67-Guards-A

And We Thought We Knew You:
Soul Journey With the Real Jesus

Guards
DAWN EYES

Friday, about April 15, AD 30
Jerusalem, Judea

�� "Procurator, Pilate, they're back."� The aide knows he does not have to explain that "they" is the Temple hierarchy.

�� "You know, if this hadn't been a big promotion for me, I would have never accepted the appointment as procurator over these stubborn, rebellious people."

�� "Yes, sir."

�� "I don't think they realize just how bad their reputation is.� Everyone tried to warn me, but I wouldn't listen.� Turns out they weren't right after all.� It's worse than they said."

�� "Sir, what shall I tell them?"

�� "Tell them to make an appointment with the devil, and I'll see them in hell."

�� Silence.� The aide detects that Pilate has not had much sleep during the night.

�� "You know, my wife had a dream night before last about that man.� What's his name again?"

�� "Jesus, sir."

�� "Yes, Jesus.� It was a nightmare.� She said I should keep my distance from him.� Fat chance.� So now is my whole life to turn into a nightmare?" [1]

�� The aide clears his throat politely.

�� "All right.� Send them in."

�� "Uh, sir, they are out in the courtyard.'

�� "Not that again.� What this time?"

�� "The first full day of Passover is today.� They call it their special Sabbath." [2]

�� "That Jesus has been dead half a day, and they're still scared of him.� It's about him, isn't it?"

�� "They didn't say, but some were talking about him among themselves.� So I'd say you are probably right."

�� Pilate stands and runs his hand over his unkempt hair.� "Tell them I'll see them in a few minutes.� Where's my razor?"

�� "Make it quick, gentlemen."� Pilate is on his balcony.� He does not wish to get any closer to the Sanhedrin than he has to.

�� "Procurator Pilate, Jesus of Nazareth told many people recently that it wouldn't do any good to kill him, because he'd come back to life after three days." Although they'd claimed just that morning he claimed he would rebuild the Temple in three days, they knew all along that's not what he meant. [3]

�� "Can't keep a good man down, can you?" the governor responds with a smirk.� "Go get 'em," he adds under his breath.

�� "Procurator, we must insist that you send your Temple guards over to the tomb where he is buried to guard it for three days."

�� "Oh, yes.� He was laid in one of the finest tombs around.� One of your own members donated it."

�� Pretending not to hear half of what the procurator is saying, the Sanhedrin's spokesman continues.� "If his tomb is not guarded, his followers will break in, steal the body, then claim he came back to life."

�� "Personally, it doesn't sound like a half-bad idea.� He could come back and haunt you guys.� Fly around your conference room while you plan your power strategies."

�� "If, Procurator Pilate, this body theft happens ~ and it will ~ the people will riot and you will be held accountable to Caesar for it." [4]

�� Pilate glares at the group of holy men in a long silence. "Not that again" he thinks. He then turns to leave.

�� "Procurator, we insist," he hears as he reaches for the door.��

�� "Do it yourself!" he calls down to them.� "Use your own guards.� That way you can bribe them in case he really does come back to life.� Be my guest.� Barricade it any way you want!" he calls back.� "Like it would make any difference if he did have the power to come back," he adds going through the door and not caring if anyone hears him. [5]

�� "All right, Captain.� You heard him.� I want your men over there within the hour."

�� "Yes, sir."

�� Back in his chariot, Captain Solomon arrives back at the Temple within minutes.� He strides importantly through the gate, snaps his fingers at the first guard he sees not on duty at the gate, and proceeds down to his headquarters.

�� "I want ten of our best-trained men sent to Joseph's burial cave over next to execution hill."

�� "Yes sir!� And their mission?"

�� "To guard the tomb against grave robbers."

�� "May I ask, sir, who is buried there?"

�� "That trouble-maker, Jesus.� I want them on duty immediately."

�� "Yes, sir!"� He salutes sharply and leaves."�

�� Within minutes Captain Solomon sees ten Temple guards marching through the crowded Temple grounds.� Then they are gone. [6]

�� "We're guarding who?" one of the guards asks as they head out onto the main road.

�� "Jesus, the guy they executed yesterday."

�� "Why?� The guy's dead."

�� "They think he'll come back to life or something."

�� Several laugh.� One does not.

�� "I don't know, guys.� It's weird.� Black three hours in the middle of the day yesterday?� Then the earthquake just when they say he died?� Assign me to riot control.� I can handle that.� But this guy gives me the creeps."

�� Nothing more is said.� They turn and go through a garden gate.� Straight ahead of them is a burial cave.� They look over the structure.

�� Two of them, older men, go over to the entrance stone.� They drive a spike into it and connect one end of a heavy chain onto the spike and proceed to pull it around to a tree set in the hill.� On that side of the stone they drive in another spike, connect a chain to it, and pull, it the other direction to a smaller but sturdy rock on the other side of the hill.

�� "What do they think they're doing?"

�� "We've got our orders.� That's all we know."

�� Two more guards take heavy packs off their shoulders ~ packs of dry powder.� They dump its contents into a jug one of them has already brought along.� They proceed to stir the cement until it is workable consistency.

�� "You and you!� Take this vat over to the stone!"

�� Trowels are dipped into the vat and the cement spread over the stone covering the cave entrance.� In a few minutes they are done.� They stand back.

�� "That should do it.� Even if they manage to break through the chain, they'd have to break the seal.� And that cannot be done quietly.� Then we have our proof of tampering." [7]

�� "Those followers of Jesus would be crazy to even think about a body snatching now."

�� "All right, men," the captain announces.� "We'll have eight-hour shifts."

�� "Sir, how long will we be wasting our time guarding this dead guy's tomb?"

�� "Three days.� Then the danger's over."

�� "Danger?"

�� Two men patrol the gate on the outside of the garden.� Two men stand at attention just inside the gate.� Two more men stand at attention on each side of what used to be the entrance into the burial cave.� Two men stand at each of the chains to the sides of the cave.� Each has a sword in readiness.

�� The last two men stand by with rations for mess breaks.� They will stand in for the men whenever they stop to eat.�

�� ....All day they stand and patrol and guard the body of Jesus.� In a monotonous routine, but one they've grown used to through the years serving as Temple guards.

�� Night time comes.� Nothing.� No one even comes to visit the tomb.� Not even friends paying their last respects.�

�� It is a holy day.� The Passover service was held at the Temple today, for it is a special Sabbath.� Other than that, most people just spend their day quietly at home.� It is the custom on such holy days.� All shops are closed.�

�� Now that the Passover Lamb has been slain, they do nothing but rest, throw in a little celebrating, and say a few prayers now and then.

�� Indeed it is a holy time.� Much more holy than any understands.

�� Throughout the city there is celebrating and there is mourning.� No one remains undecided any more.� Still, there is one thing they all have in common.� The big question.� How?� How could it have all happened?� If he was as powerful as he claimed, how could he have let them do it to him?� How?

�� All day and the next the celebrating and the mourning.� And half the night.� The celebrators find it a good time to have a party.� The mourners find it a bad time to sleep.

�� So illusive the sleep.� So evasive the answers.� So difficult the prayers.� All night wondering.� What do you say to God at a terrible time like this?

�� "If you are the son of God...."� That's what so many said at the cross.� If....� If....� If....� Well, what if he wasn't?� What if he wasn't after all? �What if his enemies were right all along?� What if he lied to them all?� Made fools of them all?�

�� Oh, Jesus.� What went wrong?

�� It will be morning soon.� Sunday morning.� There is a stirring in heaven.� And Paradise.

�� Jesus has been offered on the altar of world by a betraying mankind, and seared in the ovens of hell.� Although impossible, he has unexpectedly escaped.

�� But Satan knows he has a second chance, for Jesus is still in the realm of the dead. [8]� Although Jesus escaped the oven, it was not until he was properly seared.� Now Satan is ready to devour Jesus forever. [9]� Jesus shall then be forever forsaken and dead, forever forgotten and gone.

�� It is almost time, Son.� You've had a good rest in Paradise.� Now you've got to go back.� I know you don't want to, but you must.� You must explain your church and get it started.

�� Yes, Father.� I'm ready.� I'm missing my friends anyway.� And my mother.

��� Have you had a good visit with Joseph? [10]�

�� Yes, it was a special time.� He wasn't as big as I remembered him.� You chose a good earthly father for me.� It's been a special time for us both.� ����

Dawn
Sunday, about April 17, AD 30

��� "Are you ready to see it?" one of the angels asks another.�

�� "You bet.� I wouldn't miss it for the world!� This is going to be the greatest spectacle since the cosmos was created."

�� "Greater even than when he was born into a human body."

�� "Oh, yes.� I remember that.� How we sang!� How proud we were of him.� How we admired him.� He actually allowed himself to be confined to the body of a helpless baby.� He loves them so much." [11]

�� "Yes, the people on earth.� Indeed, how he loves them." [12]

�� Jesus has one more thing to overcome.� Satan has had the keys to both hell and paradise.� But the keys out of paradise won't fit the lock if Jesus fails the test.�

�� Satan is angry.� Jesus has taken from him the keys of hell, and escaped from there.� He knows Jesus is now after the gates of death.� If he gets them, Satan's greatest power will only be temporary. [13]

�� Jesus goes to the locked gates of Paradise.� He must return to earth and return to his body.� If he can do that, his father, the Fountain of Life will see to it that he never dies again. [14]�

�� Being part human, he will be the firstborn into an eternal life.� He can never die again.� Being part God, he will harness those powers to make it happen. [15]

�� Jesus?� Are you ready?� The world falls at your feet, though it does not know it yet.� The world begs you to overcome death, for no one else knows how. [16]

�� With the immutable and incomparable power of love harnessed in this one God-man, [17] Jesus throws open the gates of Paradise and sees, standing between him and life, Satan.

�� "You will not pass through me.� You cannot.� No one has ever done it!"

�� Step aside, Satan!� Step aside, or I will crush you!

�� "Never!"

�� Jesus flexes his spirit muscles.� He thinks of the people he has left behind.� He begins to radiate.� His countenance begins to flicker with brightness that Satan cannot handle. [18]

�� "They will all die forever, and forever be my captives!"

�� You are wrong, Satan!� You are not powerful enough!�

�� Jesus' countenance continues to blaze brighter and brighter.� Brighter in love.� Stalwart in hatred of hate.� He steps closer to Satan.� Satan backs up.

�� "You cannot keep me from making them die!"

�� I am Life.� I will raise them up. [19]

�� Jesus is now aglow.� His pace is picking up.� He is ready to charge, like a bull ready to trample sin.� Satan continues to back up.

�� "I will cause them to die again!"

�� I will raise them up again!

�� The light of Jesus' love for mankind is now ablaze.� He becomes unstoppable!� He charges at Satan.� Flashing!� Racing!� Propelling toward the enemy Death.�

�� "I will convince them there is no heaven or hell," Satan shouts desperately.

�� I am Truth!� Jesus speeds ever closer to Satan.� They can find irrefutable evidence in the Bible that they can live again! [20]

�� Jesus is lunging and charging and roaring like an angry lion protecting her young.�

�� "I'll stop them at the gate of death and they'll never be able to get out!� Remember, I've got the keys!" Satan demands arrogantly, looking back over his shoulder. [21]

�� I am the Gate! [22]� And I'll take the keys to Death away from you! [23]

�� Racing!� Propelling!� Speeding through the gates of Death in all the defying power of mighty love.

�� Satan calls back in desperation, "I'll influence them to sin!� Sin earns death!" [24]

�� I am Life!� I forgive, and give them the free gift of life! [25]

�� "Stop him!� Stop him!"

�� "We can't!" Satan's angels call back.� "Every time we bury him in darkness, he flies out with light!� It's too bright!� Too bright!� Help!� He's destroying us!" [26]

�� Zig-zagging through the spirit world.�

�� "Come back!� Come back!" Satan shouts.� "I forbid you to leave Death!� Come back!"

�� Racing through the corridors of Death!� Propelling through darkness of self-destruction.� Unbeatable!

�� He's out!� He's got the keys!�

�� Catapulting through the cosmos.� Galaxy to galaxy.� Star to star.� Shooting out of control.� Faster than the speed of light!

�� Speeding!� Racing!� Bolting!

�� The light!� The brilliance!� The radiance of glory! [27]��� Closer and closer he comes to earth.� Closer and closer to Satan's defeat.� Closer and closer to the hearts and lives of all mankind!

�� Jesus circles the earth!� And the mankind he made!� The mankind he loved!� The mankind he can lead to victory! [28]

�� Closer now.� Closer.�

�� He slows his approach.�

�� A rumble.� A rumble on a little piece of earth.� A spot where the souls wait who re-entered their bodies three days before.�

�� "Come, Lord Jesus!"

�� They can see him.� No one else can.

�� "Come on, Jesus!� Yes!� Yes!� Keep coming!"

�� They shout!� They applaud!� They whistle!� They cheer!

�� Once again the earth shaking under the shadow of Jesus' now-deserted cross!� Shaking and rumbling and quaking!�

�� Rocks!� Rocks again loose!� Rocks moving and shifting and rolling down the hills.

�� The guards pull their swords up in readiness.� They are knocked off balance.� They use their spears to support themselves.� Some put their hands out for the stone.� Some stumble.� Some fall to the ground.

�� Shaking!� Still the ground shaking!� And the shouting!� Where is it coming from? �What's happening?

�� The wind blowing and shifting and circling them!� Hurling dirt and debris and the darts of Satan!

�� Whirling!� Whistling!� Spinning!� Faster!� Faster!� Faster!

�� Come, Lord Jesus!� Come back to us!� Show us how!� Break through Satan's barriers!� If he kills you, keep coming back to life!� Don't stop!� You are Life!� Hurry!� We need you!

�� Then a roar from within the death cave.� A roar and a rumble and a boom that echoes through the gates of Death and hell!

�� Still the cave of unlife shaking!� Quivering!� Shuddering!� �

�� God giving birth to the first eternal human!� Satan shouting that it cannot be done!� God pushing his love onto mankind without its permission!�

�� Keep coming, Jesus!� You came to us once before!� Come back to us!� Show us how to be born again!� Show us how! [29]

�� And with one final blast of love, the stone to the burial cave flies off its track to the ground several feet away.

�� There in the entrance way stands Jesus.� Back in his body.� Back in our world.� Back to show us it can be done.

�� Welcome, Jesus.� How we missed you.� Thank God, you came back for us.� Thank you.

�� Yes, thank you.� Thank you, Jesus.� You've done so much for us.� Now this too.�

�� "The stone!� The stone's over there!� What's going on?"

�� The ten guards rush around to the front of the cave in time to see a man almost too bright to look on sitting on the stone. [30]

�� They're backing up in retreat.� Never taking their eyes off him.� Backing farther and farther.� They're shaking in fear and hating it.� This cannot be happening.�

�� They try to keep their swords trained on the man but cannot keep their shaking hands under control.� They do not know how to fight him.�

�� The earthquake stops as quickly as it starts.� The quiet is interrupted by a mule neighing.� They're afraid it's their captain deserting them. They hear voices.� Soft voices.

�� "Are you okay, Salome?" a woman's voice asks.

�� "Yes, how about you, Mary?"

�� "I'm okay.� That's the second one in two days."

�� "We've got to take care of his body.� It wouldn't be right to neglect him."

�� "Well, who's going to roll that heavy stone out of the way for us?� It was all the priests could do to close it as big as they are."

�� "Do you think we all could push it?"

�� "I don't think so."

�� They enter through the gate to the garden.� They stop in surprise.�

�� "What?"

�� "The stone is off!"

�� "Look!� Who's that?"

�� The women look over and see what the guards are staring at.�

�� "I didn't sign up for this job to fight men from the stars!� I'm outa here!"

�� "Me too!"

�� Two of the guards race for the garden gate.

�� Four more head out and follow behind them zig-zagging down the access road and onto the main road out of control and away from their fear.

�� The last four have stood their ground.� If they were outnumbered before, they do not have a chance now.� They are the older guards.

�� "Check the cave for the body!"

�� "No body, sir.� It's gone!"

�� "We've got to report this!"

�� They head for the gate and disappear down the road.

�� Out on the main road, the last guards do not see the others.� It is obvious they have deserted their posts.� The older and more loyal ones head for the Temple.

�� They rush through the Temple gate and toward the back where the guards are headquartered.�

�� "Where is Captain Solomon?" they ask one of the guards about to report for day duty.� "We must see him immediately!� Is he here yet?"

�� "Yes, he's over in that room."� They rush in, salute, and wait.

�� "I hope this is not a sign of anything going wrong out there."

�� "Sir," he takes a deep breath.� He does not know how to explain it.

�� "Sir, permission to speak freely."

�� "Go ahead.� Now what happened?"

�� He takes another deep breath and wipes his hand nervously across his mouth.� He pulls at his tightly tied tunic collar.�

�� "Sir, I don't know what it was.� It wasn't like anything I've ever seen before."

�� "What?"

�� "Did you feel it, sir?"

�� "The earthquake?� Yes.� An aftershock from the tremor the day of the crucifixion."

�� "Well, it shook the hill."

�� "And the cave?"

�� "Yes, sir."

�� "Did the seal around the stone come loose?"

�� "No, sir.� It was worse than that.� The stone blew completely off the entrance and landed several feet away. [31] � It was like something blew up.� But the stone was still intact.� Then there was the man."

�� "Did you take prisoners?� Where are the other guards?"

�� "No prisoners.� And I don't know where the others are."

�� "Were you able to identify the intruder?"

�� "No, sir.� It was....� Well, did you ever hear about star gods?"

�� "That's nonsense!"

�� "Well, he was like a stargod."

�� "Come, now.� I've heard some alibis in my time, but never any this far fetched."

�� "Sir, it's the truth.� Then the woman came."

�� "What woman?"

�� "I don't know.� But he ~ that stargod or whatever he was ~ talked to her."

�� "Where's the body?"

�� "We don't know.� It just disappeared into thin air."

�� "Bodies don't disappear into thin air.� Your stargod must have grabbed it."

�� "I don't think so, sir.� He was more like lightening."

�� "Lightening?"

�� "Yes, sir.� Like he didn't belong in our world.� Everything about him shone like sun.� We could hardly look at him.� He lit up the whole area."

�� "So, who took the body?"

�� "No one, sir.� No one else was there.� It just disappeared!� Sir, may I be candid with you?"

�� "Go ahead, soldier."

�� Once more he wipes his mouth with his hand.� Then his brow with the back of his hand.�

�� "Uh, sir.� I think he came back to life."� He clears his throat to buy some time.� "I think I saw him, well, standing in the cave entrance.� Didn't they bury him wrapped in gauze?"

�� "How am I supposed to know?"

�� "Well, that's what I saw standing in the entrance.� Sir, you must believe me.� I've never lied to you.� I think he came back to life." [32]

�� "And you other three, is that what they saw?"

�� "Yes, sir.� One other thing.� He seemed to be holding some keys."

�� Captain Solomon calls a messenger to attention.� "Where is the high priest?"

�� "Probably presiding over the morning Passover ceremonies, sir."

�� "I don't care what he's doing.� Get him out of the ceremonies now!� This is a matter of national security!"

�� Silence.� Pacing.� Waiting.

�� "What is the meaning of this, Captain Solomon?� Do you realize what you have done to me?� I have hard enough time keeping my position secure, and you go have me pulled out of the ceremonies?"

�� Deep down, Caiaphas knows what has happened.� He does not want to hear it, but must.�

�� "Sir, high priest, the guards are back.� It is imperative that you hear their testimony."

�� Caiaphas is sick in the pit of his stomach.� He must get control of himself.� He must be able to think.� He responds stoicly.� "Meet in the Sanhedrin council chambers after the ceremonies."

�� An hour passes.� A hellish hour at the Temple.

�� Caiaphas and several of the Sanhedrin join the waiting guards in their chambers.� They hear the guards' report.� They know the guards could not be lying.� They would be signing their own death warrant.

�� "Leave us!"�

�� Caiaphas calls for a trusted messenger.� Get the other messengers and patrol the Temple grounds until you find the rest of the Sanhedrin.� Though not all of them.� You know which ones to include and which ones to forget."

�� The high priest and every other priest, elder, scribe, and theologian in the room show signs of agitation.�

�� "He can't do that!� I forbid it!"

�� They pace.� Some leave for a few moments.� Gradually the others arrive.

�� "What's going on?� What's happened?"

�� The word passes among the attendees as they arrive.� More pacing.� More nervous tics.� More anger and panic welling up inside.

�� Finally enough is there for a quorum.

�� "Brethren, we've hit a little snag in our campaign against heresy in our religion.� The trouble maker is back."

�� The room grows warmer.� Then hotter.

�� "Do you think he really did it?� Do you think he came back to life?"

�� "Of course he did!" Caiaphas shouts back.� "He brought back Lazarus in Bethany, didn't he?" [33]

�� "We'll never hear from the deserters again.� But what will we do with the four guards who reported the resurrec.... er, uh, story?"

�� "We could make sure they meet up with an accident."

�� "Too many coincidences."

�� "How about stoning or crucifying them for deserting their posts?"

�� People would wonder why they deserted.� It would raise too much suspicion.

�� "How low is the secret fund?"

�� "It's nearly empty.� Used most of it this past week for Judas."

�� "Then we'll need some emergency donations.� By noon I want four hundred denarai, enough to offer each man one hundred denarai."

�� The priests grumble, but know it is necessary.� Better to reduce their personal funds hidden at home than lose their jobs.

�� "Call Captain Solomon in."

�� "Captain Solomon, you are to keep your guards in custody until noon.� I don't care how you handle it.� Put them in a room and bar the door.� Tell them it is for security reasons.� Send dinner in to them, but don't allow them to talk to anyone.� You are not to let them out of your sight.� Understood?"

�� "Yes, sir."

�� The four are taken into the captain's office.� A sign is placed on the door that it is closed for the day.� Captain Solomon stays with them.� At noon they are fed.

�� A knock at the door.

�� "We're ready."

�� The guards look at each other.� What's about to happen.� Is this it?� Are they being led to their stoning?� They rise to their feet courageously.� They wish they had run with the rest of them while they had a chance.

�� They march down the Temple corridor but are not escorted to a gate.� Instead, they are led through a doorway into a large and plush council room.� They had heard about it, but had never been in it.

�� "Members of the Sanhedrin, these are the guards who were present at the unfortunate occurrence this morning."

�� High Priest Caiaphas addresses them.

�� "Gentlemen, please stand at ease.� We are convinced that, because of the earthquake, you are not really sure what happened out there.� We are sure that, because the sun wasn't all the way up, the shadows were playing tricks on you.� We are confident that you really did see dynamite, and you really did see a couple of his men take the body away.

�� "Now, to help your memories, we have some commendations for you.� Your captain says you have served faithfully for many years.� We do not overlook loyalty.� Therefore, we want each of you to have a plush scarlet pouch with a little something to show our gratitude.� We are sure after a rest, your memories will become clearer.

�� "Your captain has these pouches.� As soon as you dictate to our scribes what happened during these unfortunate events of the morning, you may have your commendation pouches.

�� "By the way, your reports will mention how sleepy you were.� However, we happen to know that someone drugged your drinking water out there.� You may put that in your report.

�� "Now, are there any questions?"

�� "No, sir," each of the four guards replies.

�� "You may go.� Uh, and we know where you live.� We know the names of your children and where you live.� We know they will appreciate your cooperation."

�� "Yes, sir," the guards all reply. [34]�

�� "You can count on them, gentlemen," Captain Solomon announces on their behalf.

�� The guards leave, accompanied by their captain.� The Sanhedrin leaves, accompanied by their High Priest.� The scruples of their religion leave, accompanied by Satan. [35]�

�� Satan is smiling once again.

�� "I can make them all believe a lie.� Just like before.� People love my lies."

LIFE APPLICATION

1.�� Logical people will not believe Jesus actually came back to life unless they see evidence.� There is evidence.� If you have already examined scientific and prophetic proofs from the Bible that it is of divine origin, then you will believe which portion of the Bible?

2.�� Several years ago there was a book written by practicing attorney, Albert L. Roper, entitled, "Did Jesus Rise From the Dead?" published by Zondervan..� Try to find a copy of this book to see how he investigated the case.

3.�� If Jesus did not come back to life, he was a liar.� If he was a liar, could he have been a good man?� How does that help you zero in on a pro or con view of Jesus?�

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