The Tomb of Jesus — Page 31
1 31. The above verses settle the question decisively that Jesus came out of the tomb alive. . H. Spencer Lewis writes: "Just before sunrise, Yousef of Arimathaea and other Essenes who had been hiding nearby approached the tomb when the guards were trying to protect themselves from the rain under the shelter of some cattle houses slightly distant. . Using the means they had previously provided, and taking advantage of the laxity of the officials in sealing the doorway properly, they caused this great stone to be thrown over, and the doorway to be opened. When they entered the tomb, they found Jesus resting easily, and rapidly regaining strength and vitality. After an hour the storm ceased sufficiently for the Essenes to escort Him from the Tomb. ”11. If we make a close scrutiny and a thorough retrospect of the whole story in the light of the foregoing premises Jesus' prophecy of coming out of the bowels of the earth alive; his fervent prayers to be saved from death on the cross; the hideousness of the idea of his being subjected to the accursed death; the flowing of blood from his wound; the shortness of the time of his suspension and the consequent doubts of all concerned at 11. H. Spencer Lewis, Mystical Life of Jesus, p. 269.