Guarding the Dead
Pictures of the rich, the powerful, the famous with bodyguards in tow or leading the way are not uncommon these days. It looks impressive. A signal to all bystanders - an important person is here. We have politicians, movie actors, superstar musicians, business leaders and even mega church pastors all being guarded against the possibility of attack. It is a sign of the times.
We guard our dead while their bodies are living. Spiritually dead individuals subsisting in human form, being guarded against the coming of the inevitable at an earlier than desired time. This wording is a little harsh, but nonetheless true. Millions of dollars are spent annually to guard that which is alive in bodily form but dead inside.
Jesus did rise.
This was not the case with the Pharisees. Their endeavor was the exact opposite of that referenced above. Albeit just as futile. Matthew 27 gives an account of the events following the death and burial of Jesus Christ. The death of Jesus was controversial to say the least. The chief priest, religious leaders and lawyers in Jerusalem had achieved their ultimate goal of silencing this radical, beloved leader of the rabble among the Jewish culture. The meteoric rise of Jesus was astonishing. A nobody, from a way-back territory in Israel, had rocketed on to the national scene through teaching love toward all and performing miracles in such prolific fashion they could not be numbered. This miracle worker was not performing in the dark either! Much of Jesus’ work was both verified and documented, and some was even witnessed by the Pharisees themselves.
Jesus was indeed the real deal. He was also a tremendous threat to the status quo. Make no mistake about it. The religious leaders of the day were not concerned with the people they shepherded. They were also unconcerned with God. These were politicians in truest form. They were concerned with one thing - their positions. Jesus was the antithesis of these hirelings. His love for the people was real and evident in all He did. Jesus acted to pull down the facade that covered true worship and clouded people’s view of a Father God who cared deeply for them. This was a God that Jesus proclaimed to know personally. In fact, Jesus' relationship with God was one that could not be stomached by the religious leaders in Jerusalem. He was said to be the Messiah, even the Son of God. To the Pharisees and chief priests this was nonsense. Besides, who needs a messiah when you have a position of importance in the world?
So through betrayal and false testimony they got their hands on Jesus and didn’t let go until he was nailed to the cross and dead and buried. “Let’s celebrate!” Well, their party was cut short by the blackening of the sun and an earthquake that shook the rafters of the temple, opened up graves and had even the roman centurions who crucified Him proclaiming that Jesus was “surely the Son of God.” After Jesus was placed in a tomb, the Jewish leaders, being consummate politicians, were still concerned with their position and understood that Jesus represented a threat to their power even while lying in a grave. So they did something you seldom ever see. They posted guards at Jesus’ tomb.
The reasoning behind placing the guards at the tomb was to prevent Jesus’ disciples from stealing the body and proclaiming that Jesus had done what He said He would do - “rise from the dead on the third day.” What the chief priest and leaders may not have known was at the time, the disciples were disbanded, running from authorities to protect their own necks and in hiding, just as confused as the religious leaders were relieved about Jesus’ death. But it seems that the Pharisees may have blindly run smack-dab into an eternal truth: a truly, righteously Good Man cannot be kept down! Even death, hell and the grave could not keep the Righteous One from rising again. Those guards posted at Jesus’ grave had a front row seat to one of the greatest events of all time. Unfortunately, they spent their time in the front row “like dead men” for fear of what they witnessed.
You see, what those unfortunate guards at the tomb and what the chief priest and Pharisees learned on the third day is that they were guarding the Living while His body was dead. Jesus did rise. The stone was rolled away. The cross, the tomb and the dead men who tried to silence the One True God had failed. Jesus IS alive and He IS triumphant!