the empty tomb

[vincentfromyay]

it's been said that if the tomb wasn't empty then as soon as the disciples started preaching the resurrection their opponents would have shown the tomb not to be empty.

Q. Would this have been the case? Would opening a grave in those times not be the ultimate taboo? Would it not have been seen as utter sacrilege, or illegal even?

 

[Davies]

I wouldn't put anything past man. Even though Jesus was innocent of any wrong doing, that didn't keep the people from arresting Him and putting Him to death illegally.

I wonder what happened to the Roman soldiers who were guarding the tomb? Were they put to death, or did they flee, or did they become Christians?

- Davies

 

[Free]

it's been said that if the tomb wasn't empty then as soon as the disciples started preaching the resurrection their opponents would have shown the tomb not to be empty.

Q. Would this have been the case? Would opening a grave in those times not be the ultimate taboo? Would it not have been seen as utter sacrilege, or illegal even?

I don't know if it would have been considered sacrilege or taboo (probably not illegal if authorities were involved) but I would think that it would generally have been considered okay since they were opened up at some point to collect the bones and put them in an ossuary, thus allowing the tomb to be used again.

One must also consider that Jesus was crucified as a common criminal by the Romans and blasphemer by the Jews. I don't think they would have cared if his tomb was opened or not.

The silence regarding the tomb--if closed it could have been opened to show the body, to put an end to claims of Jesus being the Christ--really is a fairly strong argument as to Jesus' literal, physical resurrection and proof he was the Messiah. But if the tomb really was empty, the body raised, then silence is the best answer. Who would want to publicly acknowledge that they crucified the Messiah?

 

[Sparkey]

I haven't reread the text to check, so correct me if I am wrong, but the tomb was opened when the large rock at the entrance was rolled back. There would not need any further trouble other than to walk in an look to see if the body was there or not.

It's not difficult to look it up though:

"Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying:

Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
​

Pilate said unto them:

Ye have a watch: go your way, make [it] as sure as ye can.
​

So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch." - (Mat 27:62-66 KJV)


"In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 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." - (Mat 28:1-2 KJV)

 

[wayseer]

I don't know if it would have been considered sacrilege or taboo (probably not illegal if authorities were involved) but I would think that it would generally have been considered okay since they were opened up at some point to collect the bones and put them in an ossuary, thus allowing the tomb to be used again.

Such would have happened in due course - once the body had decayed and all that was left were bones.

One must also consider that Jesus was crucified as a common criminal by the Romans and blasphemer by the Jews. I don't think they would have cared if his tomb was opened or not.

I think the Romans were only too well aware of the impending danger. Common criminal of not, Jesus did have followers and a dead martyr can be a rally point for 'trouble'.

Besides, it seems that Joseph had some pull with the Roman authorities and was able to secure the release of Jesus' body.

The silence regarding the tomb--if closed it could have been opened to show the body, to put an end to claims of Jesus being the Christ--really is a fairly strong argument as to Jesus' literal, physical resurrection and proof he was the Messiah. But if the tomb really was empty, the body raised, then silence is the best answer. Who would want to publicly acknowledge that they crucified the Messiah?

Indeed - and who would take the word of women in the matter? I can just imagine the conversation between Mr and Mrs Cleopas on the road back to Emmaus.

Mr C Now stop that blubbering women. You know he's dead.

Mrs C But you weren't there. You didn't see the empty tomb

Mr C Enough woman. There is no empty tomb. No one walks out of a tomb. Give me a break Gee, what will the family think when they hear you going on like this? I'll be the shame of the whole village.

Mrs C (Still sniffling) I know what I saw - or didn't see.

Mr C Looks, it over. Jesus is dead. It was a great dream but he's dead and it's over. Best to let it all go. We'll be the laughing stock of the whole valley if you keep going on.

Well, you get the idea.

And then ....

 

[Free]

Such would have happened in due course - once the body had decayed and all that was left were bones.



I think the Romans were only too well aware of the impending danger. Common criminal of not, Jesus did have followers and a dead martyr can be a rally point for 'trouble'.

Besides, it seems that Joseph had some pull with the Roman authorities and was able to secure the release of Jesus' body.



Indeed - and who would take the word of women in the matter? I can just imagine the conversation between Mr and Mrs Cleopas on the road back to Emmaus.

Mr C Now stop that blubbering women. You know he's dead.

Mrs C But you weren't there. You didn't see the empty tomb

Mr C Enough woman. There is no empty tomb. No one walks out of a tomb. Give me a break Gee, what will the family think when they hear you going on like this? I'll be the shame of the whole village.

Mrs C (Still sniffling) I know what I saw - or didn't see.

Mr C Looks, it over. Jesus is dead. It was a great dream but he's dead and it's over. Best to let it all go. We'll be the laughing stock of the whole valley if you keep going on.

Well, you get the idea.

And then ....

I'm actually not clear on what your points are, if you're agreeing or disagreeing with what I've said.

 

[JMJ]

The Jewish chief priests bribed the soldiers to lie after they heard the soldiers' report about the empty tomb.

Matthew 28:11-15 (NKJV)
11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

 

[wayseer]

I'm actually not clear on what your points are, if you're agreeing or disagreeing with what I've said.

Just another angle.