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What is the argument against Jesus’ spirit ascending to “a higher level” after His death (instead of the resurrection)?
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Jesus did not rise in spirit at a higher level but factually he was executed, buried then he was resurrected. These were historical actualities, not some spiritual phenomenon unrelated to the body. Not some good and interesting ideas of Jesus after His death
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Simple, there were over 500 eye witnesses from many different settings that attest to seeing him physically in their presence. He ate with them. People touched Him. He was physically present in every way necessary to believe an eye witness account.
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To say or claim that Christ’s spirit ascended to heaven upon his death is to deny Christ’s resurrection. Christ’s entire physical body was resurrected. It is an historical fact that Jesus Christ was crucified. Upon His resurrection and to prove his resurrection Christ provided proofs that he was physically alive in the flesh Luke 24:39 tells us that Jesus said “Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” Jesus further demonstrated that He was not a spirit, but a living person, by eating in front of Him. Beginning in verse 41 it says, “41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence.” “What does that prove,” you may ask. Spirits don’t eat. Why would they need food anyway?
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There is evidence of a literal resurrection, as seen with his execution, burial, and later appearance to many different people.
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Over 40 days after reports of the resurrection, Jesus was seen by many people. He was physically touched. He ate with His disciples. They saw His scars from the crucifixion. His physical, resurrected body was there!
