Guarding a Rock and a Corpse

Some say this man had powers like the gods. Now he is dead. Tomb is sealed by Caesar’s command. So why are we here? Breaking that seal would bring a death sentence.

It’s just the chamber of a common Jew, dead and rotting. No treasure. No fine clothes. Not even simple possessions, save a foul prayer shawl and defiled spices.

The Chief Priest fears a plot. Made to look like he rose from the dead on the third day. Some obscure text in their holy book. Or something he said in public. Or both. Today is the third day. Nothing will ‘rise’ today but the sun. We will see to that. After today they won’t need us here anymore. The Council was wise to go to Pilate. We make a show of force.

His followers have no a chance. Even if more than just fishermen and publicans… rabble all. They actually ran away when he was arrested by just a band of temple guards. A bit late now for a rescue I should say. They can’t even roll away this stone. It is now seated and sealed. We keep watch. They must know that. Caesar’s will be done.

Ah, the first signs of morning. I so enjoy the site of a brightening horizon. My senses are sharpened; cool breeze, hope of a new day.

Our horses stir. They sense the twilight. We set them safely apart to protect them from a possible attack. If his followers try anything and run, we will be able to hunt them down. They will never return again. No fear of horses being stolen in this place. These Judeans don’t ride horses, don’t even know how.

They say horses are a symbol of arrogance. They face them in battle of course. They say their god is big enough to fight against horse-borne oppressors: Pharaoh, the Arameans, even some of their own foul leaders. All weak peoples trust that someone else will rescue them. Their god has had little success opposing us. We rule over all of Judea and most of the rest of the world. I heard that their ancestor Solomon was wise enough to accumulate some twelve thousand horses as well as chariots, even though their early leader, Moses, warned their kings not to have great numbers of horses. Then again, who could say how many it takes to have ‘a great number’? Even Caesar does not have too many.

Funny thing – it was one of their own, Joseph, that greatly increased Pharaoh’s horses. During those years when animals of many types were traded for food during the great world famine. I’ll bet we feed our horses even better than many people ate during those awful days. I wonder how those horses were used when these Jews worked on their huge building projects in Egypt. I’ll bet they even sired the very war horses that later chased them out of the land of Egypt.

Without horses, and without military training, who could possibly fight for these wretched people? For that matter, who would want to?

Drop that thought. Stay focused. Stand your ground, just in case.

There is no better army on earth. Only fools consider attacking us. We stand strong with the best helmets, breastplates, and studded sandals. We strike with our shields, swords and javelins. We move as one unit to protect each other’s backs. We train often and have experienced battle. There is no power on earth that can escape our relentless focus. Indeed it is good to be on the side of authority.

Ah, the sun peaks over the horizon. It will be good to warm up a bit.

Just a week ago these people cheered for their new ‘deliverer’. He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey. Even as I saw him coming there was never a moment of fear or concern. A donkey! No weapons, no army, not a hope of success. Just broken palm branches and dirty cloaks strewn in his path. He may have stirred up some trouble for the Judeans in the temple that day, but surely not for Rome. Today he stirs up nothing. His flesh rots in this hole. But then what could one expect from a people who wait for a shepherd to rule them – to bring them peace? It is we who will bring them peace, as long as they do not resist.

What is this? The ground shakes! We can endure this. Stand! But what…!

Something at the edge of the stone! Bright light. But white, not like fire. What kind of man is…

 

 

What now? Was I hit somehow? I lie on the ground, yet there is no opposing force. All our company is on the ground, yet no sign of injury.

“Get up, all of you!”

The tomb is open… and empty! Nothing went in, and nothing came out. Surely this will lead to our judgement. We did not stand our ground!

“Fly to your horses! Some of you men, come with me. We ride to report to the Chief Priest. He must know what happened here. 

“The rest of you ride out and scout for anyone leaving here with that body.

“Make haste!”

“Where will we find the chief priests at this early hour?” asks a rider.

“Up the hill and through the gate. Perhaps they will be at the house of the Chief Priest.”

The roads are already swelling on this first work day after the festival. But these creatures will move aside as we push on…

Now, here in the Chief Priest’s courtyard, we can dismount. The servants see us and are moving quickly to notify the household. This area was much busier three nights ago. Here comes the Chief Priest, adjusting his robes as we scurries out.

“Sire! The most amazing thing has happened! The ground shook, and the tomb opened, and he is not there! There is a man that beams like lightning sitting on the stone that had blocked the tomb.”

“Wait here” he says, as he and his troop step away to talk.

“Will they report us to Pilate?” asks one of my men.

“Will this be our last day to live?” asks another.

“We remain soldiers regardless of what comes next.”

I hope that calms them down. I feel as if I have been punched in the stomach.

Now they return…

“Now, now, do not trouble yourselves this way. We expected that something would happen, for it has been three days, and he said he would rise on the third day. Not that anyone would believe that such a thing actually happened, of course. We appreciate your service. Here, take this bonus and split it up among your company. Go and tell all who will listen ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’”

“But sire, we did not sleep on duty, and if we say we slept on duty, we will be executed!” 

“Fear not about that. If this comes to the governor’s ear, we will satisfy him. He understands the gravity of this situation. Now go.”

Ride back. We must talk about this with the rest of the company. This booty may be a balm for our reputations. But dereliction of duty is punishable by death. My life is forfeit because of what has happened today, no matter what I do or say next. I now live with a flickering flame about me.

Each man of our contubernium[1]must agree to this story, or we will surely be torn apart and exposed.

I know how to follow orders. Even when I do not understand. Even when doing so risks my life. Thus far I have avoided that risk from behind. This time I may face the wrath of my commanders rather than an enemy.

Yet my job is to follow my orders. That I can do, with a bit of reward too.

We can spread the story in the streets and through every Inn. We should eat, drink and be merry tonight. For who can say what tomorrow will bring.

 

(c) 2018 Chuck Curtiss

To read other similar stories in this series see The Witness List.

Based on Matt 27: 62 – 28:14

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. http://www.zondervan.com.

The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

 

[1]A tent group in the Roman legion, consisting of 8 men. Ten contubernia made up a centurium, over which a Centurion would have authority.