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Did Jesus shed His blood after the resurrection? by Bud Press, Director Christian Research Service www.christianresearchservice.com March 25, 2009
When Mary Magdalene encountered Jesus after His bodily resurrection, she announced to His disciples, I have seen the Lord. Yet, she mentioned nothing about Jesus bleeding from His hands and feet, or the wound in His side (John 20:18).
Later, when Jesus appeared to His disciples, He didn't drip blood on their sandals or the floor from the wounds He suffered on the cross (John 20:19-20).
When the disciples told Thomas they had seen Jesus, Thomas did not say, "Unless I see blood flowing from Jesus' hands and side, I will not believe." Instead, Thomas said, Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe (John 20:25).
When Jesus appeared again to His disciples, Thomas was there. Jesus instructed Thomas to Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing (John 20:27). In turn, Thomas responded to Jesus and said, My Lord and my God. But where does the Bible record Jesus' blood on Thomas' fingers and hand? (John 20:28).
During their encounters with the risen Savior, Mary Magdalene and Jesus' disciples mentioned nothing about Jesus bleeding from His hands, feet, or side, or blood dripping from anywhere on His body.
Saul (who eventually became the Apostle Paul) was a persecutor of Christians and Jesus Christ. But the Jesus he encountered on the road to Damascus was not bleeding from His hands, feet, or side (Acts chapter 9).
In 1 Corinthians 15:5-8, Paul writes that Jesus appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as to one untimely born, He appeared to me also.
Note that the Holy Spirit, Who inspired Paul's writings, mentioned nothing to Paul about blood dripping from Jesus' hands, side, or feet.
In 1 John 1:1-4, the Apostle John speaks of Jesus Christ and testifies that, What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life-- and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us-- what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.
John and many others saw the resurrected Savior, up close and personal, and touched Jesus with their hands. Yet, John's testimony is devoid of any reference to Jesus bleeding from His extremities prior to His ascension into heaven.
During a vision while exiled on the isle of Patmos, the Apostle John fell at the feet of Jesus Christ--the Alpha and the Omega--Whose head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength (Revelation chapter 1).
John wrote that he saw Jesus' face, hair, eyes, feet, and right hand, but wrote nothing about blood eminating from Jesus' hands, feet, or wound from the spear in His side; nor did John write about blood streaming down Jesus' face from the crown of thorns placed on His head during His crucifixion on the cross.
In all of the personal eyewitness accounts and visions of Jesus throughout Scripture, there is nothing, nothing whatsoever to even remotely suggest that Jesus shed or dripped blood after His bodily resurrection from the tomb. NOTHING!
However, according to Faith Setzer, the "Jesus" she encountered in 2007 dripped blood from its clothing, and even onto her:
Further, Setzer claims that her bleeding "Jesus" took her into the "Heavens," where she met two Old Testament prophets and one heavenly angel:
Towards the end of her article, Setzer claims she saw herself lying in a wheat field, in tremendous pain, and realized that she was "literally giving birth"--not to a child--but an "army of Heavenly Warriors."
The "Jesus" Faith Setzer claims to have encountered is in direct opposition to the face-to-face eyewitness accounts and visions found in God's holy and inspired word. Setzer's account contradicts the Biblical accounts, and falls face-first into "another Jesus" the Apostle Paul warned about in 2 Corinthians chapter 11.
Faith Setzer's bleeding "Jesus" is a figment of her own deceived imagination, and must be rejected, for a false "Jesus" has not the authority or power to forgive, save, sanctify, or redeem the sinner.
But the God Who does have the authority and power provides a solemn warning to those who are being misled by false prophets, whose visions and dreams do not originate from God:
Thus says the LORD of hosts, "Do not listen to the words of the prophets who are prophesying to you. They are leading you into futility; They speak a vision of their own imagination, not from the mouth of the LORD" (Jeremiah 23:16).
"For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, 'Do not let your prophets who are in your midst and your diviners deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams which they dream. 'For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them,' declares the LORD (Jeremiah 29:8-9).
Jesus Christ, Himself, issued a solemn warning to those who encounter people who claim they have seen "Christ" here and there and anywhere:
"For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will mislead many (Matthew 24:5).
"Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him. For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance. So if they say to you, 'Behold, He is in the wilderness,' do not go out, or, 'Behold, He is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them" (Matthew 24:23-26).
Faith Setzer's testimony of her bleeding "Jesus" does not speak according to God's word. Therefore, To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (Isaiah 8:20; KJV).
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© Christian Research Service 2009
