Part 38 (1/2)

John, who professes to have seen it,[1] insists strongly on this circumstance It is evident, in fact, that doubts arose as to the reality of the death of Jesus A few hours of suspension on the cross appeared to persons accustomed to see crucifixions entirely insufficient to lead to such a result They cited many instances of persons crucified, who, reain by powerful reht it needful to invoke miracle in order to explain so sudden an end[3] The same astonishment is found in the narrative of Mark[4] To speak truly, the best guarantee that the historian possesses upon a point of this nature is the suspicious hatred of the enemies of Jesus It is doubtful whether the Jeere at that tiht pass for resuscitated; but, in any case, they must have made sure that he was really dead Whatever, at certain periods, ed to legal proof and the strict conduct of affairs, we cannot but believe that those interested here had taken some precautions in this respect[5]

[Footnote 1: John xix 31-35]

[Footnote 2: Herodotus, vii 194; Jos, _Vita_, 75]

[Footnote 3: _In Matt Comment series_, 140]

[Footnote 4: Mark xv 44, 45]

[Footnote 5: The necessities of Christian controversy afterward led to the exaggeration of these precautions, especially when the Jews had systeun to maintain that the body of Jesus had been stolen Matt xxvii 62, and following, xxviii 11-15]

According to the Roht to have remained suspended in order to beco to the Jewish law, it would have been re, and deposited in the place of infamy set apart for the burial of those ere executed[2] If Jesus had had for disciples only his poor Galileans, timid and without influence, the latter course would have been adopted But we have seen that, in spite of his sained the sydo thely attached to him One of these persons, Joseph, of the s to ask the body from the procurator[4] Joseph was a rich and honorable man, a member of the Sanhedrim The Roman law, at this period, commanded, moreover, that the body of the person executed should be delivered to those who clainorant of the circuium_, was astonished that Jesus was so soon dead, and summoned the centurion who had superintended the execution, in order to kno this was Pilate, after having received the assurances of the centurion, granted to Joseph the object of his request The body probably had already been reht do with it as he pleased

[Footnote 1: Horace, _Epistles_, I xvi 48; Juvenal, xiv 77; Lucan, vii 544; Plautus, _Miles glor_, II iv 19; Artemidorus, _Onir_, ii 53; Pliny, xxxvi 24; Plutarch, _Life of Cleomenes_, 39; Petronius, _Sat_, cxi-cxii]

[Footnote 2: Mishnah, _Sanhedrim_, vi 5]

[Footnote 3: Probably identical with the ancient Rama of Samuel, in the tribe of Ephrai; Mark xv 42, and following; Luke xxiii 50, and following; John xix 38, and following]

[Footnote 5: Dig XLVIII xxiv, _De cadaveribus puntorum_]

Another secret friend, Nicode his influence more than once in favor of Jesus, ca a Joseph and Nicode to the Jewish custom--that is to say, they wrapped him in a sheet with myrrh and aloes The Galilean women were present,[2] and no doubt acco cries and tears

[Footnote 1: John xix 39, and following]

[Footnote 2: Matt xxvii 61; Mark xv 47; Luke xxiii 55]

It was late, and all this was done in great haste The place had not yet been chosen where the body would be finally deposited The carrying of the body, ht have been delayed to a late hour, and have involved a violation of the Sabbath--now the disciples still conscientiously observed the prescriptions of the Jewish law A temporary interarden, a to out in the rock, which had never been used It belonged, probably, to one of the believers[2] The funeral caves, when they were destined for a single body, were composed of a small room, at the bottoh or couch let into the wall, and sur out of the sides of sloping rocks, they were entered by the floor; the door was shut by a stone very difficult to move Jesus was deposited in the cave, and the stone was rolled to the door, as it was intended to return in order to give hi a sole[4]

[Footnote 1: John xix 41, 42]

[Footnote 2: One tradition (Matt xxvii 60) designates Joseph of Arimathea himself as owner of the cave]

[Footnote 3: The cave which, at the period of Constantine, was considered as the toathered from the description of Arculphus (in Mabillon, _Acta SS

Ord S Bened_, sec iii, pars ii, p 504), and fro the Greek clergy on the state of the rock now concealed by the little chapel of the Holy Sepulchre But the indications by which, under Constantine, it was sought to identify this tomb with that of Christ, were feeble or worthless (see especially Sozomen, _HE_, ii 1) Even if ere to adotha as nearly exact, the Holy Sepulchre would still have no very reliable character of authenticity At all events, the aspect of the places has been totally modified]

[Footnote 4: Luke xxiii 56]

The wo carefully noticed how the body was laid They e which re On the Saturday all rested[1]

[Footnote 1: Luke xxiii 54-56]

On the Sunday dalen the first, came very early to the to, and the body was no longer in the place where they had laid it At the saest rumors were spread in the Christian cost the disciples Love caused it to find ready credence everywhere What had taken place? In treating of the history of the apostles we shall have to exaends relative to the resurrection For the historian, the life of Jesus finishes with his last sigh But such was the impression he had left in the heart of his disciples and of a few devoted wo and consoling them

Had his body been taken away,[2] or did enthusiasroup of narratives by which it was sought to establish faith in the resurrection? In the absence of opposing documents this can never be ascertained Let us say, however, that the strong idalen[3] played an important part in this circumstance[4] Divine power of love! Sacred ave to the world a resuscitated God!