Immunity

It does seem as though we have strayed away from the text, but look closely, we really haven’t. We have been looking at and learning how the chief priests responded to all that they were told by the guards, about the evidence of Jesus’ Resurrection. Here is the Bible Text again.

When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, You are to say, His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep. If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. Matthew 28: 12 – 15

From the text, we had identified a three-part response to the Resurrection News which was told to them. To this point, we have discussed their Conspiracy and Bribery. In this offering, we are looking at Immunity. Our working understanding of the meaning of the word immunity as used in this setting, is protection given from an obligation or penalty. Is this not part of the bribery offered to the guards, to tell a down-right, out-right lie about the Resurrection of Jesus? Listen again to what these men of influence have promised the guards. If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. Isn’t that offering them immunity from any punishment, or harsh consequences which most surely would be meted out to them? There are two serious breaches here of any soldier, especially those on night guard.

The first breach is for guards to say that ordinary, unlicensed men, came and stole that which they were being paid to watch and guard. His disciples came during the night and stole him away. No guard, trained, tried and tested, is worth his or her salt, if that which is to be guarded, is stolen from under their noses. These are guards, or soldiers, who are not just trained for their kind of work, but they are armed for their work. Such a report is a grave indictment which will warrant grave punishment. The priests and elders have promised immunity to the guards if the report gets to the governor.

The second breach, much worse than the first, is to confess that as guards, night guards at that, they have been sleeping on the job. They are confessing to not just sleeping, but sleeping so strongly, that men have come and lifted away a corpse, from inside a tomb, which has been sealed with a massive stone. These friends of Jesus came during the night and stole Him away, while we were asleep. This is indeed an inexcusable breach of contract of service for soldiers or guards, punishable by death. However, the guards are promised that they will not see trouble, or be in any way jeopardized.

The guards have consciences and they know what they have witnessed. They know what they have experienced, along with Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. Yet, they are prepared to tell a lie, to receive earthly gain. They hide, stifle and kill truth in them, Resurrection Truth, to be exact, for earthly gain. What is their earthly gain?

Money - a large sum of money. We have not been told the amount of money the chief priests offered the soldiers as bribe money. However, we know that it would have to be substantially more than the thirty pieces of silver offered to Judas. A large sum of money, speaks of money to keep the soldiers well taken care of, money that will be worth their while. Men, of perhaps little wealth, have become men, now holding a large sum of silver coins.    

Immunity - If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble. They are offered peace of mind and freedom of movement to be able to live free of any backlash, punishment or sanctions by the governor.  

Indeed, they have earthly immunity, but do they have heavenly immunity? They have immunity by human authority, but do they have immunity by Divine authority? They have immunity by men, but do they have immunity by God?

Is God not to be feared?