As the joyous news of Christ's resurrection spread among the faithful, those opposed to Him sought to suppress and distort this sacred truth. The Roman guards, terrified by the angelic presence and the earthquake, returned to the city and reported everything they had seen at the tomb to the chief priests. Aware of the severe penalties they could face for neglecting their duties, they rushed to warn the Jewish leaders, seeking protection from potential retribution. Concerned about the implications of this momentous discovery being made public, the Sanhedrin convened to address the guards’ report. It remains unclear how the Sanhedrin interpreted the guards’ account—whether they attributed the occurrence to demonic powers, reminiscent of the Pharisees’ claims that Christ’s miracles were by Beelzebub (Matthew 12:24), or whether they deemed it the deception of the guards conspiring with Christ's followers. They feared the extraordinary event would be broadcast in a city teeming with worshipers from various nations, as confirmed by the soldiers' testimonies.
Therefore, the chief priests and elders decided to obscure this unsettling news by using the very mouths that spoke it. In a bid to accomplish their aim, they resorted to bribery, as St. John Chrysostom noted, having previously purchased Christ's blood while He lived, and after His crucifixion, they again sought to subvert the truth of His resurrection through monetary means. The Sanhedrin provided the soldiers with funds and assured them of total immunity, instructing them to spread the falsehood that the disciples had stolen the body while the guards slept. They promised to appease the governor if their tale reached him. The fabrications of Christ’s adversaries, encouraged among the soldiers, immediately displayed their contradictions. St. John Chrysostom pointed out the self-incrimination of their actions—had they not gone to Pilate and requested guards, they might have been free to spread such rumors; however, their own measures sought to contain the truth.
How could the disciples have managed to take the body of Christ, heavily guarded, when even the voice of a servant girl frightened the bravest among them (Matthew 26:69-72), and they had all fled at the sight of armed men (Mark 14:50)? How could they have approached the tomb, broken the seal, rolled away the substantial stone, entered, and removed the body without alerting the guards? Even if they had performed the impossible and breached the burial site undetected, would they have taken the time to unfold the linens and arrange them neatly (John 20:6,7)? Finally, if the guards were indeed asleep, how could they have claimed to witness what they did not see?
These inconsistencies raised further questions. The guards were bound to stay vigilant and ensure the body’s safety; allowing an abduction while showing such negligence would warrant severe penalties. Why were they not punished and instead rewarded? Thus, Christ’s adversaries, blinded by malice and hardened disbelief, chose to obscure the divine work with a blatant mix of lies and deception. The soldiers accepted the bribes and acted according to their instructions. The false narrative spread among the Jewish people, leading many to believe it. Was it not incredulous to accept such absurdity? “One might,” reflected St. Philaret, “for a mind entrenched in disbelief resembles a nocturnal bird, perceiving only darkness and clinging to its illusions while shunning the illuminating truth.”
Pilate, upon hearing of the Myrrhbearers' journey, became anxious. Fearing exposure of his unjust actions toward Christ, he sent a report to Emperor Tiberius, detailing Christ’s benevolent life and miracles. Pilate’s records to Tiberius concerning Christ's life, death, resurrection, and miracles are particularly noteworthy. He stated that, upon investigating Jewish accusations, he found no fault in Jesus and sought to free Him from the envious Jews but could not, ultimately yielding to the will of the people. Following the crucifixion, when ominous signs appeared in nature and many dead were resurrected, Pilate—a fearful witness—reported all that had occurred regarding Jesus, who, as God, became an object of faith.
According to historical accounts by Justin, Eusebius, and others, following these testimonies by the Roman governor and Christ's devotees, Tiberius supposedly believed in Christ and proposed to the Roman Senate that Jesus should be counted among the Roman deities, but the Senate declined, unwilling to investigate him further. Even after the Senate rejected his proposal, Tiberius threatened punishment for anyone who dared to insult the followers of Jesus Christ. Yet, Pilate did not escape from the threats he feared. Four years later, he was summoned to Rome due to complaints from the Jews, stripped of his authority and exiled to Vienne in Gaul, where, according to one tradition, remorse led him to take his own life. In another account, it is suggested that Pilate repented, prayed to Christ, and received forgiveness from the Savior, as affirmed by an angel.
Just prior to Christ's trial in Judea, a coin featuring Caesar on one side and Pilate’s likeness on the other was to be minted. On the day of the trial, Pilate's wife implored him not to condemn the Righteous One, asking, “With what will you atone for your guilt on earth, if it turns out that the one you have judged is truly the Son of God?” Pilate replied, “If He is the Son of God, He will rise again, and my first act will be to forbid my image on coins while I am alive.” This statement is recorded by Pilate’s biographer, Hermidius, and upon Christ’s resurrection, Pilate indeed prohibited his image from being minted.
The resurrection of Christ is affirmed by historical evidence with the same certainty as the existence of Ivan the Terrible and Peter the Great. Denying the resurrection of Christ necessitates denying even more substantiated figures, such as Pontius Pilate, Julius Caesar, and Nero. Numerous sources affirm Christ’s resurrection, including early historians like Epiphanius Africanus, Eusebius of Egypt, and others who either witnessed the events or were near Jerusalem during that time. Notably, testimonies from Jewish historians who often downplayed the resurrection still provide reliable accounts. Among them are figures like Urista the Gamian and Miferkant, a member of the Sanhedrin who personally investigated the situation after the alarm of the resurrection arose.
Miferkant had initially paid the guards at the tomb before witnessing the miraculous events when he returned. His account, detailed in “On the Rulers of Palestine,” is among the most esteemed historical sources. Josephus Flavius recorded that Jesus, a wise man, performed marvelous deeds and attracted many followers, and that, despite His condemnation by Pilate, He arose on the third day, as foretold by prophets. The number of credible testimonies about the resurrection exceeds 210, with some estimates reaching 230, thanks to discoveries made following earlier works on the subject.
As recognized by Friedrich Engels, new findings necessitate a shift in perspectives regarding significant historical events, noting that previously overlooked accounts must now be considered, specifically addressing the resurrection as a miracle of profound importance. Although Engels’ views were never formally translated into Russian editions, they illustrate the evidence of Christ’s suffering and death, primarily showcased through the Holy Shroud—an imprint of His crucified and buried body. After 33 hours, the burial place was empty, with only the shroud remaining (Luke 24:12), which contained the very marks of His suffering.
The Shroud itself, woven from luxurious fabric no longer produced after the first century, represents the deep respect Joseph of Arimathea had for Jesus. Even in the thirteenth century, the Shroud was reported to exude fragrances. Kept by Apostle Peter and later safeguarded by Christians for three centuries, it was housed in various locations, ultimately finding a permanent home in Turin.
In 1898, Italian photographer Secondo Pia captured an image of the Shroud that revealed a stunning likeness of the crucified Jesus. Scientific analysis confirmed the image is not man-made, leading to interdisciplinary examinations by believers and skeptics alike, producing a new understanding of this relic. Radiological studies even suggested an anomaly likely linked to the supernatural resurrection event, indicating that the Shroud embodies a powerful testament to Christ’s resurrection.
The striking details on the Shroud—the blood marks, the physical imprints, the authenticity of the weave—further validate its significance. The accounts of the resurrection continue to inspire investigations and convictions across various scholarly and faith-based realms, serving as both a testament to Christ’s enduring impact and a source of inspiration for believers navigating the complexities of faith, history, and the divine revelation of Jesus Christ.
THEOSIS