If You Were a Guard at the Tomb

"Now as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said to them, 'We are going up to Jerusalem and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law.  They will condemn him to death and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day, he will be raised to life!'"
Matthew 20: 17-19

"The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 'Sir,' they said, 'we remember that while he was still alive, that deceiver said, 'After three days, I will rise again.' So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.'"
Matthew 27: 62-64

"There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men."
Matthew 28: 2-4

"While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 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"...So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed."
Matthew 28:11-15

     Pilate, after condemning an innocent man to death, gave permission to have the tomb sealed "as secure as you know how." The Roman Empire was the top-notch society of its time and the crucifixtion of Christ was a raucous mob scene at a time when the city was filled with visitors for the Passover. I would imagine the strongest materials and the best guards were used on this tomb.
     Now imagine being one of these elite guards. Perhaps you were even there at the crucifixtion mocking Christ, driving the nails or controlling the mob. Or maybe you were the one who reverantly proclaimed, "Surely, this was the Son of God" when Jesus gave up his Spirit. Here you are again, assigned to guard the tomb. Would you risk your job and reputation by falling asleep? Preposterous! So, you're pacing back and forth, (perhaps passersby are looking askance at you, wondering why you are guarding a grave) you're keenly watching the bushes for the lurking disciples to jump you, when suddenly, all control is lost as the Lord of Hosts takes over the scene with an earthquake and an angel. The brilliant appearance is so terrifying that your knees buckle in a faint.
     Christ in risen! He is not here! A man who died via crucifixtion has folded up his grave clothes and walked away! When you come to, do you then believe in the Son of God?
     I know I do, and I wasn't even there!