The answer is: Set a guard to watch

Matt 27:65-66

In the Gospel of Matthew, we find the powerful account of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection, particularly highlighting the actions taken to secure His tomb after His death. Not only was a heavy stone rolled in front of the entrance to His burial place, but the authorities also decided to station a guard there. This detail offers a striking insight into the cultural and political dynamics of the time, highlighting the lengths to which the leaders would go to prevent any attempt to claim that Jesus had risen from the dead.

Interestingly, putting guards at tombs wasn't a common practice in that era, making this a significant detail. These guards were Roman soldiers, representatives of the oppressive regime facing the potential fallout from Messiah claims amongst the people. It reflects the fear and anxiety that Jesus' resurrection stirred among the ruling class — they wanted to eliminate the threat of his teachings taking root post-resurrection.

This mention of the guard relates back to earlier Biblical echoes, such as in Isaiah 53, which forewarned of the suffering of the anointed one. The ongoing drama of authority versus the spiritually empowered is crucial in understanding the conflicts in the Gospels, and it reverberated throughout early Christian communities. The fact that despite the earthly guards at the tomb, the story of resurrection defied human attempts to contain it speaks volumes about the transcendence of spiritual truth. Resurrection assured not only faith in Jesus’ revival but created ripples that firmly landed in the conscience of humanity, influencing forever its view on life, death, and what follows.