The Women/ the Guard and the Resurrection

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T.A.G.

Puritan Board Freshman
1.We have all heard it a thousand times, if the rock was so heavy why were the women going to go see Jesus (though what they were doing was a common practice)

I have been reading different thoughts and opinions on it and wanted to hear what my brethren thought here on puritan board. For example, did they expect the guards to move the rock etc.

2. Why do you think the disciples did not understand Jesus was going to raise from the dead yet other Jews did (the ones who asked for the guard/soldiers)

Interested to hear your thoughts on this

Thanks,
 
Mark 16:3
3They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?"

The women must have been hoping that they would not be resisted in their aim, and would actually be assisted (by someone...). This is the plain import of the text. They were desirous to finish appropriate burial-practice for Jesus. Other than the wrapped linen (Mk.15:46), no burial-spices (Mk.16:1) had been applied, etc., per custom.


As for why the disciples weren't expecting the resurrection:
They didn't believe Jesus own testimony.

Of course, neither did the chief-priests and scribes--the great concern of the leaders was that the disciples would "make it appear" as though he was raised from the dead, as he said. Mt.27:62-66
2The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and said, "Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, 'After three days I will rise.' 64Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, 'He has risen from the dead,' and the last fraud will be worse than the first." 65Pilate said to them, "You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can." 66So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
So the issue for the judicial murderers of Jesus was their concern for a faked resurrection (for whatever cause the followers might purpose).

The fact was: the disciples were honest men, and devout. And despite the unreasonable hatred and suspicion of the ruling/religious cabal, there was no need to fear a true "engineering" of a resurrection hoax. The disciples were still typical Jews of the day, and they were not hoping in a Christ who would be dying a sacrifice for their sins (though, no doubt, they hoped in some sort of spiritual deliverance). They were thinking (ala, the Temple they were admiring so much earlier in the week) that they were all going to get "corner-offices with grand views" in the new political-administration of the Davidic King Jesus.

The disciples put this "death-thing" out of their mind, Mk.9:31-32. They were not able to deal with the contradictions (in their minds) between a certain victory for Messiah over his and their enemies, and his own predictions of his death, which in "literal" terms could only mean his defeat by those same enemies. The crucifixion wasn't an "opportunity" for the disciples. It was a devastation.

Only a true resurrection, and a completely new way of understanding the mission of Christ (the fruit of both the resurrection, the Spirit's work of enlightenment, and three years learning from the Master) could bring about the radical reorientation. And (to read Act.1:6-8), there was still more understanding to be brought. But the confrontation with the risen Jesus was the turning point for the believers.
 
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