Leslie M. John
“And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James,
and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And
very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the
sepulcher at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall
roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher? And when they looked,
they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great”. (Mark 16:1-4)
On the day when Jesus was tried before Pontius Pilate the governor, there was
option for people to have either Jesus released or Barabbas released. It was
feast day and according to their custom a prisoner of their choice could be
released. Pilate asked the people as to who they prefer to be released; whether
it was Barabbas or Jesus. The people cried that Barabbas, a notable criminal be
released in preference to that of innocent Jesus. (Matthew 27:15-18) Pilate knew
that Jesus was innocent and that is why he asked the people as to what evil
Jesus had committed. A great politician as he was, Pontius Pilate did not want
to offend Herod on one side and the people on the other. But the people cried
more that Jesus should be crucified. “And the governor said, why, what evil has
he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. (Matthew
27:23) Then Pilate washed his hands and justified himself saying: “I am innocent
of the blood of this just person: see you to it”. (Matthew 27:24) Pilate
acknowledged that Jesus was just person, yet he has handed over Jesus to the
choice of people. Thus Pilate is guilty of not showing the justice.
After the Sabbath was past early in the morning Mary Magdalene, and Mary the
mother of James went to the tomb where Jesus was laid. A rich man of Arimathaea,
named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple begged for the body of Jesus
and he laid it in his own new tomb.
.
And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he
rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. (Matthew 27:60)
On the tomb, where the dead body of Jesus was laid, a great stone was rolled
over it. The tomb was closed with that great stone and it was sealed so that no
one could remove the body of Jesus or steal the body of Jesus. All the accusers
took care that the dead body of Jesus was not removed from the tomb. The tomb
was guarded so that no one could remove or steal the body of Jesus.
“Pilate said unto them, You have guards: go your way, make it as sure as you
can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, sealing the stone, and setting a
guard”. (Matthew 27:65-66)
But then, as per the prophecy and as Jesus told beforehand, he rose from the
dead and went to Galilee before Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James
reached the tomb.
Jesus had told that he will rise on the third day, and yet these two missed the
timing very badly. Not only this, but before they reached the tomb, they had a
big question in their minds as to who will role away the stone?
However they found answer to their question when the Angel of the Lord announced
that he was risen from the dead.
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.
(Matthew 28:2)
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not: for I know that you
seek Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where the Lord lay. (Matthew 28:5-6)