Christos Anesti

Christos Anesti (Christ is risen). Happy Orthodox Easter to those using the Julian Calendar.

Why the tomb was supposedly guarded for three days

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard[a] of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.”[b]

Footnotes:

Matthew 27:65 Or Take a guard

Matthew 27:65 Gk you know how

New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.





Source:

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+27%3A61-65&version=NRSV


The Gospel According to Matthew 27: 62-65

Underlying

Whomever you are right now, can you put yourself in another person's shoes?
Can you imagine what someone else feels? If you are getting food late at night at a drive-through window, can you imagine being the person serving you the food on the other side of the window? If you are straight, can you imagine being gay and vice versa? If you are young, can you imagine being old? If you are a man, can you imagine being a woman, and vice versa? Can you imagine the reality? Can you imagine the fears and joys of another?

Every 24 hours we experience both night and day. Every year at the opposite side of winter there is summer, and at the opposite side of fall there is spring. Some days are rainy and some are dry. All is normal, common, and typical.

We are all on the same planet, and connected. Human, we all are! Underlying there is much. Underlying we are all a different world and unique. Regardless of what underlies and how different we may think we are, our planet is a sphere, and it should make us aware of something. On this sphere if we go far enough to the north, we eventually end up going south. And, if we go far enough to the west, we will eventually end up in the east. One day we will easily travel to other planets, and eventually other galaxies. For now, however, we are all here, so let's make the best of it. Do unto others as we would have others do unto us is a good thought to always have underlying.

Happy Easter!

Christ is risen!

What St. Paul Seems to have Basically Believed

St. Paul believed Jesus appeared to him, at least, that is what is written in I Corinthians 15: 8, by himself, supposedly. The story of St. Paul's experience or conversion is written in the Book of Acts of the Apostles 9: 1-19. Briefly, the Scriptures say the following about St. Paul (formerly known as Saul of Tarsus).

3 Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5 He asked, “Who are you, Lord?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But get up and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one (NRSV).

Basically, it wasn’t only St. Paul who had the experience. It says, "the men who were traveling with him stood speechless because they heard the voice but saw no one." In I Corinthians 15, St. Paul also said Jesus after his resurrection also “appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters[c] at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died.” As I stated at first, St. Paul believed Jesus appeared to him.

St. Paul wrote about 13 books of the New Testament canon. The New Testament only contains 27 books; therefore, St. Paul wrote almost half. St. Paul went from being someone who persecuted Christians of his day to someone who was one of the most influential persons in the spread of Christianity until the present day. He also became a martyr for what he believed. Ultimately, it seems he was convinced without a doubt that Jesus indeed resurrected. Volumes have been written about St. Paul, but understanding why he did what he did, and believed what he believed is not complicated to understand.

References:

NRSV Bible

Passover

Happy Passover!

Palm Sunday!

Happy Palm Sunday to all! Perhaps today we are not able to coalesce in a building; however, in thought, in meditation, and in prayer we can always be one in spirit.