Nougat 4

So while reading your responses to the Nougats, I noted a comment from Michelle Ashwood-Stewart that invited me to expound a bit more on the soldiers assignment. Please receive Today’s Holy Nougat

“For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭28‬:‭4‬, ‭11‬, ‭15‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

Misunderstood Assignment

In a prior reflection on Jesus’ Resurrection , I spoke to faithfulness … in relation to the soldiers. As an aside I mentioned that they had the role of patting guard at his grace, as was befitting a king. I also noted that their task ended after the angelic visit, because Jesus was no longer in the tomb. Where things went awry for them was that their faithfulness was not directed at God.

Michelle’s response,

So much to chew on… faithfullness v. faithlessness; faithful to Whom? And as for the mission of guarding Jesus’ grave, that was WAAAAAYYYY above their pay grade, although they clearly did not get the memo! …

invites further reflection on the soldiers. Not one of them was impacted by then earthquake and angelic presence to discern that He Whom they guarded was not off this world?!

The events at the crucifixion, however, had caused a senior guard, a centurion, and his battalion to exclaim that Jesus must truly be the Son of God! (See Matthew 27:45-54) Although they started out as part of the contingent who were punishing Jesus, the centurion ‘got it’. He recognized that the prisoner wasn’t just any enemy of the state. I wonder whether his life changed as a result of his moment of recognizing Jesus.

The soldiers guarding Jesus’ tomb didn’t seem to be thus impacted. They guarded the Prince of Peace, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and didn’t even realize Whose presence they were in. One could argue that they knew they guarded someone important. And from the Roman perspective, they understood the mission. But in failing to recognize Who they guarded, to agree that they’d claim that Jesus’ body has been stolen means they’d failed to see God’s mission for their lives. It might have resulted in their salvation.

But they took the bribe.

They were not guarding That tomb by accident – God had selected them. The government only rubber stamped what God permitted. But in missing the reality of Jesus true identity, they also ran the risk of ‘gaining the world [the bribe money], but losing their souls.’ They missed Gods moment for their lives.

Siblings, we might find ourselves thrust in situations that aren’tf visibly aligned to God’s will for our lives. But if God permitted us to be there, then there’s scope for us to see God at work. To bear witness to God’s plan for our lives in that situation. Let’s not miss the moment.

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May all we seek be found in Christ