Objection:
Jehovah's Witnesses teach that Jesus did not rise from the dead in the same body he died in, but rather rose as a spirit creature. They teach that He manifested different physical forms after the resurrection, and that the material body was taken away by God.

Defense:
It is obvious from Jesus' own words in John 2:19-21 that He would raise Himself from the dead physically:
> "Jesus answered and said to them, 'Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.' The Jews therefore said, 'It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?' But He was speaking of the temple of His body." (John 2:19-21)

John 2:19-21 is a clear prophecy of Christ. Note that He said He would raise up "this temple." John the apostle clarifies for us that "this temple" was actually Jesus' physical body. Therefore, Jesus' physical body was raised from the dead.

The Watchtower claim that Jesus manifested different bodies (like angels in the Old Testament) contradicts what Jesus said in John 2:19-21—that He would raise His body. If He only manifested a temporary form, it would mean that Jesus was tricking His disciples into believing that His actual body had been raised when it hadn't. Jesus rose from the dead in the same body He died in.

Yes, Jesus rose from the dead in the same body in which He died. In John 2:19-21, Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” (Scripture quotes are from the NASB.)

The Jews, therefore, said, ‘It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of his body.” Jesus prophesied that He would rise from the dead in the very body in which He died. Right now, in heaven, Jesus has a physical body. He has scars on his wrists, ankles, brow, and side. He has retained the wounds of His crucifixion.

After His resurrection, He appeared to Thomas. “Then He said to Thomas, ‘Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving, but believing,'” (John 10:27). Notice that Jesus still retained the hole in His side where he was pierced. “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and immediately there came out blood and water” (John 19:34).

Some scholars think that when Jesus appeared to the disciples on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35, the reason they did not recognize Him was that Jesus had been beaten about the face, and His beard had been ripped from His face and was simply not recognizable. It wasn’t until after He broke bread and exposed His wrists that they then saw who He was, but this is just a theory.

Though He was raised physically, His body was a glorified body. It was the same body, but it was different. 1 Cor. 15:42-44 says, “So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable body, it is raised an imperishable body; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; 44 it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.”

We do not know exactly what a resurrected body is capable of doing, but Jesus did appear in rooms unannounced. Perhaps we might have the same ability at our resurrection.

The physical resurrection of Jesus is a very important doctrine. 1 Cor. 15:14 says, “and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” The reason it is so important is that Jesus’ physical resurrection is the proof that death has been conquered and that we, too, will be physically resurrected. To say that Jesus did not rise from the dead is to say that death had victory over Him. If that were so, we would be without hope, and sin would still have its power.

1 Cor. 15:53-57, “For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”