This is an Easter season with much to be thankful about. Permit me to share a perspective that adds history to the Easter story celebrated in the realm of Christendom: The Jewish Historian Flavius Josephus was a contemporary of Jesus day. He reported first hand accounts and reports as would a present day journalist. Josephus recounts the reports by Governor Piltate, a historic figure that records verify was a personage who existed and was the Governor who did crucify the Carpenter Son from Galilee - Jesus of Nazareth. It was reported that Governor Pilate at the urging of the High Priest Caiphas, also a historic figure feared the prophesied resurrection would be perpetrated by the followers of Jesus stealing the body, proclaiming him Messiah. Pilate ordered the Tomb guarded and sealed. That means, there was a Roman wax seal warning any trespassers, under severe punishment not to break open this Tomb till after 3 days and nights. Pilate also ordered Guards at the Tomb. Roman guards, as they are professional soldiers under his orders, not subject to the Jewish rulers authority, like the Temple police. Pilate also had problems in his own ranks and home because of this execution that left him unsettled. His own wife was having dreams and she warned him not to kill Jesus. The area suffered an Earthquake and there was municipal damage. Also, his Centurion Cornelius, also a historic figure in the historic record, reported one of his executioner soldiers named, Longinus, plunged his spear into the side of the crucified Jesus, and water mingled with blood, sprayed his face and eyes. Longinus who had suffered vision loss, and so was relegated to executioner duties, was instantly cured, and his sight perfectly restored, witnessed by the Roman detail assigned there, as accounted in the Roman reports. So Pilate, made sure he had reliable men, his captains trusted, to guard that Tomb for the three days and nights. The Roman punishment for sleeping on duty, or failing a mission, was severe, ending in either honorable suicide or horrific execution as a lesson and discipline as a warning to others. Mathew reports that the Roman Soldiers witnessed an Angel move the Stone and saw Jesus and the Angels emerge from the Tomb saying; They fell down as if dead.. in other words, hardened Roman Soldiers, from the Syrian Brigade.. fainted from fear. By the time, Mary Magdalene is described in the Gospel account as coming to the scene, but there are no Roman Soldiers there to confront her. She anticipated they would there to help her roll the stone away, as the 3 days would lapse at Sunrise. So, she went there alone, with spices to anoint the body, expecting the Soldiers would open the Tomb for her, but they werent there. Josephus reports the two of them, went to their Commander, Centurion Cornelius. Imagine, if they were derelict and left their post, they would be punished or put to death, giving them no reason to run to their commander, but instead, flee for their lives. They didnt do that. Centurion Cornelius wrote up their report, which is the record Flavius Josephus reports from stating what they say they witnessed. Cornelius did not punish them, as would be Roman regulations; Why? Cornelius brought his report to Governor Pilate. It is in the record, as told by Josephus. Pilate did not punish them. Why? The two Roman soldiers are later chronicled as Christians, telling their story repeatedly in the oral traditions. Why were they allowed to live and not punished by their Commander and Governor Pilate? The answer becomes obvious under all of the circumstances evolving in these days after the crucifixion of Jesus. The Centurion, the Governor and their peers did not punish them because, they believed them. That is how the story has survived these two thousand years to this re-telling. Think about that. ~ Anthony Mele
Posted on: Sat, 19 Apr 2014 02:48:32 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015