By Jim Mettenbrink
Such a contrast to Jesus!! We live in an era of Postmodernism. Whereas Secular Humanism advocates that each person makes his own truth. Postmodernism proclaims there is no truth. In stark contrast, Jesus of Nazareth stated that He is THE truth and the only way to God (John 14:6) . The foundation of Christianity is that He rose from the dead, thereby showing He is God and, yes THE truth. Considering the testimony recorded in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the New Testament regarding Jesus’ resurrection – The evidence of His claim to be the living deity. If this is so, then you are obligated to follow His will and be accountable to Him.
The Jewish leadership’s insisted that Jesus’ grave was sealed, certifying that He was dead and buried. And they demanded a guard to prevent grave robbing. Why? The leadership did not believe He would rise, but rather thought His devoted disciples would try to steal His body and then declare He rose. Thus, the sealed grave and the guard were insurance. But the priests had a more pressing reason to seal the grave.
At a certain point in His three years declaration of His messiahship, Jesus frequently prophesied His own resurrection (Mark 8:31). Why would this be a primary fear of the Jewish leadership? After all, the claim to come back from the dead to live again forever is really outlandish if not absurd.
Just shortly before His own death, Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the dead (John 11:28-44). The Bible records several miraculous resurrections by prophets and Jesus Himself (eg 1 Kings 17:17-23; Luke 7:11-15). But in contrast to other resurrection miracles, Lazarus had been dead four days and in the grave (John 11:39). Knowing that Jesus rose Lazarus and restored him to his normal health, the priesthood surmised that “If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation” (John 11:48). In other words, Jesus would establish Christianity and supplant Judaism. Their “place”? – Hierarchy of the Jewish religion, power, and control of the Jews. Further, they would have no financial support. The second reason to keep Jesus in the grave was all about the money.