Matthew testifies that the Jewish authorities insisted that the tomb be secured, the stone sealed and a guard set (Matthew 27:66). They did this because the Jews feared that Jesus' followers would remove his body and declare that He had risen.
The Roman seal was a cord that stretched across the stone. It was fastened at each end with sealing clay. It was a capital offense for unauthorized persons to break the seal. Very early on the morning of the first day, this seal was broken and the tomb was found empty.
However, even in his repose Jesus Christ was declaring the power of God. On Holy Saturday, Jesus entered the place that only the highest authority could enter. He declared his victory over death in Sheol, the place of repose for the righteous. The word is derived from the ancient Egyptian word Sheut (šwt), meaning shadow. The Egyptians believed that something of the dead person continues as a shadow beyond death. In quietness Christ broke down the bars of death, our ultimate enemy.
While his body was still in the tomb, Christ declared good news to those in the place of the dead. A
Horite Hebrew song found at the royal complex at Ugarit, speaks of the Son's descent to the place of the dead "to announce good tidings." The text reads: Hr ešeni timerri duri - "Horus below in the dark netherworld" and has the phrase Šanizzin ḫalukan ḫalzi - "to announce good tidings." (See Note 2 on page 2012.)
In the Apostles' Creed, Christians proclaim this reality: "he descended to the dead/hell". There Christ our God declared glad tidings to the faithful who died before him and confirmed his triumph over death.
.jpg)
No comments:
Post a Comment