The Tomb of Jesus — Page 32
32 -such an unexpectedly early death; the pronounced sympathetic attitude of Pilate and his delivery of. Jesus' body to his close friends and followers; and. Jesus' subsequent physical appearance to his mother and disciples then we can easily understand that he was only apparently dead, in a state of unconsciousness. It becomes clear that a secret plot was designed by Jesus' disciples for his rescue, in which Pilate himself played an important role. After his escape from the tomb,. Jesus had to take recourse to disguise for fear of again being arrested.