WIGACN - DATE - Reflect His Glory

The first method of securing Christ Jesus' tomb was the rolling of a large stone across the doorway (entrance) to the tomb. Evidently, this was not enough of an impediment so satisfy the Jewish leaders since Matthew 27:60 indicates that Joseph of Arimathaea rolled it himself, or authorized a group of men to do it. Now, if a small group of men could move the stone into position, it stands to reason that a similar number of men could remove it. Because of this possibility, the Jewish leadership was concerned that Jesus' disciples could steal His body and claim that He rose from the dead.

This is why they went to Pontius Pilate asking for an additional guard to watch the tomb. The fact that they made this request of Pilate leans toward the belief that force guarding the tomb was Roman. If the Jewish leaders drew on their own Temple guard for this contingent of men, in all likelihood would not have had to go to Pilate and seek permission for an additional guard. As it says in Matthew 27:65-66, the Roman governor acceded to their request:

Pilate said to them, You have a watch; go your way, make it as sure as you can. So they went , and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. KJVER

The seal spoken of in this passage was an official Roman seal, which, if broken, would give evidence of the opening of the tomb. Evidently, the Romans were somewhat concerned about the care given to human remains. One ancient tablet found in the Middle East, known as the Diatagma Kaisaros, that dates back to the approximate time of Christ Jesus' earthly ministry, threatens grave robbers with capital punishment.

Matthew Chapter 28 tells us that at Jesus' resurrection, the stone was rolled away, breaking the seal, and that the guards were overpowered. When the Jewish leaders heard this, they bribed the guards into telling a story that the body of Christ Jesus had been stolen.:

"... they gave much money to the soldiers, Saying, Say you , His disciples came by night, and stole Him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you," Matthew 28:12-14 KJVER

It must have been "much money," for the death penalty was in force for Roman guards who fell asleep while on duty. These guards must have been aware of the possibility that Pilate might not be persuaded by the arguments of those who were subject to him, as influential as they might have believed themselves to be, in their own eyes. Nevertheless, those who are familiar with the Scriptures know the real story: That Jesus rose from the dead, just as He had predicted He would. The Apostle Paul enumerated the witnesses of this great event when he says of Jesus:

And He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve. After that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to this present time, but some are fallen asleep. After that, He was seen of James; then, of all the apostles. And last of all He was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time, 1 Cor. 15:5-8 KJVER