A Grave Situation (Part 1)

“Glad that business is over, Lucius said as he tapped the base of his

spear against the huge stone in front of the tomb.

.

Justin nodded in agreement. I just hope it doesn’t cause a revolt or

something, he said quietly so the other guards stationed nearby wouldn’t

overhear.

.

Nah, Lucius replied. Did you see how many Jews were at the crucifixion?

Yet only a handful of them wept. Most were screaming, Crucify him! Crucify

him!’ I don’t think the Jews are going to cause any trouble over this.

Their leaders were the ones who brought him to Pontius Pilate to be

crucified, after all.

.

Then why are we here? asked Justin. Why have this many soldiers guarding

the sealed tomb of a man crucified as a criminal by his own people? It

makes no sense.

.

Lucius shrugged. Some of the Jewish leaders are afraid his followers will

try to steal the bodysomething about a prophecy he made about rising from

the dead. But trust me, no one’s getting through this. Lucius patted the

heavy stone, then nodded toward the other soldiers. Or us. Anyway, they

say his followers scattered when he was arrested. Why would they risk it

all now for someone who’s already dead?

.

Justin let out a breath. Maybe it wasn’t so bad. Even though standing guard

outside a tomb still required his full attentionevery Roman soldier knew

that failing to fulfill his duty meant pain of deathhe could still think

of it as a break. No breaking up fights in the street or kicking beggars

out of sight so prominent Romans didn’t have to look at them as they passed

by. He could breathe the fresh air and listen to the breeze whispering

through the trees

.

Justin’s thoughts were interrupted as heat and light seared through every

part of him. A scraping roar filled his ears, and he was knocked to his

knees as the earth shook. He could hear the faint screams of the soldiers

around him but couldn’t open his eyes in the blinding light. All he could

do was throw his arms over his head until it was over.

.

Finally, Justin felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see Lucius.

What happened? Justin asked.

.

I don’t know, said Lucius. He pointed toward the tomb. But we’ve got a

situation.

.

Justin turned and gasped. The huge stone had been rolled away from the

tomb’s entrance. They walked inside and stopped dead. Justin saw Lucius’s

face pale to the color of ash. He’s gone. Justin’s voice trembled as they

both stared at the empty tomb. Courtney Lasater

.

Today’s fictional story is based on the true events of Easter morning.

Read Matthew 27:57-66 and 28:1-6. What do you think it would have been like

to be one of the Roman soldiers standing guard outside of the tomb when the

angel rolled the stone away?

.

What sticks out to you most, either in today’s story or in the Bible

passages it’s based on?

.

Why is it important that Jesus literally rose from the dead? How might

knowing the precautions taken by the Roman government, so that no one could

steal Jesus’s body, give us confidence that Jesus’s resurrection really did

happen?

.

He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place

where he lay. Matthew 28:6 (CSB)

Read Verses:

Matthew 17:22-Matthew 17:23; Matthew 27:57-Matthew 27:66; Matthew 28:1-Matthew 28:6