Truth 5: His many co-conspirators …
Truth #05: JESUS HAD MANY PROBABLE CO-CONSPIRATORS … Feel free to draw your own conclusions in this regard after considering the following canonical & non-canonical facts:
*Fact: Joseph of Arimathea (see Matthew 27:57, Mark 15:43, Luke 23:51 & John 19:38) was a disciple of Jesus (Matthew 27:57b, John 19:38a) and was good friends with Pontius Pilate (Gospel of Peter 2:2-5a).
*Fact: Pilate, who “became friends” with Herod during this episode (Luke 23:12 – note as well that Herod’s uncle had already been exiled for plotting against Rome at this time), was also required by both Roman and Jewish laws to release Jesus’ body to his nearest relative, which happened to be Joseph of Arimathea (Matthew 27:58). By helping Jesus & Judas & Joseph, Pilate truly did “wash his hands” of Jesus’ unjust conviction (Matthew 27:24). Note as well that Pilate also waited to place a guard on the tomb until the next morning (Matthew 27:62-66), giving Jesus and his accomplices more than enough time to vacate the tomb (more on that later). Joseph was also given the body directly, and he sealed the tomb himself, without any presence of either Roman or Jewish authorities …
*Fact: Judas was ordered by Jesus to instigate his penultimate arrest (Matthew 26:50, Mark 14:10, 14:45, Luke 22:4-6, 22:48, John 13:18a, 13:26-27 & 18:15-16). Note that the thirty pieces of silver Judas supposedly received (Matthew 26:15) is either an allusion to the price of redemption from a religious obligation (Leviticus 27:1-8) or a reference to Zechariah — indicting Temple authorities by depositing tainted monies into the treasury (Zechariah 11:12-13 – see also Matthew 27:9-10). Note as well that Jesus replies “You have said so” to Judas’ self-incrimination, a response which meant “not you” (juxtapose Matthew 27:11/Mark 15:2/Luke 23:3 + Matthew 4:8-10 + John 6:15/John 18:36) …
*Fact: Mary Magdalene & several other women are also seen witnessing the crucifixion &/or bringing large quantities of healing herbs to the tomb-site after the crucifixion (see Matthew 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41, 15:47-16:1, Luke 8:2, 23:49, 23:55-56, 24:1-2, John 19:25, 19:39), though it admittedly remains unclear which if any of them were actually aware of Jesus’ plans.
*Fact: Finally, the Essenes could very well have played a role in Jesus’ survival. The ancient historian Hippolytus of Rome wrote about this particular sect of Judaism – noting that many of their beliefs harmonized with the teachings of Jesus (“And they despise wealth, and do not turn away from sharing their goods with those that are destitute.”) – in essence, that Jesus could very well have been an Essene himself. It is indeed intriguing that Hippolytus notes that Essenic overseers “appear always in white clothing” – eerily similar to the “young man dressed in a white robe” found sitting in Jesus’ empty tomb in Mark 16:5.
;