Death At The Mercy Of Life - The Reality Of The Resurrection Of Jesus

Awestruck, Death stood before the presence of Life completely paralyzed and helpless, staring at His magnificent glory - the glory of the one whom he thought he had destroyed forever, the man Jesus Christ.

The resurrection of Jesus is no granny-fable, it is a well proven fact of the scriptures. Throughout the Bible, the evidences of His resurrection are laid bare via the testimonies of several men and women who had not only seen Him but have touched and heard Him.

By looking at certain things surrounding His death and burial also, we can find proofs that His body was never stolen and hidden somewhere else by His disciples. A belief that is strongly held by some Jews, Atheists and other non believers.

First, the Tomb was sealed with a great stone rolled on it. Unlike other Jewish graves or tombs at that time that had some sort of doors, this one had a great stone rolled on it. Thus rendering it permanently closed from all forms of external interference.

“So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” (Mat 27:66)

After this great stone was rolled on the tomb’s entrance, a seal was placed on it. This seal by the Roman Soldiers who must have carefully inspected the tomb of Jesus to make sure the body was there before the stone is rolled at the entrance, was to pass the message to all unauthorized persons that this site including the body of Jesus, is out of bound for tampering.

Having done all that, the Chief priest and the elders (the Jews) in partnership with Pilate, had soldiers placed at the entrance of the tomb. The Bible calls these soldiers “a watch.” A watch here is a group of four fully armed soldiers who are given charge to guard at particular site or individual. They are changed every 3 to 4 hours to keep them awake, attentive and alert.

“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” (Mat 27:62-66)

Fully trained and armed to the teeth, there was no way ordinary civilians especially fishermen with no battle experience would have been able to overpower them to steal the body of Jesus. To insinuate that His body may have been stolen while the Soldiers slept is not only ridiculous, it is also to imagine an impossible thing.

The reason it is not possible for the disciples of Jesus to have stolen His body while the soldiers slept is because IT IS NATURALLY NOT POSSIBLE TO CATCH A GROUP OF FOUR ROMAN SOLDIERS SLEEPING ON DUTY AT THE SAME TIME. 

To sleep on duty alone as a Roman Soldier then is a very serious crime that is only punishable by death. Direct execution. So no soldier ever  lets himself make this mistake let alone four soldiers at the same time without being drugged.

The other reason is because these soldiers being “a watch,” are replaced every 3 to 4 hours to keep them awake, attentive and alert. Except they were drugged or under a supernatural influence, there is absolutely no way the four of them could have fallen so much into sleep that the disciples would come, roll away the great stone with all its noise and not one of these trained-for-battle and constantly alert soldiers waking up.

Matthew tells us the popular claim that Jesus’ body was stolen by His disciples which is widely believed among the Jews, Atheists and other non believers today, was a well calculated plot of the Chief Priests and Elders of the Jews to invalidate the fact that Jesus truly rose from the dead.

“Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. 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 away while we slept. And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” (Mat 28:11-15)

Did Jesus truly rose from the dead?

Yes He did. Death could not keep Him captive neither could the grave hold His body beyond the three days He said He would lay there. He arose supernaturally by the power of God.

“In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.” (Mat 28:1-9)

He was seen by His disciples on several occasions after His resurrection. Mary Magdalene, The Two disciples on the road to Emaus, the Eleven disciples, James and later Paul who was not there at the time of His death. These all bore witness that He is alive today having seen, touched and heard His voice.

“And it came to pass, that, as I made my journey, and was come nigh unto Damascus about noon, suddenly there shone from heaven a great light round about me. And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest.” (Act 22:6-8)

Before Festus and King Agrippa, Paul again boldly gave witness of His resurrection. Telling the King and all present of his encounter with Jesus.

“At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with me. And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.” (Act 26:13-15)

All over the world, Jesus has continued to appear to lots and lots of people including Muslims and other non-Christians, letting them experience His love and mercy towards them.

His resurrection is what justified us from sin. It is in His resurrection that our faith lies.

“And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” (1Co 15:17)

Because Jesus rose from death, we can be sure that our sins have been fully paid for and washed away. And just as Christ was raised to life, we that have believed in Him as our Saviour shall someday be raised to an immortal life. Never to die again.

I hope this blesses you. Celebrate and rejoice, Jesus is risen. He is alive today. Death couldn’t and can never hold Him captive.

Glory to God!