woman why are you weeping?’ She said to them,   ‘because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.’ When she had said this, she turned around, and beheld Jesus standing there, and she did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?’ Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him,     ‘Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.’  Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means, Teacher).

Jesus said to her, ‘Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.”

Mary came to the tomb early Sunday morning. She was going to finish preparing the body. She was surprised the body was gone. She was not expecting the resurrection. She thought someone took the body. She “supposed” Jesus to be the Gardener. She was in tears. Under the circumstances it sounds like an honest response. Jesus did not appear in a different form. He was Himself after the resurrection. She did not recognize Him.  Jehovah’s Witnesses say He appeared as a Gardener. We can read the context and it was Mary who assumed it. He did not appear as a gardener. She thought He was the gardener at first.  When she realized who He was, she responded, Rabboni. She clung to Him. How can you cling to a spirit?  Remember, last article we read that Jesus let them touch Him and He ate in front of them to confirm He in fact is alive.  The Witnesses will say they did not recognize Him. Since they didn’t recognize Him He must have had a different body.  The text they take us to is Luke 24, the Road to Emmaus.

He Kept Them from Recognizing Him

In Luke 24 the story is on the Road to Emmaus (Verse 13). The disciples were talking about all the events of that day. The Tomb was empty and others say they saw Him. As they walked Jesus came up to them. They did not recognize Him. Why? Verse 16 states,

“But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him”

He was keeping them from recognizing them for whatever reason He had. Verse 31 though tells us,

“And their eyes were opened and they recognized Him: and He vanished from their sight.”

Jesus was acting in a way that kept them from knowing who He was. As God he could do that. As God He could “vanish” with no problem whenever he wanted. Jehovah’s Witnesses would use this and the idea that in John 20:19, 20 He was a spirit. Here, He  just “appears” in their midst.

“When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”

As God, He controls everything. Remember, even before the resurrection He walked on water. He overcame the “laws of nature.” If He could do that before the resurrection, how much more can we see it after the resurrection.  And in this context He showed them His hands and side. He wanted them to know it was Jesus, the one who was crucified and died.

Raised in the Spirit

Jehovah’s Witnesses will use I Peter 3:18 in explaining the resurrection.  I Peter 3:18 states,

“For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses teach this verse supports being raised a spirit being or angel. What does this actually tell us?  That He was raised by the Spirit. If we accept that Jesus was raised a spirit then the implications for the Christians at Rome are staggering. In Romans 8:9, we read;

“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, He does not belong to Him.”

The Roman Christians are not in the flesh but in the Spirit. Are we to assume they are all spirit beings? No, they are humans who have the Spirit of God in them. They are true Christians.  When Peter tells us Christ was made alive in the spirit He is saying that the Spirit of God raised Him from the dead. Romans 8:11 confirms this:

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies  through His Spirit who indwells you.”

God’s Spirit gives life to us. He gave Life to Jesus’ physical body. His body is subjected to the Spirit.

Flesh and Blood Cannot Inherit the Kingdom of God

I Corinthians 15:50 states:

“Now I say this brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.”

Jehovah’s Witnesses say that Jesus can not be flesh and blood or he could not inherit the Kingdom. They say this is a reason he is spirit or angel. The term “flesh and blood” is used a number of times in the scriptures. Matthew 16:18; Galatians 1:16; I Corinthians 15:50; Ephesians 6:12.  The meaning of flesh and blood means natural man. Look at each one of these passages and in the place of “flesh and blood” put fallen man or natural man.  Flesh and blood does not by itself communicate with us.  Remember in the first article Jesus said He was Flesh and BONES not Blood. Make that clear to them.

In Conclusion

In sharing our faith with a Jehovah’s Witness we must get them to see the centrality of the event. It is not a side issue. In Acts we see this as the Message.  Acts 1:3f; 2:23-33; 3:15; 4:10; 5:30; 10:39,40; 13;29,30; 17:1-3, 18, 31; 26:23 all stress Jesus and the Resurrection. Read those passages in context and notice the key thought Jesus has risen.

Jehovah’s Witnesses do not know this and are going around lost and teaching others about their error. We must labor for them in prayer and in witness. Stick with the central theme or those things of FIRST IMPORTANCE, the gospel, new life in Christ via the resurrection.  One day they can say with us, He is risen! He is Risen indeed!  Amen and Amen.

By David Henke