Tentpegs

Here’s one I’ve never received before…

We know that the Roman soldiers responsible for Christ’s crucifixion were subject to death if they did not carry out their duty fully, and we can only assume the same of the guard or guards at the tomb. That said, we hear little about them after the fact. Does a resurrected man constitute punishment for them not carrying out their deeds? Or were they not punished simply because they HAD, 100% for sure, done their jobs and the Roman government could not argue with the Resurrection? If they were punished, that brings up one set of issues. If they were not, that brings up an entirely different set. Do you see what I mean? If these guards were not punished, then wouldn’t that lend credence to the idea that the Romans, too, believed in the Resurrection? Or did the Romans have another theory?

I’m going to be interested to see the comments on this one. I have a lot of astute and erudite readers who’ve gone to seminary or have a perfect Bible School attendance certificate and they might spot something I don’t.

One atheist friend of mine used this argument to prove that Jesus’ resurrection (which he didn’t believe occurred) was, in itself, immoral since it resulted in the deaths of the guards. Really? That’s what you’re going with?

When Pilate said “You have a guard” there is no reason to believe that he meant “Sure! I’ll supply Roman guards for the tomb.” It is far more likely to believe that he told them that if they wanted a guard, they had the manpower to do so on their own. They had a guard — the temple guard, for one. Temple guards were well trained and very efficient. I’ve heard them described as the Green Berets of guards. I believe Pilate was telling them to get their own guard; he wasn’t having anything more to do with Jesus or them.

My belief that these were Jewish guards is backed up by what happened next: they didn’t desert and they didn’t report to the Romans. Instead, they went to the Jewish leaders and reported to them. They were bribed to ensure their silence about what really happened and the priests assured them that “if this comes to the governor’s ears” they would smooth everything over. It seems to have been entirely a Jewish operation.

Then why would there be any trouble if it came to the governor’s ears? Because a Roman seal had been broken. Technically, that seal belonged to Caesar and no one could break it without incurring the death penalty. Of course, seals got broken all the time and, without witnesses, no one would die. The guards certainly wouldn’t die because they didn’t break it! Yes, they said they fell asleep but that would have been a fatal admission for a Roman guard, not for a Jewish one.