Chapter 26—He Is Risen
The greatest care had been taken to guard the Saviour’s tomb, and
the entrance had been closed with a great stone. Upon this stone the
Roman seal had been placed in such a way that the stone could not be
moved without breaking the seal.
Around the tomb was the guard of Roman soldiers. They were to
keep strict watch, that the body of Jesus might not be molested. Some
of them were constantly pacing to and fro before the tomb, while the
others rested on the ground near by.
But there was another guard around that tomb. Mighty angels from
Heaven were there. Any one of this angel guard, by putting forth his
power, could have stricken down the whole Roman army.
The night preceding the morning of the first day of the week has
worn slowly away, and the darkest hour, just before daybreak, has
come.
One of the most powerful angels is sent from Heaven. His counte-
nance is like lightning, and his garments white as snow. He parts the
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darkness from his track, and the whole heavens are lighted with his
glory.
The sleeping soldiers awake, and start to their feet. With awe and
wonder they gaze at the open heavens, and the vision of brightness
which is nearing them.
The earth trembles and heaves as that powerful being from another
world approaches. He is coming on a joyful errand, and the speed and
power of his flight shake the world like a mighty earthquake. Soldiers,
officers, and sentinels fall as dead men to the ground.
There had been still another guard about the Saviour’s tomb. Evil
angels were there. Because the Son of God had fallen in death, His
body was even then claimed as the prey of him who has the power of
death—the devil.
The angels of Satan were present to see that no power should take
Jesus from their grasp. But as the mighty being sent from the throne
of God approached, they fled in terror from the scene.
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