“So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”
Matthew 27:66 (NIV)
The Pharisees feared the rumors of resurrection and asked Pilate to help secure Jesus’ tomb, so he granted their request to seal the tomb and appoint an armed guard at the entrance. After studying to learn what this “seal on the tomb” actually entailed, I learned the following:
They stretched a cord across the large stone which blocked the entrance to the tomb. Then they packed clay over each end of the cord, and pressed a wax seal over the clay, which was the seal of the Roman government authority. Finally, they posted an armed guard each day, in front of the tomb for 24 hours.
All these measures to guard the tomb, appeared to work until the third day, as Jesus predicted. On the third day of that Jerusalem spring morning, the earth quaked, the stone was rolled away, the cord was broken and all the wax seals crumbled. The armed guards fell into a deep sleep, probably anesthetized by angels.
Inside the open tomb lay nothing but the grave clothes of Jesus. That separate cloth that was used to cover His head, (sudarium) to hold the jaw closed, was lying apart from the 14 foot cloth (shroud) that covered both His head and body.
(John 20:7)
There is no power known to man like the blast of resurrection power that resurrected the body of God’s son that morning. No government seals of authority, armed guard, or a massive stone could prevent a God of love from finishing His plan of salvation for us.
The analysis of the shroud of Turin by forensic scientists, gives us a hint of that mysterious, powerful surge. Other bodies wrapped in grave clothes never left the type of image on a burial cloth as the shroud of Turin has.
Scientists all agree that the image was not a painted one, since there is no evidence of pigment on the shroud. The first carbon dating found it to be only 700 years old, but that first sample was taken from a tainted, frequently handled portion, which was patched after surviving two fires. The flax in the linen cloth was from first century Palestine. The coins placed over the eyes to keep them closed according to custom, date back to the time of Pontius Pilate.
There are blood stains all around the shroud but the image was not made from blood. In one documentary, a scientist said it seemed as if a blast of ultraviolet light, of a single wavelength, projected from the body, outward, and onto the inside of the burial cloth. He describes the mysterious image as similar to an Xray, a photographic negative and a hologram, all merged into one. There is no technology that could recreate such an image today.
The blood type on the cloth is AB positive, and while the bloodstains match a death by crucifixion and scourging, some questioned why the blood on the shroud remained red in color, since blood turns brown or black over time.
Dr. Alan Adler, a hematologist, who studied the shroud, answered that question, explaining that a person who is tortured for many hours would release bilirubin from the liver, causing their blood to permanently remain red.
Whether people agree or not on the credibility of the shroud, all believers can agree that the resurrection of Jesus came from the same Source who once said, “Let there be light” and there was light.
We thank God and celebrate the resurrection that changed the world, and brought forgiveness, hope and new life to every person who believes in His life, death and resurrection. The world has never been the same and lives are still being changed as a result of that empty tomb, 2,000 years ago.
His resurrection opens doors in our journey of faith, since the source of God’s power that raised Jesus, also dwells in us. Any cord of fear that had a grip on us is now broken. The clay seals of doubt crumble into dust. Powers and principalities of darkness can no longer control us. The healing power of Jesus is for anyone who believes, and there is more power in His blood, than any authorities or words of wisdom in the entire world.
On this Easter Monday, we continue to follow Jesus, who left His tomb, leaving His grave clothes behind, as we also leave our grave clothes behind, to live in His resurrection power, until He returns again. Hallelujah! He is risen.
Lord, thank you for salvation and for resurrection power that brings us healing, deliverance and victory. We give you all the praise and glory. Amen