The answer is: The disciples stole him

Matt 28:11-5

In the gripping account of Jesus' resurrection detailed in Matthew 28, the tale of the soldiers tasked with guarding the tomb is quite intriguing. After that earth-shattering event, which forever altered the course of history, these soldiers were instructed to spread an outlandish story: that the body of Jesus was stolen by his disciples while they slept. To frame the narrative, they were probably taken aback, joked about how they'd be able to defend themselves if their superiors demanded answers regarding their dereliction of duty.

Imagine the irony: these soldiers, well-trained and loyal, bolstered by the downloading fear from their evening of awe and tremor after the earthquake that rolled away the tomb. The fact that they were told to circulate the idea of a heist rather poignantly shows the lengths to which powerful institutions will go to maintain authority or control—even over a miraculous event like the resurrection.

This “stolen body” story has echoes throughout biblical history. Just as Herod plotted to secure his throne by orchestrating the slaughter of innocents when Jesus was born, here, guards reportedly woven a false narrative to corrupt His message and sway the populace. Moreover, keep in mind how later mentions of resurrection appearances both solidify and transform the narrative realism—for believers, that vivacious reality undermines the fear embodied in the soldiers’ claims. In a radiant spin, what remains is the triumph of love and hope over fear and control!