Daily Manna
Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Topic: The empty tomb 2
Reading: Matthew 27:57-62; 28:1-15
Scripture: He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee. (Luke 24:6)
Note: The historic account of the empty tomb of Jesus is the most fascinating story of the first ever dominion of man over death, which had long remained man’s ancient enemy. Much as the story of the empty tomb provides hope for humanity through resurrection from the dead, this wonderful event is often viewed as too incredible to believe by many.
The chief priests and the Pharisees had not forgotten Jesus’ claim that he would rise up from the dead on the third day. They had called Jesus a deceiver for making such an outrageous claim. To ensure that “the deceiver” as they referred to Christ, didn’t get away with this false claim, they went to confer with Governor Pilate to ensure that the tomb was sealed and remained certifiedly so with a Roman seal, supported by a watch.
A watch is a quaternion comprising four Roman soldiers. They kept turns watching, with one soldier resting or sleeping at a time, while three soldiers stayed awake. This discipline was kept as in a modern shift system of work, for the entire duration of three days as demanded by the enemies of Jesus (Matt 27:62-66).
Satisfied that the great stone sealing the tomb was in place, that the official Roman seal which could only be broken by a penalty of death was in place, and that four ruthless Roman guards, whose own lives depended upon the integrity of the sealed tomb, were in place, all the parties left the meeting, fully persuaded that it was humanly impossible for the disciples of Jesus to come and steal the body.
Yet when the earthquake began on the third day, with the angel of the Lord descending from heaven to roll back the stone sealing the tomb, it was very well a wise action from the fear-filled soldiers to have pretended to be dead than to vainly attempt to fight the angel and of course die, for the lightning countenance of the angel would simply have killed those sinful soldiers if they had dared to get closer.
Food for thought: Why would four ruthlessly armed soldiers risk their lives, their pride and their livelihoods by sleeping on the job, supposedly allowing the unarmed and fearful disciples of Jesus to come and steal the body, with the disciples having the luxury of time to carefully disengage the body from the linen clothes as well as the head band? This fabrication could only be told to the marines.
Declaration: And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers. Saying, say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him while we slept. (Matt 28:12-13)
© Author: Rev Fred Aboe
