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JERUSALEM HERALD - 2 Editor’s Commentary: ‘Disciples Will Be Buried By The Empty Tomb! By: Joshiah of Machdal This morning's discovery of the empty tomb of Jesus will, ironically, likely bring the lives of his closest followers to a screeching halt. The small band of disrupters known as the Disciples of Jesus have finally found themselves down a dead-end road. It appeared that they had all in control as they cunningly orchestrated last Sunday’s “spontaneous” arrival of Jesus of Nazareth into the city just as the celebration of Passover week was beginning. With so many outsiders in our city at this time of year, it is quite likely that "hundreds of these visitors had earlier been coached to begin their flamboyant reception of this Jesus on cue in a clever public rela- tions move to boost the visibility of this one called “the Christ”. Losing control of an egomaniac As the week moved on, however, it was obvious that this subver- sive group was quickly losing their management of Jesus. The one who hypocritically mimiced humility by entering the city on a donkey was, days later, going berserk in the Temple courtyard overturning the tables of those men engaged in legitimate com- merce. Apparently believing the rumors his men had been spreading, Jesus even declared that, if the Temple were to be destroyed, he would raise it up again in three days! It is no wonder that, by week’s end, these men had left their “leader” to die alone in the just punishment dispensed by the Roman government. Instead, they have sealed their own doom by attempting the impossible strategy of reviving their dream of a Messiah by stealing the body of Jesus in a deranged attempt to fake his “resurrection”. While some may applaud the brash audacity of such an effort, these men cannot possibly keep the truth hidden from investigators for more than a few days. Why the disciples will fail There is no question that Jesus died on his cross. Not only did hundreds witness his death, but it is foolish to assume that the several Roman executioners in charge could possibly make such a grievous error. And in order to prevent any disturbance of the body, it was placed in a rock-sealed tomb with an assigned Roman guard. : ® Bribery will be discovered. There was no way that the body could be removed without the compliance of the assigned Roman guards. Therefore, the Disciples would either have to subdue them, kill them or kidnap them, or they would have had to bribe them. Although this band of men may be devious, there are no accounts of violence in their brief but public history, and initial investigations show no sign of struggle. Besides, it would be hard enough for them, as visitors in Jerusalem, to hide Jesus’s body... hiding the additional bodies of guards would be highly unlikely. Bribery would therefore appear to be the more logical strategy. However, by its nature, it would be very insecure. It would take a great deal of money to buy the loyalty of not one but several soldiers. Even if well bribed, these soldiers will quickly turn against the Disciples to gain an even greater reward by leading their Centurion to the recapture of body of Jesus. e Too many witnesses. Passover is the most crowded of Jerusalem’s celebrations. Hotels are filled to capacity, almost all residents take in traveling family and friends, activities keep the streets alive all day and all night. By whatever means the Disciples achieved the body, it would be impossible to carry it around or into the city without the deed being witnessed by many. It will be no difficult task to trade wine for truth from these plentiful eyewitnesses. ‘® Lack of courage. It was evident that, in the capture and trials of Jesus, his foliowers stayed a safe distance from him, some even disavowing any connection to him. Following the crucifix- ion, most of them reportedly went into hiding for fear of being included in his penalties. In whatever spurt of boldness that enabled the disciples to risk their lives in attaining the body, they certainly would not be able to keep up that stamina for very long. They will have to emerge from their hiding. And even if they insist that their leader actu- ally raised himself from death and left the tomb on his own, they certainly would not be willing to die for such a lie. It will simply be a matter of days before the disciples are caught and punished for this mischievous act. Pity; if they would only have slipped out of town quietly, they could have lived out the rest of their days in normalcy. Zealot Band with Jesus of Nazareth ‘Observe’ Passover Alleged Strategy Session Took Place Under Guise Of Religious Observance Were Jesus and his band planning subversive activities to take place on the weekend of Passover? It is now too late to learn the answer, but many are still speculating over the question. A week ago today, Jesus and his “Disciples” entered Jerusalem with a great deal of fanfare. The emotionally- charged crowd awaiting Passover celebration were ready to cheerfully embrace any novelty that would give an outlet to their energies. Even Jesus’s men seemed to have been caught off guard with the enthusiastic response of the crowd. Shouts of “Hosanna” and “Messiah” pierced the air as observers snapped palm leaves from trees near the city gate and waved them before this questionable celebrity. Temple authorities, however, took a strong opposition to the revelry in the streets. “We are the trained leaders of the faith of our nation,” commented one priest who withheld his name. “We cannot allow our people to be brainwashed by false prophets.” Emergency meetings of Temple authorities quickly assembled committees assigned to observe and scrutinize the activities of Jesus and his men while they were in the city. “The common people are very naive,” says one Pharisee. “Without our guidance, they could certainly fall prey to some flamboyant figure such as this Jesus. He understands how easy it is to gain their allegiance through clever deception.” Jesus made no attempt to build diplomatic understanding between himself and Temple authorities when he arrived in Jerusalem. Many local leaders considered this to be a significant social snub at the honorable religious hierarchy. On the Thursday of Passover, while many visitors and Jerusalem celebrated the season in traditional revelry, Jesus and his men met together just off the city streets in the upper room of a hotel owned by one named Malchius. While the meeting projected to the public that the band was observing the Passover, many authorities are confident that this was a secret session for the purpose of planning a strtegic display designed to solidify support and to help overthrough the Temple authorities. Witnesses reported noticing that, while their meal was still in progress, one of the twelve in Jesus’s entourage was seen quickly leaving the building and rushiing off in the direction of the Temple. “The common people are very naive... he (Jesus) understands how easy itis to gain their allegiance through clever deception.” --Pharisee Apparently discerning that their location was not com- pletely safe from the ears of opponents, Jesus and his men left the upper room to go to an obscure garden to con- tinue their session. Ironically, it was in this very secure location that Jesus was apprehended by a large group of Roman and Temple guards and alert citizens. Whatever plans Jesus had in mind were fortunately destroyed with his arrest. Disciples parade Jesus into the city of Jerusalem on the Sunday before Passover a .——. ld
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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