According to some calculations, Jesus was crucified on Friday, April 3, 33 AD. This year, Good Friday fell on - you knew it already - Friday, April 3. If so, the resurrection would have been on Sunday, April 5. And 40 days after that, Christ ascended to Heaven. That would be Thursday, May 14.
Guess what day and date it is today?
I find this almost mind-blowing. Can´t help thinking: did it actually happen? Did the disciples actually see a god-man ascend to heaven from the Mount of Olives outside Jerusalem? Is today the literal "anniversary" of that event? As they say on the interwebs: "Yuge if true".
But then all the awkward skeptical questions return: if Christ was with his disciples for 40 days, why didn´t he tell them that he *wouldn´t* return soon, that all foods are clean, that Paul is right against James and Peter...you know the drift.
As far as we know, the Jesus Movement was the only Messianic-apocalyptic sect in "Palestine" which developed the idea that their martyred leader had been resurrected, an idea that must have emerged very early on in the movement´s history. Which is compatible with the disciples experiencing a unique event. An actual resurrection, perhaps?
But apart from this, the Movement doesn´t seem to have been very different from any other religious group in history, with all the usual factional squabbles, theological conflicts, reinterpretations, and what have you. And of course the strange idea that a failed Messiah didn´t really fail at all, but came back after three days, is also compatible with everyone experiencing very strong delusions...
Or with the disciples not really listening to what the Master was trying to teach them in the first place.
Pondering.
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