Cege

GLuke uses Chapt 21 to have Jesus describe persecution of his followers, the coming destruction of the world, and the appearance of the Son of Man in the clouds with power and glory to bring redemption.

Chapt 22 has Jesus telling his apostles to drink wine and eat bread during the passover meal "in remembrance of me".

Luke's story has Jesus warning the apostles that end times were near, followed by his return "in a cloud". Jesus tells the apostles to remember him in the passover ritual until he returns.

The gospel stories indicate that Jesus told the disciples that he would leave them but would return at some point and at that point the entire world would be under his (and to some extent, their's) control.

Clouseau

A 21st century fable, I think.

Minimalist

This was like when Spock died in Star Trek Two. You knew he'd be back in the sequels.

God is supposed to know "everything." Isn't that a big part of being 'god?'

Johnny Skeptic

If Jesus actually said that he would rise from the dead in three days, his followers would surely have asked him if he was going to have a spiritual resurrection, or a physical resurrection with personal appearances, and at least one Gospel writer would surely have mentioned it, probably all of the Gospel writers. Today, if a man said that he was going to rise from the dead, he would immediately get asked if he was going to make any personal appearances soonafter he rose from the dead.

premjan

If it is spiritual I think it is called reincarnation rather than resurrection.

Minimalist

Certainly he'd be on Letterman.

Johnny Skeptic

Based upon what I said, it is reasonable to assume that if Jesus predicted that he would rise from the dead in three days, he did answer questions about what would happen after he rose from the dead, and said that either he did not know, or that he did know. In either case, the Gospel writers would surely have recorded something of such great importance. If Jesus said that he did not know, people would have thought that that was quite odd since Jesus supposedly knew many things that would happen in the future.

So, it is reasonable to assume that Jesus never said anything at all about rising from the dead. The New Testament is nothing more than a fairy tale with some accurate ordinary historical details.

Chris Weimer

Reincarnation is far more physical than spiritual.

premjan

Really? I haven't heard it used in that way.

Toto

Reincarnation would be Jesus' spirit coming back in a new-born human body. That did not happen.

I think the gospel writers try to have it both ways. They have Jesus predicting his resurrection, but the disciples can't understand it, so they don't think to ask any pertinent details.