Cecilia Brassett gave a lecture at the Faculty of Medicine in Pécs

On April 1st 2026, Cecilia Brassett, a professor at University of Cambridge, delivered a lecture at the University of Pécs Medical School exploring death from the perspective of a medical anatomist using the bible and the death of Jesus Christ. 

Professor Brassett began by sharing a personal experience that shaped her interest in the subject. The sudden death of her father prompted her to reflect deeply on her identity, her purpose in life and the nature of “death” itself. She humorously described herself as an “expert in dead people,” noting that dissection is a normal part of her life as an anatomical professional. From there, she posed a fundamental question for the lecture: What constitutes death? 

Her first approach was to evaluate the reliability of the Bible as a historical source. Particular attention was given to the Dead Sea Scrolls and New Testament manuscripts. She also referenced the idea of prophetic fulfilment which argued that fulfilled prophecy provides compelling evidence for the coherence of the biblical narrative. According to this perspective, hundreds of messianic prophecies, such as the virgin birth and the Messiah’s birth in Bethlehem, are believed to have been fulfilled. Professor Brassett then turned to the events surrounding the crucifixion, raising three key questions:

• Why did Jesus die?
• Was Jesus truly dead?
• Did Jesus rise from the dead?

Why Did Jesus Die? Different interpretations were presented. From a Christian theological perspective, Jesus’ death is a sacrifice for the sins of humanity. His death followed betrayal by Judas and a series of trials during which he remained silent. 

Was Jesus Truly Dead? The professor emphasised the cruelty of Roman flogging—whips embedded with metal or bone designed to cause severe trauma and blood loss, therefore, death was highly likely due to the brutal damage caused by flogging and crucifixion. 

Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? A key distinction was made between resurrection (rising from death) and resuscitation (revival from unconsciousness). Several points were discussed including claims that Jesus appeared to multiple individuals and groups. Some have suggested these appearances were hallucinations. However, psychologically speaking, it is highly unlikely that large groups of people share the same hallucination. 

Finally, Professor Brassett concluded on why this topic matters, both scientifically and philosophically. She closed with the well-known quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin: “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

See the full gallery of the event here. 

Article: Misheel Zolzaya
Photos: Szabolcs Csortos