Where Did Jesus Die? — Page 53
Chapter Four—Early Documentary Evidence 53 rocks, which belonged to Joseph. They then smoked the grotto with aloe and other strengthening herbs, and while the body lay upon the bed of moss, still stiff and inani- mate, they placed a large stone in front of the entrance that the vapours might better fill the grotto. (p. 75) Suspicions of Jews The letter further tells us that Caiaphas the high priest of the Jews, who was anxious to know who were the secret friends of Jesus, sent out his secret spies. He suspected Pilate for his having given Joseph of Arimathea the body without any pay. Joseph who never took any interest in the case of Jesus previously but who now had given his own place of burial for the crucified. (p. 76) Caiaphas knowing that they intend to embalm the body hop- ing to discover some secret means of accusing Joseph and having him thrown into prison he sent late in the night a number of his armed servants to an obscure valley close by the grotto in which lay the body of Jesus. (p. 75) The writer of the letter further says: Meanwhile Nicodemus had hastened with me to our brethren, and the oldest and wisest came to confer as to the best means of restoring Jesus to life. And the brethren agreed immediately to send a guard to the grave. After midnight, and towards morning, the earth again commenced to shake, and the air became very oppressive. The rocks shook and cracked. Red flames burst forth from