48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. Many skeptics, as well as Muslims, believe that Jesus did not die on the cross. Some say that He took a drug that put Him in a comalike state and that He later revived in the tomb. Yet the Bible says repeatedly that Christ died on the cross (cf. Rom. 5:8; 1 Cor. 15:3; 1 Thes. 4:14).
Matthew 27:45 - 56
ESV - 45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
For follow-up discussion and general commentary on the topic. Comments are sorted chronologically.
Where is Jesus supposed to have gotten this drug for which to put himself in a comalike state? Did He take it before He was nailed to the cross, or did he work his hands free somehow while hanging up there and take it?
It would have to be a conspiracy that was worked out at the table for the passover meal for them to pull off such a plan.
They'd have to purchase the drug and decide when the best time would be for Him to take it. Then they'd have to coordinate how to get Him out of that cave. They couldn't have known about the king's seal being planned for the tomb beforehand unless they had an inside person of the king's administration, and a person working with them who was part of the high priest team.
That's an awful lot to go through to fake your own death!! That's how such a scheme would be characterized if it was proven to have happened; the crowd being credited with this explanation of the death and resurrection story of the Son of God, is declaring that Jesus planned and carried out a scheme to fake His own death. He took a mighty big chance, taking a drug that put Him in a coma, allowing Himself to be put in a sealed cave.
Don't blame me for removing some of the fluff and glitter from the accounting. I'm a person who needs to be able to understand how the dots are connected; I don't color in other people's coloring book. You have to draw me a picture that I can make out.
Small children have given me better explanations than what I see here!!