Dear Explorer,
Read Matthew 28:11-15
There's something you need to know about Roman law. If a guard let a prisoner escape, the guard would be given the prisoner's punishment. If the prisoner was to be crucified – well, let's just say that this made for some really good soldiers. Rome didn't usually have a problem with escapees.
Now, we have here an entire watch of soldiers who let their dead prisoner escape! Remember that the last thing we heard about the soldiers is when the angel appeared at the tomb.
Let's review what the Scripture says happened.
Re-Read Matthew 28:2-4
What happened to the guards (or keepers)?
So now the guards have revived, and they have a dilemma on their hands. Their dead prisoner has escaped! They apparently decided it was safer to go to the Chief Priest than to Pilate. I believe Pilate would have ordered their immediate execution.
Let's review just a little further back.
Re-Read Matthew 27:62-66
Why did the chief priests and elders want a Roman guard in the first place?
They were afraid that the disciples would take the body and falsely claim that Jesus had resurrected from the dead.
Re-read Matthew 28:11-15
Now what did the Chief Priest and the council decide to do?
They decided that they would say that the disciples had stolen the body so they could falsely claim that Jesus had risen from the dead. Then they paid the soldiers “hush money” to tell the lie. They also promised to protect the soldiers if Pilate heard the lie and was going to punish them for failing in their duty.
We don't know what happened to this guard of Roman soldiers. This is the last we hear about them. But we know that there were several Roman soldiers who became part of the early church. I wonder if some of them were guarding the tomb the morning that Jesus rose from the dead?
Now, just in case you are wondering – there's no way that the disciples would have tried to steal the body of Jesus.
#1 They were sure He was dead.
#2 They were scared to death that they would be crucified next.
#3 They were no match for the Roman guard – remember Peter couldn't even successfully wield a sword!
#4 Why would they want His dead body that represented the end of their Messiah hopes and dreams?
But the lie satisfied some and still occasionally comes up today.
And that completes the report of Jesus' resurrection that happened on that very first Easter morning. Of course, it wasn't called Easter until much later. And Jesus continued to meet with many, many people during the next 40 days. Jesus' resurrection is the reason that most followers of Jesus worship on Sunday instead of Saturday and call it “The Lord's Day”.
In His service, dale
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