Tell me what you see; I’ll know more about who you are… an empty tomb? an ink blot?
It’s more widely panned than practiced, but everyone knows the essence of the test. Created 98 years ago by Hermann Rorschach, the 10 cards – each with inkblots – are the basis for subjective interpretation and, based on those individualized conclusions, the means by which an individual’s psychosis could be assessed. The same picture can mean different things to different people…
The Report was released during a holiday weekend; if you’re out to control public reaction, that’s a good strategy for avoiding widespread awareness and reaction. If controversy is likely, it’s best to drop the news bomb when people are more likely to be traveling and involved in diversions…
Tensions had been building for months; as long as he was drawing crowds in the heartland – away from the capital, and out of direct conflict with the leadership – he was just a nuisance to be tolerated. But there were new issues to consider: his following among the rank-and-file was colliding with the professional bureaucrats who represented what some would call the “Deep State,” out to protect their historic positions of power, gained through manipulating public opinion and making deals with the devil that served their self-interests and sold-out their constituents.
The Report was heavily redacted; there were two versions in circulation within days of the event. Everyone accepted the veracity of the facts… but preconception clouded perspective.
One version was pretty cut-and-dried: a man with inconsequential credentials had been gathering crowds and performing amazing feats that were frequently recounted around the circles of power in the capital. He would come to town occasionally; whenever he did, the encounters with the official hierarchy were tense. They formed a task force to find a way to mitigate the problem; extreme measures were proposed and an opportunity to pull the trigger was before them.
He was in town for the Festival, and they had a mole in his inner circle. There was a narrow window: a nighttime raid to a nature preserve just outside the city facilitated his arrest. Moving with haste – and disregarding their own legal protocols – they plowed through a series of bogus hearings with people in power. Each passed the buck while washing their hands of the matter.
The final appeal was before a public gathering that feigned a jury formation; the decision regarding the captive was thrown to them. Whom would they choose for public pardon: the man with no criminal culpability but powerful enemies, or a three-strikes criminal with no possible defense? The crowd chose Barabbas. It’s Friday – leading into the Passover Sabbath – and time was running out…
Jesus was crucified. Joseph and Nicodemus bargained for his body. The women prepared the lifeless corpse for burial. The Jewish leaders convinced the Roman authorities to put a military guard at the tomb to ensure that his followers would not steal the body and feign a miracle. Problem solved…
Then, on Sunday…
Two different reports; they were recounted Rorschach tests. Here are the facts (minus the redactions); what does it all mean?
The official spin: the Roman guards fell asleep, allowing Jesus’ disciples to come and steal his body, leading to their audacious claim that he had come back to life.
The story that swept through the city: an earthquake displaced the stone in front of the tomb, revealing the missing body. Angels – appearing as men – were there to give the women the report of Jesus’ resurrection. Through that day – and beyond – he met with his followers to prove himself alive and to challenge them to great things on the basis of his victory – and, theirs! – over death.
The same events, viewed by opposing people: His enemies doubled-down in their antipathy; those inclined to God’s involvement – through His Son, the Lord Jesus – saw it as the Miracle that would launch a Movement. The Empty Tomb; what did it mean?
What does an empty tomb mean… to you?
Bob Shank
THE RESURRECTED KING