The death, burial and Resurrection

Jehovah Witnesses say that when Jesus was buried in the sepulchre (tomb) He was not raised with a physical body but a spiritual body; afterwards Jesus was then recreated in heaven as Michael the archangel. Here are some direct quotes from the Watchtower organization.

“Jesus’ own words showed that he would not be resurrected with his flesh-and-blood body. He said that he would give his “flesh in behalf of the life of the world,” as a ransom for mankind. If he had taken back his flesh when he was resurrected, he would have canceled that ransom sacrifice. This could not have happened, though, for the Bible says that he sacrificed his flesh and blood “once for all time.” — Watchtower

“Spirit creatures can take on human form. For example, angels who did this in the past even ate and drank with humans. However, they still were spirit creatures and could leave the physical realm.” — Watchtower

“After his resurrection, Jesus also assumed human form temporarily, just as angels had previously done. As a spirit creature, though, he was able to appear and disappear suddenly. The fleshly bodies that he materialized were not identical from one appearance to the next. Thus, even Jesus’ close friends recognized him only by what he said or did.​”— Watchtower

When Jesus appeared to the apostle Thomas, he took on a body with wound marks. He did this to bolster Thomas’ faith, since Thomas doubted that Jesus had been raised up. — Watchtower

Let’s examine what the Bible actually says about the resurrection of Jesus Christ was He risen in a spiritual form; or was He risen physically from the dead?

The Gospel of John

Jehovah Witnesses say that only Jehovah God (the Father) raised up Jesus Christ, no one else took part in raising Him from the dead. There’s a contradiction with the teachings of the Watchtower because the Lord Jesus said He would raise Himself up from the dead in the Gospel of John.

John 2:18–22 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said. (John 10:18)

The context of the above scripture speaks of when the Lord Jesus was confronted by the Pharisees in the temple after Jesus Christ chased the money changers out of the temple, overthrowing their tables. The Pharisees asked Him what sign can you show us that you have the authority to do this. Jesus answers them saying “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”.

The Pharisees thought Jesus was referring to the actual temple but He was actually speaking of His physical body. Notice He said “I will raise it up” He didn’t mention the Father or the Holy Spirit even though they also raised Him from the dead.

The Gospel of Luke

The next false teaching of Jehovah Witnesses is that when Jesus Christ was seen He was a spirit and was not physically risen from the dead. We have an account from the Gospel of Luke in chapter 24 known as the road to Emmaus. In this account, some disciples were on their way to a village called Emmaus and encountered the risen Christ.

The Lord Jesus appeared unto one of the disciples and Cleopas asking them why are they sad? And they not knowing it was Jesus told Him what happened in Jerusalem and how a prophet named Jesus was crucified (Luke 24:18–24). Afterwards, the Lord Jesus opened up the scriptures and explained everything to them starting from Moses, the prophets and Himself.

They asked Jesus to come into the village and stay the evening with them and while He sat and had a meal with them He blessed it, and brake, and gave them food. At this time their eyes were opened and realised who He was but He vanished out of their sight (Luke 24:28–31).

The two disciples then returned to Jerusalem and told the others and while they spake the Lord Jesus appeared again unto them and they were all afraid because they thought they seen a spirit. It’s at this moment Jesus Christ says something which is in direct opposition to the Watchtower He says.

Luke 24:39 See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself; touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones just as you see that I have.

Notice the disciples made a mistake and thought He was a spirit but the Lord Jesus Christ tells them to touch Him because a spirit doesn’t have flesh and bones. He was physically there before them not as a spirit like the Watchtower would have Jehovah Witnesses to believe. Jesus Christ proved to them that He bodily rose from the dead defeating death and hell, and He showed them the nail prints in His hands and feet as proof.

But what about the last statement from the Watchtower as to Jesus Christ showing Thomas His wound marks as they say.

When Jesus appeared to the apostle Thomas, he took on a body with wound marks. He did this to bolster Thomas’ faith, since Thomas doubted that Jesus had been raised up. — Watchtower

If this were true that the Lord Jesus was a spirit body only after His resurrection as the Watchtower claims and showed Thomas His wounds making Thomas to believe He was a physical body when He was not would be saying that Jesus Christ was deceiving them. God forbid! The Lord Jesus Christ is sinless and therefore it would be impossible for Him to lie because He’s God in the flesh.

Father and Holy Spirit

Other scriptures proving the Father and Holy Spirit raised Jesus from the dead together are found in (Acts 2:32,33, Romans 6:4, Galatians 1:1, 1 Peter 3:18).

Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.

Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

If you’d like to learn more about the false teachings of the Watchtower and Jehovah Witnesses, here are two sites with more information.

 

And if you’re one of Jehovah Witnesses our prayer is that you would look into the claims made by the Watchtower and test them according to God’s word the Bible and see for yourself. If you have the wrong Jesus Christ you’ll be wrong for all eternity lost in hell are you willing to allow a group of men called the governing body play with your eternal salvation?

Do you want everlasting life, would you like to know for certain that you can have all your sins forgiven and a home in heaven? The Bible answers this very question.

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

John 8:31–32 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.