St. John's Lutheran Church
VIIAn interview with the Roman Governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate, concerning the time immediately following the crucifixion of Jesus the Christ.Interviewer: “Retired Governor Pontius Pilate; welcome again for our interview. Today we will consider the events following the crucifixion of Jesus as you witnessed them. Pilate: “Thank you for the opportunity to review again those events.” “This was a very unusual and trying time.”“Sunday began with an earthquake in the northwestern part of Jerusalem. It was shaken by another mild tremor just before sunrise. The quake evidently centered in a small park or garden, just west of Golgotha. Reports reached me that small groups of people were starting to cluster there, perhaps, to survey a deep fissure of some kind. Before the day was out, the cluster had grown to a sizable group.”“On Monday, the groups developed into crowds, and all Jerusalem buzzed with rumors that the dead, Jesus of Nazareth, had risen from the dead, as he had predicted. I learned the it was not a fissure that was a attracting the people west of Golgotha, but the sepulcher of Joseph of Arimathea, in which Jesus had been buried. It was supposedly empty.”I scoffed at the report, but towards evening, with the Tribune of the Antonia garrison we visited the site. Escorted by a few troops who shouldered us through the ranks of curiosity seekers, we peered into the tomb. A large, circular stone the shape of a very large wagon wheel served as the door had been rolled aside to reveal a rock-hewn sepulcher, hollowed out in the side of a hill. Inside were linen grave wrappings lying on the slab of stone where a body would repose. Rolled up separately was a burial napkin intended to cover the face and hold up the jaw of the corpse. The cloths still extruded a spicy resinous odor of myrrh and aloes.” Pilate: “Are you sure this is the right tomb?”Tribune: “This was the one sealed up by the temple guard. Parts of the seal were attached to the entrance stone.”Pilate: “And just where is the guard?”Tribune: “They fled after the Earth’s tremor early Sunday morning. We could not learn much from our men over at the Antonia, but it seemed this stone broke its seal and rolled open in connection with the earthquake.” Pilate: “Rather unusual since the stone rolls by gravity in this track down hill to the opening. You have to push it back up hill to get it out of the way to open the entrance.” “And the body – how did it disappear?”Tribune: “The guards claim that the disciples of Jesus stole the body while they slept.”Pilate: (skeptical) “Right from under their noses? . . . And they took the grave wrappings off the body -- leaving them before taking the body. Who would do that? After the flogging and crucifixion these grave clothes should have stuck to the body.”Tribune: “We couldn’t get more out of them – they’re pretty anxious about it.”Pilate: “That’s not a surprise, the incompetence of it--- what about our men that are assigned to the temple?”Tribune: “They are the most unresponsive.”Pilate: “Get them to talk.”“I examined the seal, which was fractured in two parts. One part was attached to the edge of the door stone and the other part hanging from the lentil. I also searched the walls and floor of the tomb chamber for any hidden exits or passages, but I found none.Pilate: “Tribune, fined Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin, and bring him here. Check with him. Is this is the sepulcher in which he buried Jesus? If not, put a Roman guard on the right one. Any guard who could let a dead man escape are stupid enough to seal and guard the wrong tomb.”Later in the evening, the Tribune reported that he had taken Joseph of Arimathea to the sepulcher, where they had examined it. It was the right one.Pilate: “Those astute disciples of his, they certainly brought it off. Imagine, right under the noses of the guards!” Tribune: “Shall I have his followers rounded up and arrested, sir?”Pilate: “No, I don’t think so, Tribune. Rome doesn’t much care who has possession of a body after crucifixion. Besides, Caiaphas will be hard-pressed to explain an empty tomb. Why should we help him out by locating the body?”Even though he was amused by the events of the day, Pilate still had trouble falling asleep that night. His logical Roman mind first had to find a solution in the puzzle which had been thrust on him by the missing corpse. Of course it was the disciples work. Who else would have motive for stealing the body? Caiaphas’ thinking was correct on that score, but how could the Galilean’s band of disciples have been clever enough to outwit a detail of some fifteen temple and Roman guards? Granted, even, that they were all sleeping Saturday night, which was unlikely. Rolling away the huge stone should have caused a commotion and a grinding, which should have awakened them. No, it was impossible. The disciples of Jesus would probably have had to step on their slumbering faces in order to move the stone and remove the body. . . How did it happen then? Pilate ground his fist into his other palm weighing the riddle.Of course! The solution was so delightfully obvious that anyone would have missed it at first blush. The Chief Priests had come asking for guard on Saturday morning. Jesus died late Friday afternoon. Therefore there was no guard at the tomb during all of Friday night! The disciples must have come that very night, while all Jerusalem was sleeping off the Passover meal, and remove the body of their dead teacher. Then they replaced the stone at the doorway to hide the empty tomb. That was it! Pilate was pleased with himself, and could now drop off to sleep. The dinner Tuesday evening at the Hasmonean Palace was a feast of friendship to honor repaired relations between Herod Antipas, and I. Neither of us had any illusion about a genuine friendship being established. It was more an unofficial peace treaty, or at least a truce -- an agreement to cooperate with each other in staying in our separate positions in the uncertain world of a suspicious Tiberius. There would be no more tattling to Rome, we agreed. This was a small diplomatic victory for me, since Antipas, had been the chief offender on that score. Our talk was more centered on the speculation about the empty tomb and the resurrection rumor, which had now saturated Jerusalem.As was fitting for Jerusalem, the ladies of the party were dining separately, and their conversation was devoted to the news about the missing body. One of them could speak authoritatively, but she hesitated to do so. It was only after much coaxing that Joanna told her story. She was the wife of Chuza, Antipas’ chief steward and general manager of his estate.Herodias: (mockingly) “Our Joanna was there when it happened. Why she’s been a follower of Jesus ever since he supposedly healed her in Galilee.” She used to keep that confidential, but now she doesn’t care who knows, do you Joanna?”Procula: “Please, Joanna, tell me your story.”Johanna: “Well, several women followers of his, and I were worried that he had not been buried properly. So we went out to Joseph’s tomb early Sunday morning to anoint the body of Jesus with spices. You see, we didn’t know that this had already been done.”Procula: “You say you went out Sunday at dawn?”Joanna: “Yes.”Procula: “Why not Saturday morning, just after he died?”Joanna: “The Sabbath, lady Procula. We could not work on Passover Sabbath.”Procula: “Of course.”Joanna: “Just before we got to the sepulcher, the earth trembled and the great stone was rolled away from the entrance to the tomb. We were frightened, of course, but also a little relieved, because we had no idea how we women would be able to budge that stone. . . .but then we became terrified! Standing inside the sepulcher was some white and radiant personages. One who said, ‘Don’t be afraid. You are looking for Jesus who was crucified. But he is not here. He has risen, as he promised! Come, see the place where he lay. And then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead and will see them in Galilee.’”Herodias: “Who said this? And where were the guards?”Joanna: “I think they were angeloi, Mistress, messengers from God. Some guards were there on the ground, but they were horrified. I believe they ran back into Jerusalem.”Herodias: (cynical) “My, but the story grows!”Procula: “Please continue, Joanna.”Joanna: “Naturally, we were still shaken by it all. But we were thrilled at the incredible news. And we hurried off to tell the disciples. But – but –“Herodias: “Out with it!”Joanna: (very hesitant) “I . . . I fear you won’t believe me, Mistress. . .”Procula: “Just tell us what you saw, Joanna.”Joanna: “As we were returning to Jerusalem, we suddenly saw Jesus in our path.”Herodias and Procula: “What!”Joanna: “Of course we fell down in adoration before him. It was the Lord! It was! You must believe me! He smiled and reminded us of his mission. He also told us to tell his disciples to go to Galilee, which we did.”Pilate: After they return from the Hasmonean Palace, Procula excitedly reported Joanna’s story to me. What stupefied me was not just this fantastic information, but the almost sympathetic enthusiasm with which Procula related it.Pilate: “Don’t tell me you believe this bizarre business?Procula: “I didn’t say I did. I didn’t say I didn’t. She trifled. I’m just reporting what you were not told us at dinner. Of course, Herodias tried to laugh it all off, but I thought she was cackling rather nervously. The wife of Manaen had tears in her eyes.”Pilate: “Procula, I don’t really care about their emotional reactions. I just want to know if you, as a sensible Roman matron, can give any credence to such myths, such hallucinations on the part of this Joanna. That woman was delirious with grief.”Procula: “She certainly was not suffering from delusions. She is one of the most sensible women I’ve met. And she wasn’t flaunting this information. We had to pry it out of her, since she was afraid of Herodias.Pilate: “Oh – the whole thing was a wish or an illusion. Notice how it was women who claim to see the resurrected Jesus? Of course women! You creatures are far more imaginative than men. We could never dream up such a story! Jesus is dead, Procula. Accept the fact and be done with it.”Procula: “I’m not finished, Pilate. Joanna and the women all hurried to tell his disciples, but, like you, the men thought it was all nonsense. And they had the same opinion of women which you seem to hold. But that night, Sunday night, it was different. While they were gathered at the house the are using here in Jerusalem, Jesus appeared to them. The disciples thought it was a ghost, but he ate some of their food and had them touch his scarred hands and feet to show that he was very much flesh and blood.”Pilate: (beginning to perspire) “You say, there are men who swear they saw Jesus alive?Procula: “Yes . . . And women too!”Pilate: (jerking his head about and yelling for servant who came running.) “Go to the Antonia, and summon the centurion and the three auxiliaries who crucified Jesus of Nazareth.”Servant: “At this hour, Master?”Pilate: “Yes, at this hour – now – immediately!”Procula: (After some moments, letting her husband loose some of his steam.) “What do you hope to learn, Pilate?”Pilate: “A solution to this ridiculous ministry, which has been disturbing my wits, an alternative I’d not thought of until this moment. Let’s say I believe your story, Joanna’s story. Suppose Jesus is alive. You know why he is, because he never died, that’s why. It would explain everything. Why he died too soon on the cross, for one thing.Pilate: (pacing the room) “Yes, it’s all falls into place now. Someone gave him a drug from a sponge, the centurion said, and shortly after Jesus presumably died. What likely happened was that one of his disciples put a deep narcotic into the posca soaked up by that sponge. Remember that they did not break his legs, so he never suffocated. After he was carefully buried by Joseph, another of his henchmen, who was in on the scheme rolled the stone back. Jesus revived in the cool of the tomb as the drug war off. There were no guards on Friday night, so he climbed out without anyone’s help, or his followers were there who assist with the stone. He rested through Saturday. He recuperated by Sunday. Then he went back to the tomb to make his appearance.”Procula: (quietly and sacrcastically) “Magnificent, Pilate. But remember, one of the troops did something more lethal to Jesus than breaking his legs; he thrust a spear into his heart.”Pilate: “That’s why I called for the execution detail.”(The centurion and the three auxiliary soldiers arrived)Pilate: “Centurion, what was in that sponge that the crucified Galilean drank shortly before he died this past Friday?”Centurion:“Sir, would you repeat your question? We’re little tired. I missed it.”Pilate: “What was in that sponge?”Centurion: “Plain, ordinary posca – vinegar and water.”Pilate: “What else?”Centurion: “It came from my canteen.”Pilate: “No one tampered with that canteen?”Centurion: “Of course not. At the beginning, some of the women tried to offer the Nazarene, some drugged wine, but he wouldn’t take it. All he drank later was our good old sour posca.”Pilate: “Now centurion, this is a far more important question. Tell me again why you didn’t break the prophet’s legs. Wasn’t that what I order?”Centurion: “With all due respect, Sir, not quite. Your message read, “You may break legs to induce death near sundown.” But the one on the center cross was already dead, so we didn’t have to –”Pilate: “How did you know he was dead?Centurion: “That was clear, Prefect. There was no breathing, not the slightest twitch of a muscle, the pallor, the glassy stare of death in his eyes – there was no question.” Auxiliaries: (The other men nodd in agreement.)Pilate: “Then why did you feel it necessary to spare him with a lance?”Centurion: “Just an executioners gesture, -- make assurance doubly sure.”Pilate: “Which of you through that spear?”Auxiliary soldier: “I did, sir, only I didn’t throw it. He was too close for that. I drove it into his side as far as I could.”Pilate: “How far was that?”Auxiliary soldier: “Well over a foot, sir,”Pilate: “Then what happened? Did he gasp, or cry out?”Auxiliary soldier: “No, not a thing. He’d been dead for at least an hour, I’d say. When I pulled the spear out, blood and water followed it.”Pilate: “Show me where the spirit went in.”(The soldier opened his tunic and put his finger between the fifth and sixth rib on his left side.)Pilate: “It missed his ribs?”Auxiliary soldier: “Well it went between them.”Pilate: “At what angle?” (The soldier took his dagger and pointed it, holding 35° angle from his chest.)Pilate: “It could hardly have missed the heart, could it?”Soldier: “No, Prefect, nor the lungs.”Pilate: “No question, then, about him being quite dead?”Soldier: “I’d wager my life on it, sir.”Pilate: “Centurion, do you know why I had to recheck all this with you?”Centurion: “To be honest, Prefect, we have heard rumors about the Nazarene. . . . coming back to life.”Pilate: “That will be all, Centurion. Take your men back to the Antonia.”“The next morning, I summoned Joseph of Arimathea to inquire exactly how he had buried Jesus.”Joseph: “My fellow Sanhedrist, Nicodemus, and I, were somewhat hurried since the Sabbath was approaching, but all the usual customs had been observed, including the placing of a downy feather just below Jesus’s nostrils more than ten minutes. The feather had not moved. Jesus was dead.Pilate: “One final question, Joseph, did Jesus have a twin brother?” Joseph: No, there were no twins, but he did have stepbrothers. None of them looked like him.”I warily returned to my original supposition that a dead Jesus’s body had been stolen by his disciples on Friday night. Subsequent appearances to his followers would have to be hallucinations or optical illusions of some kind, or lies. “Caiaphas’ servant Malchus, delivered this message shortly before noon:Joseph Caiaphas, to Pontius Pilate, peace.The followers of the Nazarene will stop at nothing, as you have doubtlessly heard. They came by night and stole his body while the guards were sleeping. Therefore, if any claims are made to his so-called “resurrection,” you will know how to interpret these. We are grateful for your cooperation. Do not think harshly of our guards for falling asleep. They have been exhausted over the last days in pursuing this case. Peace.”Pilate: “I have contempt for such an excuse in behalf of sleeping guards, especially when it includes my own men, though they were assigned to the temple guard. Don’t they set up shifts? They would not have come off so lightly where they Roman auxiliaries under my immediate command.”(Suddenly the importance of Caiaphas’s note struck me with crushing force. Why had the high priest, not resorted to the obvious loophole of an unguarded tomb on Friday night to account for the disappearance of Jesus’ body, rather than blaming it on guards sleeping on Saturday night? Friday night was the one period in the grave surveillance, to which I had clung to in this maddening quest for a logical explanation. Why had Caiaphas overlooked it? Unless his guards had proof that this theft occurred between Saturday night and Sunday dawn.Pilate: “Malchus, if you ever spoke the truth in your life, don’t fail to do so now.”Malchus: “Yes, Excellency?”Pilate: “Do you know any of the guards who were sent to keep watch over the sepulcher in which Jesus of Nazareth was buried?”Malchus: “Yes, I know several of the men who were on duty.”Pilate: “Did you talk to them about what happened?”Malchus: “Yes.”Pilate: “Good. Now, when they set up their bivouac around the tomb on Saturday morning, they probably wouldn’t have bothered to roll back the stone to. . . to see if the body of Jesus was still inside, would they?”Malchus: “Yes, they would, Excellency. In fact, the Chief Priest instructed them to do that, even before setting up their watch. The body was there, wrapped in linen bands. Certainly they wouldn’t have sealed the stone without first determining that there was something inside to seal.”Pilate: I worded my question so as to elicit a negative reply most easily. I wanted a negative answer. The puzzle would have been solved. Stealing a body from a full unguarded tomb had to be impossible, but that would have occurred Friday night. With the watch sealing a tomb they didn’t know was empty on Saturday, and then imagining the robbery had transpired Saturday night when the earth’s tremor – shoved the stone aside Sunday morning to reveal the empty tomb. But now the last exit had been blocked, the last straw of logic ripped from my clutches as my eyes sunk to an intellectual quandary.Pilate: “Well,” I finally shrugged, “At least Caiaphas was honest enough not to use a Friday night theft as a convenient excuse.”Malchus: “He wasn’t being honest.”Pilate: “What did you say? Did I misunderstand you?Malchus: “I said, my master wasn’t being honest.”Pilate: (astonished) “What. . . .What do you mean?”Malchus: (hesitantly) “ah . . .”Pilate: “Go on Marcus, I give you my word that I’ll not report you for anything you say. Speak on.”Malchus: “The Prophet’s body was not stolen by his disciples. I was there when the guard reported everything to the chief priest. It happened at dawn. Half of them were on guard, half sleeping. Suddenly there was an earthquake. A fearful radians flashed in and around the sepulcher. The entrance stone was on the ground. The watch heard a man’s voice talking to some women who had just arrived, saying that Yeshu had risen. Most of the guards were so unnerved that they fled. Some, with more courage, cautiously looked inside the tomb after the women had left. They saw only the grave clothes.”Pilate: (Seriously disturbed) “This report collaborated the Joanna’s story.”Pilate: “Malchus, then why did Caiaphas write me about a stolen body, and sleeping guards?”Malchus: “Because this is now the official story. The Chief Priest met with the High Priest, scribes and elders to decide what to do. They concluded that Yashu removed himself from the grave by some fearful occult magic, a sorceress trick of some kind, inspired by Satan. But if they allowed the guard story to become public knowledge, even if they gave a demonic explanation for it, the people would say Yoshu was indeed the Messiah. Everyone would flock to his cause, until Roman legions would finally have to put down the movement. They couldn’t have that, so they had the guards claim that Yeshu’s followers stole the body while they were sleeping.”Pilate: (looking at Malchus without really seeing him and then clapping him on the shoulder) “I appreciate your honesty.” Malchus: “If my Lord Caiaphas learns anything of this, I am undone, of course.”Pilate: “Your story will not be divulged by me.” (while dismissing) “One more thing, Malchus. Don’t feel you have to answer this, but just why were you so candid with me? You were, after all, compromising your own master.”Malchus: (smiling) “Because I now have a higher master, Excellency, Yeshu Hannosri healed me, and so I believe the other reports about him must be true also. I merely wanted you to know the truth.”Pilate: “He healed you? How?”Malchus: “In the arresting of Yeshu in the garden of Gethsemane one of his disciples, while resisting, severed my ear completely off.”Pilate: “Are you sure it was cut off, Malchus?”Malchus: “It was on the ground. . .” Pilate: “And now, I suppose, you believe he actually. . . rose from the dead?”Malchus: “Yes, Excellency.”Pilate: “Good day, Malchus.”Pilate: “More of the inexplicable. Because of this inner story in the servant’s new faith, I question the reliability of his statement in our discussion. No, the man wasn’t necessarily coloring the facts, but what if he, too, were under the spell of some kind of magic? In this case, would I ever learn the truth about the bizarre events of the past weekend?”I arranged to leave Jerusalem in short order, delegating to the Antonia Commandant the task of maintaining law and order during the remainder of the Passover. I wanted to escape the extravagant fanaticism of the city, this holy utopia where otherwise respectable men and women dream dreams and conjured up visions. Of course, my wife Procula wished she might have had a further talk with Joanna, or better still, with some of the disciples of the man I had sent to the cross. This was not to be. Procula would have to leave Jerusalem, but she carried with her a treasury of indelible impressions she could never shake off.” Procula: Nor would I try. ................
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