Have you ever wondered what went through the minds of the soldiers, set to guard the tomb of Jesus to “make it as secure as” they knew how (Matthew 27:65), after the angels appeared and rolled away the stone? The Bible does say that they “shook for fear” and “became like dead men” (27:4). What went through their minds? What were they believing about their experience?
These guards show up again in a brief paragraph in Matthew’s account where some of the guard go into Jerusalem and report the occurrence to the chief priests. The Sanhedrin took counsel together and decided to buy off the testimony of the soldiers: “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’ And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble” (27:13-14). Were all the guards in full agreement with this scheme? Did any of them have any qualms or fears of their own Roman superiors about “falling asleep” on the job and losing the body of a condemned criminal?
The story about the body being stolen by the disciples is what made the rounds among the Jewish people, up until Matthew wrote his gospel account (27:15). Maybe that’s part of the reason Saul of Tarsus did not believe the “resurrection” story (1 Timothy 1:13).
What about Pilate? What went through his mind if and when he had heard that the body was gone? How much did he acquiesce to the Sanhedrin’s lie? Was he afraid that the followers of Jesus would create an uproar, preaching this other “king,” based on the “rumor” that he was raised from the dead?
The Bible does not answer these questions. I, for one, generally do not have the imagination to guess what the soldiers and Pilate were thinking following the resurrection.
But movie producers do and that’s what Risen is about. Last week, for my birthday, our family went to see the movie Risen. It is about a tribune, a leader of the Roman soldiers, who was tasked by Pilate with finding the body of Jesus, “stolen” by the disciples, so as to put to rest the rumor of the resurrection and to show that the “king” of the Jews is, in fact, dead.
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Most biblical movies, as you know, are unbiblical and frequently anti-biblical. While there are a few points that are anti-biblical, these points do not take away from the main theme of the movie: How did the Roman soldiers (this tribune, specifically) react to the news of the resurrection?
I always emphasize that we do not get our theology from movies and Risen is no exception. Yet, if these movies do motivate us to go back to the Scriptures to see what the Truth really says, then they have served a good purpose. Pilate is not mentioned in any Gospel account after the resurrection except a half dozen historical references to him during the trial of Jesus. The guards are only mentioned in Matthew’s account.
The Scriptures are far more concerned about Jesus’ resurrection’s impact on His followers. Even the unbelieving Jews do not enter into the picture until after the ascension and the day of Pentecost.
What was going through the minds of the soldiers and Pilate during the forty days between the resurrection and the ascension? Risen provides an interesting possibility. We recommend the movie to you with the warning that it begins with Jesus hanging on the cross and the soldiers breaking the legs of the criminals. Nothing graphic is shown but the imagination can fill in the gaps with the sound effects. Keep that in mind if you think of taking children.
–Paul Holland
