28 THE TOMB FOUND EMPTY-The women who were planning to visit the garden tomb with spices knew nothing of the sepulchre being guarded, and after the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, following the crucifixion, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the tomb prepared with spices to anoint Jesus' body. They had not fled nor hidden for fear of punishment, even though female followers of convicted radical rebels were usually arrested and charged the same as men. They women had loved Jesus and it was the custom to anoint a body at the time of burial.

The women were concerned as to how they would move the stone, and wondered who would help them.
As they approached the burial chamber, to their amazement the tombstone had been previously rolled away and two angels at the entrance of the tomb, told the women that Jesus was not among the dead, but the living and to look where he had been laid.

The angels’ appearance was bright like lightning, and their clothes were white as snow. Angels are mighty spirit beings created by God. Their power and intelligence is far greater than that of natural human beings. They are messengers for God, to do His bidding. Angels are created as part of the spiritual world and they will endure for eternity. Angels assist the servants of the Lord.

Angels belong to the principalities of the invisible world. This world will pass away but these beings belong to the things that are not seen and are real and eternal. They are to encourage and minister to saint's (believers) needs while they endeavour to oppose the work of Satan and the fallen angels. The Lord Jesus spoke often about angels and was ministered to by them during His time on earth.

The guards on duty assigned the security of the tomb, were so afraid at the appearance of these angelic beings that they shook and trembled and became as though they had fainted.

Jesus had risen as it had been foretold. The Resurrection of Christ fulfilled prophecies of The Old Testament prophets. The event declared His Deity, certified Him as The Messiah, and that He had completed victory over sin and death.

Mary Magdalene went to inform the disciples as instructed by the angelic beings and hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy. When the women left the area, some of the guards became aroused then went into the city and reported to the Chief Priests the dilemma they were in and about everything that had happened.

When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, it was decided to bribe the guards to lie. They gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them to say that Jesus’ disciples came during the night and stole His body away at a time while they had fallen asleep. If the report of the happenings in the garden were to reach the Governor, the High Chief Priest promised that he would be able to satisfy him and keep all guards out of trouble.

So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews. The High Priest was the acting arbitrator of the civil destinies in Judea and did unquestionably have the power to protect a member of his own entourage. Yet they themselves were the ones who took great measures in having Jesus' tomb legally sealed to prevent such a deception.

Those leaders who were so proud of obeying the Law, had themselves broken, the Laws of Civil Justice, Moral and Religious Laws in every way by bribes, false accusers, secret trial at night, demanding the death of the innocent. They, who accused Jesus of lying and being a deceiver, became themselves the ones who deceived the people.

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