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An Heretical Easter Story - Did Jesus Really Die? - Page 3

© Richard Kent Matthews

"Be assured, He is." With that, Joseph departs from Pilate and begins the necessary preparations.

"Nicodemis, you have contacts among the merchants. We will need to secure about a hundred pounds of aloe, myrrh, and many of the fragrant spices used by the physicians to heal wounds. Have them delivered to the new tomb I have carved on my property not far from Golgotha. Do it secretly and quietly. We don't want to arouse the suspicion of any other council member. Also, you will need to concoct some of the sleeping potion produced from the hyssop plant. Yeshua will have to be rendered unconscious as soon as possible, once he is on the cross. He may resist any attempt to knock him out so we will have to do it before he has a chance to refuse. Can you arrange to get all of that?"

Nicodemis responds, "I am certain it can all be arranged secretly. All will be as you wish."

Joseph, being quite influential as well as rich, is indeed able to persuade the Jewish council to seek to have Yeshua crucified on the Friday before Sabbath. He also arranges with Pilate to have one of the Roman centurions, named Longinus, assigned to oversee the execution. Unknown to even Pilate, Longinus is also a secret follower of Yeshua. Joseph admonishes both Nicodemis and Longinus to tell no one of this plan, not even Yeshua's closest disciples. "They are already frightened of the authorities and they are bound to panic at the last minute. Don't even tell Peter. His faith is a little shaky right now. I heard the Master say that Peter would even deny him when the crucial moment arrives. We must carry out this operation by ourselves. Don't even tell the women."

The Jewish council finally drags Yeshua before them and demands that he recant. "Admit that you are not the Son of God and we will let you off with a light punishment," Caiaphas commands.

"I cannot," Yeshua replies gently.

"Then, by the authority of Rome, it is to the cross with you, oh mighty king of the Jews! Let us see if your father, the devil, can get you out of this one, you who claim to do miracles."

They turn Yeshua over to the Romans who flog him and place a crown of thorns upon his head. They drape him in a crimson cape and put a twig in his hand. "All hail, Yeshua, king of the Jews. Let him who would depose Caesar be put up on his deserved throne, the Roman cross!"

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