8:00 A.M.
Mary awoke. Her tears from last night still soaked her bed. She sat up and put her knees to her chest. Not a day went by without the constant reminder that her son had been condemned to death.
“The flesh of my flesh,” she sighed. “Destroyed…” She somberly wet tears again. If there was nothing that Mary expected from her son, she did not expect her son’s death. Now there would be nothing that could redeem the life she once held in her arms long ago.
She remembered that today was the first day of the week after the Sabbath. Today she could at least see her son’s tomb and refresh the myrrh.
A knock on the door startled her. Dressing herself as best she could, she came up to her door and opened it. Mary Magdalene was outside. Alongside her were Joanna and a few others.
“Mary, you scared the life from me,” Mary breathed. “I thought you were one of the –“
“I understand,” Mary Magdalene interrupted. “We were going to bring spices to the tomb, and we felt it necessary to bring you along.”
The mother of Jesus nodded and walked inside to take along the myrrh she had. As she pulled it out, she blew on the dust that had collected on its box. Memories of the Magi’s visit refilled her mind. At that time she was awfully confused about why they would bring something such as myrrh. Now it was obvious.
‘And they worshipped him for being the king and Messiah,’ Mary remembered. ‘But that couldn’t have been true.’
She dressed herself fully. Taking the box, she closed the door behind her and followed the group of women to the tomb of Jesus.
8:05 A.M.
Alexander yawned deeply. They had spent the night guarding the tomb of this Jesus. Soon their post would be relieved and they may just be able to enjoy precious moments of actual sleep.
“Don’t pass out on me before our guard duty is over,” the Praetorian Guard next to him laughed. Alexander shook his head to wake himself. It would be fruitless to need to protect this tomb. No man would dare try to open this tomb.
‘Pontius’ orders, I guess…” Alexander thought. His mind slipped into the dead man’s tomb behind him. Suddenly he wondered about this man. He knew that he once was a famous rabbi among the Jews.
“Augustus,” Alexander began, “do you know about this man?”
“I know he was a holy man for these barbarians –“
“I know he was holy, but I remember other accounts of him.”
“I remember other soldiers reporting that he healed people without any need for a spell or medicine,” Augustus continued, “All he did was speak. I think some centurions went to him to cure some people in their family.”
“You… you don’t believe he could have been a demigod, could you?” Alexander asked.
Augustus looked back at the closed tomb behind him. “I never thought of it, but he could have been a son of Mercury.”
“Perhaps he’s in Olympus, like Hercules. They say he was a wise man and a great healer. Minerva and his father may certainly have rewarded him lavishly.” They conversed over the issue more.
Suddenly the ground shook underneath him. A violent earthquake rocked the earth around them. It reminded them of what happened three days ago when this man died. As they stumbled, a bright light soared down from the heavens. The radiance scared them. Three lights were coming in!
Augustus pointed up and shouted, “Minerva and Hermes have brought Jupiter to take Jesus to Olympus!” Normally, Praetorian Guards would not run, but the fear of their gods caused them to run. They hid behind bushes and peered out to see what would happen.
They could clearly see to males, but the last they could not see. They saw as the two men pushed the rock away with ease and the last radiant being went inside.
“Minerva must be retrieving the body,” Alexander whispered. Soon, a bright light that outshone the sun came from the cave, blinding the two guards. As they were waiting to regain their sight, they heard a voice.
“Well done my servants, we have done well,” the voice said. Suddenly, the guards saw as the two men shot into the sky. They looked down and before their eyes was Jesus’ body, but it was alive with its soul inside. Jesus took a deep breath of air and walked forward. Jesus realized that his angels came to remove the stone, but the sight bewildered the two guards.
“We must tell the temple leaders,” Augustus advised his fellow guard. Making sure Jesus did not see them, they slipped away.
8:15 A.M.
Mary Magdalene ran as quickly as possible to Jesus’ tomb. She worried that Jesus’ tomb had been affected by the earthquake and possibly caved in. Seeing the tomb ahead, she prayed earnestly that it was safe. When she came in front, she stopped amazed. The rock in front of the tomb had been rolled away. It couldn’t have been the earthquake because the stone was standing up near the entrance. She went inside. What she saw astonished her.
“What is wrong?” Joanna asked outside.
“Jesus is gone! They’ve taken him away!” She yelled from inside. Mary ran outside crying. Who would take away the body? Without explaining what she would do, she sprinted to the city where the disciples would be. They must know what happened.
8:45 A.M.
The earthquake caused minimal damage to the disciple’s place. They were thankful that their home was not harmed too badly or else they may have had to leave. Their fear now was that the Romans would come for them next. While they wished for some way to escape, they knew that there was none. Their only hope was prayer.
Matthew was double-checking his gospel to make sure no errors were in it. Suddenly, the door knocked. Startled, Matthew backed away, dropping his papers across the floor. The other disciples were trying to find hiding places. They began to realize that it wasn’t a soldier’s hand beating against the door, but a woman’s.
“Peter! John!” the woman outside cried. “Jesus’ body is gone! The soldiers have taken his body!” Peter and John realized that it was Mary Magdalene’s voice outside and ran to the door. Outside, Mary continued to sob.
“What happened?” Peter asked confusedly. Mary looked up at the disciple with tears running down her face.
“Jesus’ body is gone from the tomb.” Peter and John jumped. Had they truly taken the body? John immediately began to run as quickly as he could. Peter first brought Mary inside and explained that he would go and see what happened to Jesus’ body.
John sprinted as quick as he could. He wasn’t breathless at any point. The very idea of his former rabbi being gone scared him. Thoughts ran through his head. Perhaps the Pharisees and Sadducees were not done. Perhaps they would burn rabbi’s body into ash. If that were to happen, John believed that there would surely be no way Jesus could be resurrected.
“I must stop this at all costs. I will protect my lord even when his soul is gone from here.”
9:00 A.M.
The Sanhedrin began to cry out in debate again. Despite their apparent victory over Jesus, they feared his disciples. They may proclaim that Jesus had risen.
“We should kill the disciples while the Jews are still passionate against them!” Some of the Pharisees argued. The others agreed and moved to decide the time when they should accomplish this.
Caiaphas was pleased. Finally after years of debating, the Sadducees and Pharisees could start finding common ground and compromises. If this continued, the Judaic religion would be safe for as long as Rome would exist. Soon he would find out that the common grounds were false and the peace would be broken.
The doors burst open and Alexander and Augustus came through breathless. The decision about the disciples immediately ended. Caiaphas was unpleased. These two had been posted at Jesus’ tomb. What were they doing here?
“What makes you believe that you can come in when your guard duty it incomplete?” Caiaphas questioned.
Augustus looked up. “We were guarding the tomb and discussing when three bright lights came straight for us. We ran away as they came to the ground. Two of them rolled away the stone and the third went inside. We don’t know what happened next, but when we looked again the two that rolled away the stone with their bare hands went back into the sky and Jesus walked away resurrected!” When he finished, the Sanhedrin discussed among themselves. Some swore that they must have been joking. Others pointed out that the guards would not leave their post unless there was some important reason.
Caiaphas was not going to stand around and watch the leaders argue among themselves again. He stood up from his seat and pulled together a large sum of money and tossed it to them.
“Tell the people that Jesus’ disciples came in the night and stole Jesus’ body while you slept. Don’t worry about Pilate. If the report gets to him, we’ll make sure that you will be safe.”
Satisfied with such a generous bribe, the two guards walked out the door. Caiaphas sighed. It was unbelievable. Jesus had resurrected. Yelling out, Caiaphas tore his robe and threw away his ornamented staff.
Storming out the door, Caiaphas cursed, “I hate that Jesus!” He slammed the door behind him. The Sanhedrin sat still. They were too bewildered to speak anymore.
9:15 A.M.
Just as Mary promised, John saw the stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb. Fear griped John’s heart. For a second, he wanted to simply run away from it. Something drove John forward, though. Slowly he went inside Jesus’ tomb. At that time, the sun was shining better into the cavern.
John gasped. The linen cloth that Jesus was wrapped in stayed in its place. The cloth that wrapped his head was undisturbed. Pressing his hands down on the linen, he felt the spices still resting inside. Everything had been perfect as he left it. Everything except Jesus’ body, that is.
As John wondered, Peter ran through the entrance. John twisted around breathless.
“Jesus’ body is gone, but the cloth is perfectly in its place,” John breathlessly explained. Pointing to the cloth, which lay perfectly in its place, he continued, “The people could not have taken Jesus’ body.”
“Then what happened to Jesus?” Peter asked.
John began to come up with joyful tears. “He’s done it, Peter. Jesus rose from the grave.”
9:20 A.M.
Mary Magdalene continued to cry. Peter and John had left without explaining anything. Surely the Romans stole Jesus’ body.
As she cried, two lights came out of the sky. Suddenly, they burst into the cavern. Mary jumped immediately. A bright light shone from inside and went inside. To her astonishment, two angels appeared in front of her.
“Peace, Mary,” the one sitting at the head of where Jesus had been laid. “Why do you cry? Why do you search here? Don’t you realize that Jesus the Nazarene is not here? He has risen!”
Mary stumbled back, not sure what to think. Was she hallucinating? How could Jesus have risen from the dead? She went outside and continued to mourn. A man standing near the gardens looked up at Mary. It must have been the gardener, she believed.
“Why do you cry, woman?” The man asked calmly.
Without answering the man’s question, Mary asked in return, “Sir, if you have taken Jesus’ body away, please tell me where he is.”
“Mary, do you not recognize me?” Jesus asked. Suddenly Mary realized who it was.
“Rabbi!” She called out and dropped down next to Jesus’ feet. It was truly a miracle.
Jesus knelt to Mary. Holding her head, he began to explain, “Do not hold onto me yet. I have not yet ascended to my Father in heaven. Go instead to the others and tell them that I am risen.”
Mary nodded and quickly ran back to the disciple’s house. She was far more then excited.
Jesus looked down the road. Two men were walking solemnly toward Jerusalem. Jesus knew they were heading toward Emmaus soon after they visited the disciples.
When Mary went to the disciples and explained to them the vision and the visitation, no one could believe it. Peter went to find Jesus at his tomb. When he came there, Jesus was gone.
1:00 P.M.
Pontius sat down looking at the two guards. He scowled down upon them. He had recently received their report that the disciples of Jesus stole his body while they slept.
“How dare you two have slept during your post? I gave you direct orders to guard Jesus’ tomb and this is how you obey me? By sleeping?” The two soldiers tensed and cowered down.
Pontius stepped down from his judge seat taking a staff in his hand. With it, he slammed it into the soldiers’ heads. He swore that they would be punished.
“First, I will have you stripped of your titles as Praetorian guards,” he began. The two cowered lower to the floor. “Then I will have you two imprisoned for the greater portions of your pathetic lives. These Jews already see us as a force to overcome. They nearly overtook us and I had to condemn an innocent man to stop them. Now they will see us as weaker when they see the Roman military’s elite soldiers having slept while that innocent man’s body was being taken away.” The doors flew open, interrupting him. The Sanhedrin representatives came in.
“What do you want?” Pontius growled. He could no longer trust these men.
“You must stop from condemning these two men,” the representatives began. “They are innocent in every way. Instead, we must stop an uprising from the disciples if they claim that their proclaimed Messiah were to return from the dead.”
“And just how are they innocent? And how would there be such an uprising? What proof do you have of this rebellion?” Pontius asked. The representatives became quiet immediately. “Again, you prove your incompetence in my face. You have no defense. Get out of here.”
“But sir,” one of them replied, “these two must have a defense. We must give the truth.”
‘Truth, that elusive meaning,’ Pontius thought to himself. Jesus explained that he was truth, and now these representatives claim they have the truth. ‘What if truth does not exist?’
“But it does, Pilate,” a voice only heard by Pontius whispered. Pontius turned around, wondering who talked to him. No one was speaking, though. The voice continued, “I am the truth. I have been stolen away, but it is not by the will of my disciples. It is the will of my Father. I am no longer dead but alive.” The voice disappeared.
“Pilate,” a representative spoke up, interrupting Pontius’ thoughts, “what do you say?”
Pontius looked down. It had been Jesus, the man whom he had condemned three days ago. Now he spoke to them. These soldiers were innocent of whatever happened. Now the truth is alive, Pontius knew. It came first into his heart, the one that questioned it the most.
Pontius walked to his chair and sat down. Motioning to the representatives, he commanded them. “Begin.”
5:00 P.M.
Nicodemus slowly plodded along the road to Emmaus. He was a man who did not have a future in front of him. If he went to the Sanhedrin, he would die there. If he went with the disciples, he would surely be killed. There was nothing he could do except walk anywhere he could go to find a new life. His companion, Cleopas, was the only man who stayed by his side.
“I am at least glad that you above all others have joined me, Cleopas,” Nicodemus sighed.
“I can only follow you. Wherever you go, I must join,” Cleopas replied. “Now I am wondering something. Do you understand what Mary Magdalene meant when she explained how she saw Jesus rise from the grave?”
Nicodemus and Cleopas began to talk with each other about that day. As they were walking, another man was entering into their path. His head was covered so the two could not recognize him.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen,” the man greeted them. They greeted the man back. Soon, they began to discuss about Jesus again. Seemingly curious, Jesus came straight up to them.
“What are you two discussing?” he asked.
Nicodemus and Cleopas looked downcast as the man asked them. Cleopas looked back up and asked, “Are you the only one who does not know the things that have happened in the past few days?”
“What things?” Nicodemus and Cleopas looked at each other. Nicodemus came over to the mysterious man.
““About Jesus of Nazareth,” Nicodemus explained. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
““How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken!” the man replied. ”Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?”
“What do you mean?” Nicodemus asked.
“The law required that all sin be cleansed by blood. If the Messiah did not suffer, then there would be no blood to cleanse sin. That is why Isaiah told us, ‘he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.’”
They continued talking until they reached Emmaus. Although the man began to walk away, Nicodemus and Cleopas begged that the man would stay. Submitting to their request, the man walked with them into a house, where the owner graciously allowed the outcast Pharisee and the others in.
As they began to eat, the man took the bread. He began to break it. When he did so, he looked up and said, “Thank you Father for what you have done. Thank you that you have glorified the Son so he may live to bring life to men.”
In an instant, Nicodemus and Cleopas recognized the man’s voice. “Messiah, you have risen!” They shouted. When they recognized Jesus, he disappeared. The split bread dropped. Nicodemus stood up immediately.
“I knew something was great when I saw him! Come Cleopas, let us go tell the disciples that we have seen Jesus.” Without touching a morsel of food for themselves, they barged out the doors running back towards Jerusalem.
9:50 P.M.
The disciples were amazed. It had not been one day and yet two sightings of Jesus had been given. In each of their hearts, they desperately wanted to witness Jesus at least once more.
“Are you sure that it was Jesus?” Thaddeus asked.
“Positive,” Nicodemus answered, “I knew when he took that bread that it was him.” Everyone’s heart lifted. They knew Jesus had risen, but now they knew he was visiting them all.
Their hearts dropped when they heard walking outside. It sounded like that of many men.
“They’ve found us,” Simon harshly whispered. “Quickly, lock the door!” The disciples in a flash locked the door. If the Romans had come and would break in, their cause would be lost. The sound of feet continued until it reached the door.
Peter and Simon grabbed their swords. Fear swept around them like wolves trapping a deer. There was no knock on the door, though. Nobody barged through. Nobody tried to open the door. Silence filled the room.
Suddenly, a bright flash of light filled the room. Simon and Peter dropped their swords dazzled by the light. Everyone turned away so their eyes wouldn’t be blinded.
“Peace be with you,” a familiar voice said calmly. When the light stopped shining, the disciples turned around to see their master. Despite all that they heard, fear made them believe that he was a spirit. Jesus, noticing this, explained, “Come and feel me. See that I have the holes in my wrists where the soldiers nailed me.” The sight of the nails stopped the disbelief of everyone. Jesus looked around. “Where is Thomas?” Jesus asked.
“He isn’t here,” Peter answered. “He went elsewhere.”
“I will see him soon, then.” Jesus sat amongst them. The disciples were amazed. Jesus acted as if that nothing had happened. While they were confused for a while, they soon sat down and ate the broiled fish. It was another supper with their Messiah. Jesus began to drink wine and eat bread. The disciples remembered how Jesus promised the other day that he would not eat or drink until everything was fulfilled. But what was fulfilled? This question filled Andrew’s mind.
“Rabbi, what is it you have fulfilled for us?” Andrew finally asked.
“What has not been fulfilled, Andrew?” Jesus replied. “Every prophecy from even the beginning of time has been fulfilled through me. Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms have all written about me and now are complete.”
The understanding of Scripture came into everyone’s mind. Even Nicodemus received a new inspiration in his mind about the prophecies. The words that he spoke to Jesus about three years ago now made sense.
Jesus continued, “The Messiah came here not to be an earthly king or a new prophet. He came here to be the Lamb of God and the priest. This is to bring repentance to the world, starting here in Jerusalem. I came back to life so that you too may have life. Sin and death have no power over those who put their faith in me. You are my witnesses to these things.”
The disciples finally understood all these things. No more questions filled their head every day. All answers were made. Jesus finished his dinner and stood up.
“You shall see me in the coming days, but I want you to go to Galilee soon and tell my brothers. I will reveal to you where and when you shall finally meet me.” With that, Jesus in another brilliant flash of light disappeared. The disciples stared into the space Jesus once was in. Their minds did not believe that they had seen a hallucination. It was all real. Their life had been given meaning, not just in that they could know what to do next, but that they had true life living in them now. Their sins were removed and their everlasting life was granted.
40 Days Later
The disciples and Jesus’ brothers climbed the mountain where Jesus told them to go. Over the past month, they received more teaching and understanding.
A while ago, Peter still felt oppressed by his sin of denying Christ three times. When Jesus came to him one day while he was fishing, he reinstated Peter and forgave his sin.
Thomas also no longer doubted that Jesus was resurrected. Weeks ago he denied that the other disciples’ words were true. When Jesus appeared to him, he believed and had faith again.
Matthew now finished his full gospel. It was a fulfilled gospel, full of hope and life. It did not end in death and sorrow as he believed just yesterday. His prayers were answered positively.
Everyone was happy for Jesus’ brothers. Before they had no faith that their half-brother was the Messiah. Their faith equaled and sometimes exceeded the faith of the disciples now.
The disciples finished their climb up the mountain. Jesus sat on top looking up at the sky. Something important would happen that day, they all believed. Jesus turned around and nodded his head. Gathering everyone around him, Jesus gave his final commandment.
“The Father has granted me all authority on heaven and earth. I am about to leave you soon to return to my Father now.” The disciples backed away. Jesus was going to leave them? “Do not be afraid,” Jesus continued, “I will send my guide to you soon.”
“Jesus, will you at this time reinstate the kingdom of Israel?” Peter asked.
“That is not for you to know right now, Peter. Remember I have come to save the world, not the kingdom of Israel.” Peter nodded.
Suddenly a blast like a welcoming trumpet flourished the air. Jesus’ body began to be lifted up. He began to ascend into heaven. “Now I make this final commandment to you. Go out among all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Teach them everything I have commanded you,” Jesus commanded. Tears welled in the eyes of the disciples as Jesus rose ever higher in the skies.
“And remember this one last promise as well. I am always with you, to the very end of the age.” Jesus looked into the sky and continued his ascension to heaven. Finally, a cloud came across Jesus. That was the last time the disciples ever saw Jesus on earth. Their hearts filled with this commandment and loving promise, they went away worshipping the Lord forever.
Now there are many other things I can tell you about the final week of Jesus, but how can one ever accomplish this? Not even the whole world could hold the chronology of Jesus. But this we believe: This is Jesus Christ, the prophet from Nazareth. The Mediator between God and man. The Lamb of God and the priest.
This is Jesus:
King of All