The third surprising truth about Jesus is that he speaks about the resurrection and life after death. Our soul exists independently of our body. Jesus says in Matthew 10:28: “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Jesus was the first who speaks of heaven and hell. But over time we have imagined heaven and hell in an unverified way.
Many peoples have an idea of the continued existence of souls and have an ancestor cult. But in all cultures, there are also people who reject the continued existence of the soul (cf. Paul in Athens, Acts 17:32).
Flavius Josephus, a first-century Jewish historian, writes: “The Sadducees deny Providence altogether… the continuation of the soul and the punishments and rewards of the underworld they deny” (Bell. II 163-166).
We also find this description in Acts 23:8. It says: “The Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, nor angel, nor spirit, but the Pharisees acknowledge them all.”
Jews mostly believe in a resurrection to a new life on this earth. Jesus speaks of an afterlife, of accountability, righteousness, judgment and restoration.
Good news but challenging thoughts at the same time.
- The Sealed Book of Thunders 26. August 2023
- Unexpected Jesus Facts – God Among Us 28. August 2023
- The second unexpected Jesus fact – God in us 1. September 2023
- The third truth of Jesus – our soul exists independently of our body 5. September 2023
- The fourth surprising message from Jesus: The Way 7. September 2023