The following is a simulated discussion between a Jehovah's Witness named Joe and a Christian named Chris. Joe: Chris, last week we were talking about Jesus being resurrected as a spirit creature, however when Jesus appeared to Thomas he had to create a body similar to the one that died on the stake or else Thomas would never have been able to believe. Chris: The passage that you are referring to is found in Luke chapter 24. Let's start reading in verse 36. Joe: I want to read this in my own New World Translation. Verse 36 says "While they were speaking of these things he himself stood in their midst [[and said to them: 'May YOU have peace."]] Chris: Now, Joe, I want to ask you a very important question. At this point, at the time that this was occurring, where was Jesus' body? You know, the body that died on the tree? Joe: Well, let's see...this was more than three days after Jesus' death so the body had been dissolved by Jehovah God into gases. Chris: Are you sure? Joe: Of course I am sure. The women had gone to the tomb and found it empty. Only the grave clothes of Jesus were left after God disposed of his body. Chris: So at this point, Jesus' body was gone, annihilated, disposed of. He was now a spirit creature, correct? Joe: Yes, that is absolutely correct. Chris: Joe, could you please read verse 37. Joe: But because they were terrified, and had become frightened, they were imagining they beheld a spirit. Chris: So they were believing at this point that Jesus was appearing as a spirit? Joe: They thought that he was a wicked spirit. Chris: But a spirit, right? Joe: It would be very frightening to have a spirit appear in front of you. People were always afraid when an angel appeared. Chris: Then Jesus should have commended them for their belief that he was spirit, right? But what did Jesus say in verse 38? Joe: "So he said to them: 'Why are YOU troubled, and why is it doubts come up in YOUR hearts?" Chris: Why did Jesus call them doubters? Why didn't he say "You're right, I am a spirit!" Joe: I guess because Thomas needed to see the nail holes. Chris: Unfortunately for the Watchtower, Jesus does a very poor job of trying to convince them that he is actually a spirit. Read verse 39. Joe: "See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; feel me and see, because a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as YOU behold that I have." Oh I see where you are misunderstanding. You see Jesus was not appearing as a spirit at this point. He took on another body to show Thomas. At this point it was not his purpose to show them that he was a spirit. Chris: Appears to me that Jesus is denying that he is a spirit. He says "A spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have." Jesus said that these were his hands and his feet, not just a body that he had created for an hour or two. Joe: I told you before, he had to show Thomas a body. The one he died in was no longer in existence. He had to create one for Thomas to touch. After this occasion Jesus was very insistent that the bodies he took on were not even close to the one he had before he died. Chris: The story about Thomas is repeated in the book of John. Look at John 20:25. Joe: "Consequently the other disciples would say to him: 'We have seen the Lord!' But he said to them: 'Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and stick my finger into the print of the nails and stick my hand into his side, I will certainly not believe.'" Chris: You are telling me that the body that the Romans drove the nails through the hands and the feet was no longer in existence. Joe: That's correct. Chris:: Look at verse 25. It says that Thomas needed to see the print of the nails in Jesus' hands before he would believe. Joe, who drove the nails in the body that Jesus showed Thomas? Joe: The Romans did of course. Chris: You told me that the body of Jesus that the Romans pierced through with nails and hung on the tree was destroyed by God. So tell me, Joe, the body that stood before Thomas that day...Who drove the nails in those hands?
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