Msg Base:  AREA 3  - ASK FATHER (AMDG)
  Msg No: 222.  Mon 12-28-92 11:26  (NO KILL)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Christopher Kolb
 Subject: Christ's Resurrection

CK|Early this week the BIBLE ANSWER MAN show answered a callers question
  |about Christ's resurrection.  CRI stated that Christ rose from the dead
  |with flesh and bones only--that all of His Blood had been shed on the
  |cross.   This took me back for a minute as I had never heard this stated
  |by anyone before.  I would appreciate your comments on this.
  |I am a Catholic from Maryland and have just started subscribing to THIS
  |ROCK
  |.
  |I will be looking forward to your reply. Thanks
  |VIVAT JESUS!.....Chris Kolb
 
 
Dear Chris,
 
In Luke 24:39, Jesus tells his disciples: "Look at my hands and my
feet, that it is I myself.  Touch me and see, because a ghost does
not have flesh and bones as you can see I have".  Evidently because
of this text, read with a dismaying literalness, the BIBLE ANSWER
MAN has concluded that Christ rose from the dead with flesh and
bones only -- because all of His blood had been shed on the cross
and so He can't have it back.  But that will not do.
 
Jesus called his disciples' attention to his hands and feet because
he retained there the marks of the nails -- indeed a strong proof
for them "that it is I myself."  Later (John 20:27), Thomas made a
closer inspection of these marks and of the spear-wound in His side.
For the same reason of reassuring the disciples' faith in their
Risen Lord, Jesus called their attention to His "flesh and bones."
These they could see and perhaps even feel if he let them.  But the
rest of Him would be of no apologetic value.  He forebore, therefore,
to give them a complete list of His body parts, blood, saliva, hair,
teeth, cartilage, etc., although in rising from the dead, he repossessed
these also.  The Risen Christ was perfect, not missing any parts.
 
If the ANSWER MAN operates on an unspoken premise that anything
Jesus surrendered on the cross was not available to Him after His
resurrection, then we have a huge problem with John 19:30: "And
bowing His Head, He gave up the spirit."  "Spirit" here is *pneuma*
in Greek.  There is a double meaning in the verse: 1) physical
death, letting go His last breath; and 2) giving the Holy Spirit to
His disciples.
 
If after the resurrection, He is restricted to flesh and bones and
has no breath (He let it all go, remember?), how does He manage to
talk?  Or if you consider the Holy Spirit interpretation, then
presumably Jesus can't have Him back after the resurrection, either.
Yet Peter and Paul both speak of the "Spirit of Christ" years after
the resurrection.
 
Hebrews 10:19-20 celebrates Christ's ongoing priestly work in the
sanctuary of heaven. These verses affirm that both the flesh of
Christ and his blood open for us the way to salvation.  And they are
described as both being there in heaven.  I have not mentioned the
Eucharistic texts, which are the most powerful testimonies to the
blood of Christ.  Protestants do not generally wish to read those
literally.  But I am sure that many Protestants share my love of
their hymn, "There's Power in the Blood!"  I do not think the ANSWER
MAN could sing that one with any enthusiasm at all.
 
                     Sincerely in Christ,
 
                             Father Mateo
 
.ORIGIN: 043/001 - THE ANGELUS,      -the Word became flesh                     
                                and made his dwelling among us -                
            Catholic Information Network #2, Los Altos, CA (415) 967-3420