Screwed
How many stories begin with the thought, "This is what must have happened?"
While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You must say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day. Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." - Matt. 28:11-20
Who among the guards who were paid off to keep this a secret told?
Perhaps the guards did tell people that the disciples came and stole the body. I believe that probably happened. But if you were the governor, would you be happy to hear that the guards fell asleep and let the body be stolen?
Now, the guards were in a difficult situation here. Remember, in this version of the story, the guards saw what happened. They saw Jesus.
The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
So, having seen this miraculous event, how could they pretend they had not experienced it?
I can imagine the conversation between them.
"We can't go and tell what happened. Who would believe this?"
"But, if we don't tell them, how do we explain that the body is gone?"
"I think we should run away."
"You run away. I'm going to report this."
"And what are you going to say? The earth shook and it rolled the stone away?"
"Well, we can't say it was an angel from heaven. Who is going to believe that?"
"We are screwed."
Yeah. I think so.
More to come...