A Grave Situation (Part 2)

“So, let me get this straight. Petronius glared at the two Roman soldiers sitting across from him. There was a bright light, and you were knocked to the ground, and when you got up, the seal was broken, the two-ton stone was rolled away, and the body was gone?

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There was also a roaring sound, Justin added. He glanced over at Lucius, who was staring at the table in silence, still in shock.

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A roaring sound, their commanding officer repeated. Like a lion?

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No, like scraping Justin stopped to think. But yes, also like a lion.

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Petronius threw his reed pen down in frustration. A scraping sound that roared like a lion. Do you know how crazy that sounds? Honestly, if it weren’t for the other soldiers on guard last night with similar nonsensical stories, you two would be on your way to the execution block for sleeping on the job, because this all sounds like a crazy dream!

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Justin saw Lucius cringe. I know how it sounds, said Justin. That’s also how it felt. Crazy. Impossible.

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Petronius dismissed them so he could converse with the other officers. Don’t go far, he warned them. You’re being watched until we get this sorted out.

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Justin led Lucius to the courtyard. I’ll get us something to eat, he said as he sat his friend beneath an olive tree. Lucius nodded and slumped against the tree trunk.

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Justin walked to a nearby booth selling pomegranates. As he handed his coins over, he wondered if this would be his last meal. What had the dead manwhose tomb they had been guardingeaten for his last meal? Justin shuddered as he thought about the crucifixion he had witnessed just a few days before. He’d seen many executions, but this one was different. He’d gotten the distinct sense that this man in no way deserved the abuses heaped upon him as his death sentence wascarried out. Now, Justin wondered if he, too, might be executed.

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As he walked back toward the courtyard, a shadow fell across his path. Move, please, Justin said, his voice lacking the hard Roman edge it normally had. Let me pass.

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The man took a step closer. Justin looked up, and the pomegranates he was holding fell to the ground. It’s you, he whispered. The eyes were the same as when they beat him and nailed him to that cross, but he didn’t look weak and helpless anymore. He looked healthy and whole.

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The man gave him a kind smile. Go get your friend, he said, nodding toward the courtyard. Then follow me. Courtney Lasater

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After Jesus rose from the dead, He appeared to many people before He ascended into heaven. Today’s fictional story imagines Jesus appearing to some of the Roman soldiers who were present at His tomb and His crucifixion. While we don’t know if something like this happened or not, we do know that Jesus called many gentile (or non-Jewish) people, including Romans, to follow Him, both before His death and after His ascension. What does this reveal about God’s compassion and mercy? (If you want to dig deeper, check out Matthew 8:5-13; 27:54; Mark 15:39; Luke 7:1-10; Acts 10:1-48; 16:23-34; 27:1-44.)

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Jesus is God in human flesh, and He came to die a terrible death on the cross for people who were His enemies. The reality is, without Jesus, we are all God’s enemies. But because Jesus died and rose again for us, we can be forgiven and reconciled to God by putting our trust in Jesus (Romans 5:10). Have you ever felt like you were somehow disqualified from following Jesus? How might today’s Bible passages speak into this?

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Jesus seeks out the lost, He meets us with immeasurable kindness, and He beckons us to follow Him. Have you made the decision to follow Jesus? What questions do you have? You can bring every question and every doubt to Jesus in prayer. He won’t condemn you or dismiss you. Instead, He will listen and draw you close. In addition to talking to God, who are trusted Christians you could talk to? (You can also find out more on our “Know Jesus” page.)

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Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4 (CSB)

Read Verses:

John 11:25-John 11:26; Romans 6:4-Romans 6:7