Matthew 27:62-66 ~ we remember

 

†

Matthew 27:62-66

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.

We have a pretty good idea what Pilate was doing on Holy Saturday. The First Passover after the grace upon grace Ministry of Jesus Christ.  The day after the Crucifixion. 

Pilate is extremely uncomfortable. 

The historic letter to Emperor Claudius, written by Pontius Pilate and referred to by 3 Roman historians, Epiphanius (Heresies 50.1), Justin Martyr (First Apology, Justin the Philosopher, A.D. 150) and Tertullian (Apology, A.D. 200). The Acts of Pontius Pilate were kept in the Roman archives, Commentarii principis.  The Pilate to Claudius letter has fully disappeared, in more recent history. And false letters of Pilate to the Emperor, are shared outside of fact, social media, not following the historical references. 

Judea had portions of 3 Legions.

 And in the portions, an equivalency of one and a half Legions of the Roman Empire. This meant they had 3 Tribunes and 6 Centurions. We know the names of two of the Tribunes, thanks to the details of the Roman Empire.  

Never did God make the soldiers famous to earn them a death. The unnamed soldiers on Good Friday were placed oddly in Scripture as men, signing on for 20 years as military to the Roman Empire, who obey orders. And then ... gave witness to their prisoner, condemned to die, as the Son of God.

The soldiers would return home to Rome and in 16 years, the Roman Empire, had a frightened Emperor learning more and more about Jesus, The King of Kings. And Mark was asked by Peter to write Peter's most asked questions about Jesus' Ministry. These soldiers played a very unique part in History. 

The soldiers, the guard, are uncomfortable. 

It was a very unusual set of military operations. And more discomfort would follow. 

The Disciples have clumped together and hidden, in a place the Scriptures do not reveal, for the safety of the first Century Christians in Jerusalem. They have betrayed Jesus, The Christ.

Holy Saturday 

isn't comfortable 

for all the people who tried to find comfort.

Matthew 19:27-29

27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 

28 Jesus said to them, 

“Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name's sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” 

The family of Jesus is very uncomfortable. 

They had left Mary, basically, to fend for herself. Minus a sister of Mary's. 

Joseph of Arimathea

asking Pilate for Jesus' body

is admitting the Council wasn't complete.

Very Brave of Joseph of Arimathea.

How Is Jerusalem, this Holy Saturday of Passover

This was not a 2 Million pilgrimage Passover. 

Rome had been occupied since 63 BC. Julius Caesar's same age General Pompey invaded.  Pompey was the son-in-law, married to Julius Caesar's only child, his daughter, Julia.  Pompey was eager to enter the God on earth Temple in Jerusalem. The God of Gods.  He specifically chose this mission to enter the Holy of Holies. Pompey arrived when the invasion was complete and strode to the Women's Court. Suddenly, Pompey, who had travelled for weeks, planned for months; Was inside The Temple in Jerusalem, beyond the signs warning of death.  Pompey, immediately returned to Rome, went to see his same age father-in-law, and explained some aspects of life are not for mortal men. And Pompey, was pompous, the name originates with the historic General, told Caesar, he knew not to tamper with God. 

Josephus, the Historian to 3 Roman Emperors. Began after the invasion of 72 A.D. from soon to be Emperor Titus.  Josephus was another General and had been taken by the invading Roman Empire to see Masada. Much of our understanding of the connection between Rome and Judea was because of General Josephus. 

The Historian 

General Josephus

 in Judea,

after Jerusalem was laid waste,

Josephus looked at the accounting of the Temple

and wrote the History of the Jews

and Roman History

for 3 Roman Emperors.

The accounting of pilgrimages told Josephus

the Temple would have up to 16

Temple Ceremonies during

High Holy Days

the pew counts were obtained by the number

of accounting for animal sacrifices,

and the count of Jerusalem High Holy Days

as Good Friday and Easter

occurred on Passover

— was 2 Million Pilgrimages by the people, —

generally excluding children,

this is the definition

of the word

— MULTITUDE —

This was not a 2 Million pilgrimage Passover. 

On Good Friday, many women were following the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ. 3 Passages of the Gospels mention the bravery of the women to attend to Jesus on Good Friday. 

The road to Emmaus tells us, “All of Israel knows.”  And we see a large crowd yelling for his Crucifixion.  One of the Gospels records men followed with many women to mourn and weep His Death. 

We can be sure, this pilgrimage was cancelled. 

And Jesus spoke to them.  And John wrote of the women who risked their lives to be at the Cross for Jesus.

Matthew 27: 54-56

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.” 55And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Luke 19:40

And He answered and said unto them, 

“I tell you that if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”

Jesus told us if we did not give praise, the rocks would cry out.

Abba, Father,

When the 

Events of

Easter

As we think of the Sacrifice

of Jesus Christ

His Love

as He Forgave

We realize 

a Thousand Years 

are a Day to You.

And Give You Thanks

for

our

Salvation.

God of Light

You are in all things

You are Light of the world

Light of mankind

Light of Heaven

In all Things, You Create

You have given us Jesus Christ

Holy is

the Highest Name

Above

all others

Your Kingdom come

Your Good Will be done

we pray for more

on earth

just as it is in Heaven.

Give us This Day

Our Daily Bread.

Jesus the Living Bread.

Forgive us our Trespasses

as

we forgive those

who Trespass 

Against us.

Lead us not into temptation

Deliver us from Evil. 

For Thine

is the

Kingdom

and the Power

and the Glory.

Amen in Jesus Christ 

John 21

Thank you, Jesus our Lord Christ

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yes Bless the Lord Jesus

Thank You Jesus

John 18: 28-39 ~ The King of the Jews †

Scala Sancta, the Holy Stairs, 

transferred from the archaeological ruins of Pilate's Palace to the Vatican 

before 400 A.D.  

The stairs are the stone seen through the wood.

John 18:28-39

28 Then the Jews led Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness the Jews did not enter the palace; they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. 29 So Pilate came out to them and asked, "What charges are you bringing against this man?"
30 "If he were not a criminal," they replied, "we would not have handed him over to you."

31 Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law."

"But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected. 32 This happened so that the words Jesus had spoken indicating the kind of death he was going to die would be fulfilled.

33 Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?"

34 "Is that your own idea," Jesus asked, "or did others talk to you about me?"

3 5"Am I a Jew?" Pilate replied. "It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?"

36 Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

37 "You are a king, then!" said Pilate.
Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."

38 "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him. 39 But it is your custom for me to release to you one prisoner at the time of the Passover. Do you want me to release 'the king of the Jews'?"

Scala Sancta, Vatican, uncovered from the wooden coverings typically placed there.

To Pilate, this felt like he could lose standing with the Emperor. There was no Legion stationed in Jerusalem, Pontius Pilate was only the rank of Equestrian, so he could not garrison a full legion under his command. Jerusalem was garrisoned by Cohors II Italica, it was only one Auxiliary cohort. Another, probably, at Caesarea.

Each of these auxiliary units would have been commanded by a tribune. There are 10 cohorts in a Legion and Judea had two cohorts.

Pilate had not wanted to go to Judea. 

Pilate would only be in Judea from 28 A.D. to 38 A.D. He wrote a famous letter to Claudius about Good Friday, referred to by historians of the day. Lost. 

The predecessor of Pilate....5th Governor of Judea

Valerius Gratus  4th Governor of Judea

He succeeded Annius Rufus in 15 and was replaced by Pontius Pilate in 26 or 28 A.D.

The government of Gratus, chiefly remarkable for many and frequent changes Gratus made in the appointment of the high-priesthood. Let that sink in.

He deposed Ananus, and substituted Ishmael ben Fabus, then Eleazar, son of Arianus, then Simon, son of Camith, and lastly Joseph Caiaphas, the son-in-law of Ananus.

Pilate could have shoved this off on the High Priest. "

Ananias son of Nedebeus was a high priest who, according to the Acts of the Apostles, presided during the trials of the apostle Paul at Jerusalem. In Roman History, it's a fair assertion that Ananus of Roman History is Aramaic for Ananias. We could reconstruct a mental guess conversation, that did not take place.

Pilate would say to Ananias, he certainly looked comfortable being High Priest. And now it was time for Ananias to step forward and make his real employer, the Roman Empire, to become more comfortable and do what the High Priests have done, like Samuel, for centuries. To slay the unrighteous in their eyes. As Rome has done.

Pilate didn't want the backwaters of the suburb of their greater Roman Empire in Syria. Historians say the papers exist of his requests. And Pilate did make violence during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, during Holy Days. Pilate, constantly on the alert for insurrection.  Would have noticed events like Capernaum, all 3 thousand turning up the first day of Jesus' ministry. And then what Scriptures call the 'Large Crowd.' Still following Jesus to the widow of Nain's son being raised to life as Jesus merely touches the funeral bier. Which quickly became the "Great Crowd."

Yes, we can easily assert and find correct assumptions, Pilate knew from oral history as part of Israel, Messiah Claims cause death from Rome and from the History of both Israel and Judea.

 Instead, Pilate made a huge error, seeking his career and comfort. And he did this without planning. As if he didn't take the time to examine this huge mistake. We realize the lack of depth in Pilate. This was too easy.  If Pilate regretted what he was doing to the man who healed them all, the blind, the deaf, the lame, the leper, Pilate would have put as much thought as he did to the Holy Day murders by clubs, apparently by men dressed in Civilian clothes and later revealed as soldiers. Pilate saw the conclusion from the Great Crowd and the Large Crowd. And went with comfort and a jump to this decision.

Ascend.

Don't be Pilate. 

Jesus said He could call down 12 Legions of Angels. Stick with Jesus. His Angels arrive with memorable Style.

Abba, Yes, thank you, Father

For Jesus Christ

Messiah, Savior

of not the few

but of the world.

Draw us to You.

Oh, the places He would go. You uphold Life by Your Word.  A Beautiful Promise and Sure Truth. Life Forevermore in Jesus the Only Son of God. God is Truth.

Dwell in us

Dwell in the people we Love

Dwell in the people you have given us

Please, Father

Help us to seek You First

And we will finish well in Jesus Christ.

Jesus our Wonderful. Amen in Jesus Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

Yay Jesus