I adapted the following from the classic short story, A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens, 1843. I have read this classic many times and can’t help but think of Jesus and His resurrection every time I read Dickens’ opening words originally intended for Scrooge’s partner, Marley…
Jesus was dead, to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that. The people had seen His crucifixion. The soldier had shoved a spear in His side. He was buried in a tomb and a seal and a guard had been put in place. Jesus was as dead as a door-nail.
Mind! I don’t mean to say that I know, of my own knowledge, what there is particularly dead about a door-nail. I might have been inclined, myself to regard a coffin-nail as the deadest piece of ironmongery in the trade. But wisdom of our ancestors is in the simile; and my unhallowed hands shall not disturb it, or the Country’s done for. You will therefore permit me to repeat, emphatically, that Jesus was as dead as a door-nail.
The disciples knew He was dead? Of course they did. How could it be otherwise? They had known each other for a few years. They were His followers, His helpers, His traveling companions, His mourners while the rest of the nation celebrated His brutal crucifixion.
The mention of Jesus’ crucifixion brings me back to the point I started from. There is no doubt that Jesus was dead. This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come from the story I am going to relate…
“But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe.” John 19:33-35