Guarding the Empty Tomb

The setting: 2,000 years ago, in a dusty Roman jail cell sit two soldiers, Marcus and Tiberius, awaiting a trial. It is a Monday.

Marcus: How long will they keep us here?

Tiberius: Until this gets sorted out, my friend. The longer the better. A short verdict could mean the end of us. I think the Jewish religious leaders want this taken care of quickly. And quietly.

Marcus: Listen, I know what I saw! I know what happened. I was standing my post, when that man, at least he looked like a man, appeared brilliantly out of nowhere and rolled back that stone …

Tiberius: Shhh! Keep your voice down.

Marcus (in a whisper): Ok, ok, But I saw it happen. And you did too. I know you did. I saw it in your eyes when we reconvened at the barracks.

Tiberius didn’t respond.

Marcus (continuing to whisper): Fine. Stay quiet. I don’t care. I saw it. I was the last to leave. You and the others ran like scared children. I was afraid too, but I hid behind those rocks. I watched what happened next. That man entered the tomb and led the prisoner out. He too was dressed in shinning white robes. There wasn’t a scratch on him.

Tiberius: You mean the “man” carried the prisoner out of the tomb. Like a grave-robber?

Marcus: No, Tiberius, no! He was alive! The prisoner walked out … under his own power. He left without the first man. Then some grieving women arrived. That’s when I ran off. I didn’t want them to see me.

Tiberius: It’s simple. He wasn’t actually dead.

Marcus: Come on! How many of these things have we done? Have we ever taken a prisoner down alive? We kill for a living. I think we know when we’ve got it right. Appius ran him though with his spear. Into his heart. His lungs. That alone would have killed him, without the beating, flogging, and the hours hanging up there.

Tiberius (at first silent, then whispering): He had a following you know. The Jews are going to say that we fell asleep and one of them, or a group of them, came and stole the body.

Marcus: You’re speaking like a fool, Tiberius! We didn’t fall asleep; you and I both know that. It’s grounds for execution. Do you know what I heard? The prisoner actually predicted his death and his resurrection. So if you were a follower of his, would you steal the body?

Tiberius: No, I’d wait to see if he actually came back to life. I wouldn’t remove the body. Without the body there’s no resurrection. Which proves why the Jews wanted us guarding the tomb.

Marcus: Exactly. (He paused). It just doesn’t make sense, I don’t understand …

Tiberius: What do you mean?

Marcus: Well, there’s been a lot of talk. Do you know Gaeus over in company VII? He heard from one of the temple guards who arrested the prisoner that he didn’t even fight his arrest. He went peacefully.

Tiberius: I heard there was a brief skirmish and someone lost an ear. But the prisoner healed it.

Marcus: Yeah, I remember hearing that. But Gaeus also said that he was on guard when Pilate was questioning him.

Tiberius: And?

Marcus: He said that the prisoner didn’t offer any kind of defense. He just stood there and took the accusations like he took all of those lashes and insults and nails.

Tiberius: What a fool. What kind of person willingly accepts his arrest, sentencing, and punishment without defending himself? I can’t respect anyone like that.

Marcus: Maybe the kind of person who was pretty confident that he’d walk out of that tomb alive.

Tiberius: No way. There’s no reason to just give up your life … to … to go through that torture.

Marcus sat without speaking. Then he stood up. Smiling, feeling relaxed and peaceful for the first time since being thrown in this cell: Sure there is.

Tiberius: Well, there’s duty, like a soldier defending Caesar.

Marcus: Maybe, but I don’t think he was defending a king. There’s another reason.

Tiberius (pondering, waiting a moment): What?

Marcus (not worried about noise, almost shouting and laughing at the same time): Tiberius, there’s only one reason! Think about your family, your children!

Tiberius: Love?

Marcus: Yes! That’ the only possible motive.

There was a sudden knock on the door, then it swung open. A quartet of soldiers stood ready. They announced that the verdict was in. It was time to go.

Tiberius: That was quick. This might be the end.

Marcus (smiling from ear to ear as he is led off in chains): No, my friend. I think this is just the beginning.