Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me." While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. They assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.' And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy (him) and keep you out of trouble." The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present (day). (Mt 28:8-15)
There are two stories of the guards. The first story is the real story which they went and told the officials. Because the gospel says that they told all that had happened. All that had happened were: the stone was rolled; the tomb was empty; the disciples had come; and they had witnessed the empty tomb. Probably this is what the guards would have told the chief priests.
A large sum of money changed the story. Now the story is that the disciples came (which is true) and the body is no more in the tomb (which is also true). These two facts are interwoven with the thread of stealing and the story is complete. Money always changes stories.
But the story cannot go on like that for ever. The immediate question is: where did they re-bury the dead body? Since the Jews (and the disciples were jews) believed in the resurrection on the last day; they had to bury it somewhere (even in a secret place) till the last day for the resurrection. If they had done it then they would have gone to the tomb in secret to venerate or to pray. They did not seem to have done anything about it. Rather, they preached the resurrection because the body was not there. The disciples’ belief in the resurrection comes from the empty tomb and the vision of the risen Lord.
