GOOD NEWS FROM THE KING’S MOUNTAIN « THE ELEVENTH OF APRIL, 787 A.U.C «+ ACKNOWLEDGING THE UNITY OF ROME AND THE HEBREW NATION TOMB EMPTY In Spite of Unusually Tight Security, Body of Jesus of Nazareth is Missing from Borrowed Tomb Roman Centurian Eecha Vus encounters a startled Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb where Jesus had been buried. By: Yewur Theyr Roman authorities confirm today what was earlier thought to be simply a rapidly spreading rumor: that the tomb of the recently crucified religious and political insurgent, Jesus of Nazareth, was found empty this morning during a routine sunrise visit by friends and family. The initial report was not given much credence, having been spread by women who claimed to have visited the tomb. But with the verification of a number of Hebrew men (and rapidly spreading stories among a contingent of Roman guards), an investigation was begun and the report proven to be true. The tomb was reportedly owned by a Jewish leader from nearby Arimathea who had sympathies with the cause supported by Jesus. The crucified body of the zealot was placed in the tomb before sundown on the day after the Passover feast. Because of the unusual notoriety of this Jesus, Pilate ordered a guard team to be set at the front of the tomb. This squad took their place on watch as soon as the tomb was sealed; the tomb remained under guard from Friday through Sunday morning. remembered thinking was. ‘why would the authorities take away his body and leave the wrappings?’” (Once re- moved from the cross, the body of Jesus was tightly bound in a burial shroud and facecloth, both of which were left behind in the tomb). Sometime shortly after day- break, visitors to the tomb, coming to request that the stone be rolled away so that the body could be anointed with traditional preserving oils (which could not have been administered on the Sabbath), discovered that the entry seal had already been set aside and the body of Jesus In an obvious state of shock had been removed. The guards assigned to that morning’s duty could not be reached for comment by press time. Mary Magdalene was a follower of Jesus and one of those who first discovered the open tomb. “I know it sounds funny, “ said Mary, “ but once I looked into the empty tomb, one of the first things I and hallucination, Mary Magdalene reported seeing and speaking with a “risen” Jesus at the site of the tomb. Unfortu- - nately, such mindlessness voids any other recollection she could make of this discovery. Roman authorities strongly disavow any strategy on their part to remove the body, citing that the uproar that placed Jesus into the grave would greatly be magnified by any action that implied that some- thing supernatural had hap- pened to the body. “We have done all we can to keep peace with the Hebrews; we would certainly not make any move to further inflame their antagonism during their Holy season,” stated a Roman government spokesman. Jesus had been crucified Friday under penalty resulting from rather obscure charges made by Temple authorities and accepted by Roman rule. Governing Procurator Pontious Pilate, whose visit with the city corresponded with the Holy season of Passover, handed the final sentencing of crucifixion as a result of the overwhelming alignment of Jewish leadership against the one whom King Herod mockingly christened “King of the Jews”. An official statement is forth- coming from the Procurator’s Palace; however, a spokesman for Governor Pilate has stated that an extensive search for the body of Jesus has already begun and is expected to be successful by the end of the day. “With the crowds we have in Jerusalem this Passover season,” the news release reads, “it is virtually impossible for a handful of men to carry a body into hiding without being noticed. Recovery of the body will not go unrewarded — and the theft of the body will not go unpunished.” Centurion Faces Disciplinary Action A trusted Roman Centurion appears destined to face maximum military penalties for failure in duty as a result of the disap- pearance of the body of Jesus of Nazareth. 1 Ironically, in‘many ways Centurion Eecha Vus was responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. Throughout the Passover week he roamed the streets with a select squad of soldiers managing the “troublesome herd” of Hebrews crowding the city. An appoin-. tee of King Herod, Centurion Vus and his men were familiar to Jerusalem natives who grew to ignore his frequent proddings. “I needed a diversion... and going after that Jewish trouble- maker fit me just fine.” stated the Centurion. However, just two days after Eecha Vus nailed Jesus to the cross, the Centurion is facing charges of losing the body he put to death. “I saw the Hebrews put the body into the tomb; I saw my men close the entrance with the stone; I posted my men on watch. I was as surprised as anyone to return to the tomb this morning and find it open and empty. And not only that...” the Centurion suddenly grew silent, as if trying to be very careful not to misspeak. When reminded that the penalty of a prisoner escaping his cell is usually death to the guard in charge, the Centurion had the beginnings of a curious grin as he nodded in agreement, adding, “Yes, that is the penalty for a jail-break. But as far as I know, there has never been established a penalty for a tomb-break.” Centurian Eecha Vus INSIDE today’s Jerusalem Herald: Editorials / Letters to the Editor ........ A 2-A Last Friday’s Freaky Weather! The Full Report ....... Ld LAINE 16-A The Earthquake Review: More Awe than Awful .............ccccc......... 1-B Money Changers Reinstall Temple Kiosks ........ccccceceeeiuirennennnee. 2-B Gladiators Seek New Victims to Enliven Sport ..........ccccceeeeeeeenn. 1-C Opinion: Olympics...Will this Sports Fad Last? .........c.ccecevveuennenen. 2-C Cultures Collide: Hebrew Teens Trade Robes for Togas ............. 1-D

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