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Q. Was Jesus really dead when they placed him in the tomb? To be honest, the idea that someone came back from the dead is a bit hard to swallow. Maybe Jesus wasn't really dead, and he just recovered once his body was taken down from the cross.
The hardened Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus were very familiar with death - and they had no doubt Jesus was truly dead. Nor did anyone else on that tragic day.
Later, after the resurrection, the authorities bribed the soldiers to say that Jesus' disciples had stolen his body (see Matthew 28:11-15). It didn't even occur to them, however, to claim instead that he hadn't really died, but had somehow recovered enough strength to move the huge stone blocking the tomb's entrance and then overcome the armed guards posted outside. They knew no one would believe it - nor should we.
The Bible says Jesus was more than a man: He was God in human flesh. God raised him from the dead, and by his resurrection Christ conquered sin, Satan and hell.
