I was wondering if there is anything in the Writings that states the Baha'i
position on the empty tomb as mentioned in the Gospels. Is there anything
stating whether Jesus' empty tomb was historically true or just meant to be
taken symbolically? The only thing I know of is just a pilgrim's note, in
which Shoghi Effendi is reported as having said that the disciples hid
Jesus' body under the wall of Jerusalem. Even if Shoghi Effendi said that I
would be speptical as to whether that was based on something in the Writings
or just his guess. I strongly suspect that if 'Abdu'l-Baha commented on it
He would have said the story was not literally true. Given that the virgin
birth is the only 'miracle' passage I've seen affirmed as literal in the
Gospels I would have to imagine the empty tomb story, which contains the
supernatural details of an angel appearing and rolling back the tombstone
(plus an earthquake), would not be taken literally. Matthew, the only
writer who has an angel rolling back the tombstone, had just prior to this
reported events that 'Abdu'l-Baha says are not literal (Matthew 27:51-53).
So I would be surprised if the historicity of the empty tomb is affirmed.
If one does affirm it then the only way one can argue against a physical
resurrection is to come up with a theory with as much proof behind it as the
claim that Jesus married Mary Magdalene. Matthew's story of the guard
argues against theft of the body and implies that Jesus' body left the tomb
through supernatural means.
Regards,
David
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