Swoon Theory
This is probably the most popular theory there is. Some Mulsims hold to this position and I go over that in greater detail comparing the Quran and the Bible (see the tab Islam on the home page in the Menu bar.)
So, as the theory goes, Jesus did not really die, He only “swooned," and/or “fainted”; therefore He was seen only as revived or resuscitated.
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If you did not read the Crucifixion tab already, I suggest that you do so at this point.
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Briefly, after you read the Crucifixion tab, this is what you need to thoughtfully consider:
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The amount of psychological stress Jesus was under.
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This produced hematidrosis, setting up His skin to be extremely fragile and very sensitive. Luke 22:44
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Beatings
Flogging
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Hematidrosis
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Also, with Jesus knowing what His Body was about to endure, the psychological stress was shown as seen the night before in:
Luke 22:44 - “And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”
This is known as a medical condition called hematidrosis. It is not common but associated with a high degree of psychological stress. Severe anxiety causes a release of chemicals that break down the capillaries in the sweat glands. As a result, small amount of bleeding into these glands and the sweat comes out tinged with blood (small amounts.) This sets up the skin to be extremely fragile, so the “flogging” the next day for Jesus’ skin would have been VERY sensitive.
-John 19:1- { Jesus Sentenced to Be Crucified ] “Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged.
After Jesus being “flogged”, with 39 or more lashes of a whip made of braided leather thongs with metal balls and pieces of sharp bone woven into them, which struck Jesus’ flesh, causing deep bruises or contusions, breaking open with further blows and the sharp bones cutting into His flesh severely, commencing from His shoulders down His back, buttocks, and the back of His legs, as a 3rd century historian Eusebius described a flogging as:
“The sufferer’s veins were laid bare, and the very muscles, sinews, and bowels of the victim were open to exposure.”
According to modern medical science reports, hypovolemic shock would have occurred, which means that Jesus suffered the effects of losing large amounts of blood, His heart would have raced to try and pump blood that was not there, blood pressure dropping, causing fainting and collapsing as He did so walking to the crucifixion point, as the kidney’s stopped producing urine to maintain what volume was left, causing Him to become very thirsty as His body craved fluids to replace the lost blood; Jesus was in serious critical condition even before He was crucified.
Crucifixion
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John, an eyewitness, saw blood and water come out after Jesus was crucified, which means the soldier pierced his heart, showing that His lungs had collapsed and he had died of asphyxiation. Any physician can certify to this truth.
John 19:34 – “Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. “
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According to a Roman crucifixion, Jesus then would have been laid down, with his hands in an outstretched position to a horizontal beam. The cross bar was called a patibulum, and at this stage it was separate from the vertical beam, which was permanently set in the ground. He then was nailed with a spike that was 5-7 inches long, tapered to a sharp point through his wrists. (Not his hands as many paintings show – the “wrist” was considered part of the hand in the language of the day. If the nail would have been driven through the palm of the hand, the weight would have caused the skin to tear and he would have fallen off the cross.) The word “excruciating” was invented because there were no words to describe the pain, which literally means “out of the cross.”
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Jesus then would have been hoisted up as the crossbar was attached to the vertical stake, and then the same spikes would have been driven through his feet. At this point his arms would have immediately been stretched about 6 inches in length, and both shoulders would have been dislocated.
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This is where the agonizing slow death by asphyxiation occurs.
According to Dr. Alexander Metherell, MD, PhD:
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“The reason is that the stresses on the muscles and diaphragm put the chest into the inhaled position; basically, in order to exhale, the individual must push up on his feet so the tension on the muscles would be eased for a moment. In doing so, the nail would tear through the foot, eventually locking up against the tarsal bones. After managing to exhale, the person would then be able to relax down and take another breath in. Again he would have to push himself up to exhale, scraping his bloodied back against the coarse wood of the cross. This would go on and on until complete exhaustion would take over, and the person wouldn’t be able to push up and breathe anymore. As the person slows down his breathing, he goes into what is called respiratory acidosis – the carbon dioxide in the blood is dissolved as carbonic acid, causing the acidity of the blood to increase. This eventually leads to irregular heartbeat. In fact, with his heart beating erratically, Jesus would have known that he was at the moment of death, which is when he was able to say, “Lord into your hands I commit my spirit,” and then he died of cardiac arrest. The hypovolemic shock would have caused a sustained rapid heart rate that would have contributed to heart failure, resulting in the collection of fluid in the membrane around the heart, called pericardial effusion, as well as around the lungs, which is called pleural effusion. When the soldier “pierced his side” the spear apparently went through the right lung and into the heart, so when the spear was pulled out, some fluid (the pericardial effusion and pleural effusion.) came out. This would have had the appearance of a clear fluid, like water, followed by a large volume of blood, as the eyewitness John described. This is description and consistent with what modern medicine would have expected to happen. Though it states “blood and water came out”, the order of words in ancient Greek was not necessarily by sequence but by prominence. If there was more blood than water, it would have made sense for John to mention the blood first.”
Life Changing Transformation Testimony of Disciples
The post-resurrection appearances convinced the disciples that Jesus was alive. It is psychologically impossible for the disciples to have been so transformed and confident if Jesus was in desperate need of a doctor. Jesus would have been “half-dead,” and not worshiped as the conqueror of death.
Luke 18:33 - “they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.”
Conclusion:
If Jesus had only “swooned”, a great deal of time would have been needed for recuperation and His physical condition would have been atrocious. In His weakened condition He could not have walked the seven miles on Emmaus road. It would have been impossible for someone (who had only resuscitated from the agonies that they had endured with the flogging and crucifixion) to so quickly give the impression that He was the Conqueror of death and the grave when there were eyewitnesses to seeing Him after He was dead.
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Jesus was dead.
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