In the third grade at Greystone Christian School in Mobile, I was a guard at the graveyard in the Easter program. There were at least a pair of guards outside the tomb of our Lord Jesus Christ at the time of the resurrection. We learn three things from Matthew's account of this evidential evangelical event.

First, there is an assignment for the guards. Matthew 27:62-66 reads, "On the next day, which fallowed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, 'Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, "After three days I will rise." Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, "He has risen from the dead." So the last deception will be worse than the first.' Pilate said to them, 'You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard." They showed up according to their orders.

Second, there is an affrightment of the guards. This is an old English word. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, "Affrightment is a noun that means fear, fright or terror." Matthew 28:2-4 reads, "And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightening, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men." They were shaken up to say the least.

Third, there is an arrangement with the guards. Matthew 28:11-15 reads, "Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, 'Tell them, "His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept." And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will appease him and make you secure.' So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day." This allurement of aggrandizement, known as a bribe, was the evil means to get them to shut up about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. May we speak up in the words of Robert Lowry:

Up from the grave He arose,

Paul affirms "Christ died for our sins... was buried, and rose again the third day" (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). That's good news to believe and to receive.

Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey of Robertsdale, is the author of "Don't Miss the Revival!" Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah.