Two men had a “brilliant” plan for making a quick $600,000. Steal a dead body and hold it for ransom. Nobody gets hurt – because he’s already dead! Give us the cash and you get the corpse. That’s what the police reported to Oona Chaplin on this day in 1978.
Oona’s husband, Charlie, was well known. “A comic actor who was perhaps most famous for his alter ego, the Little Tramp, Chaplin was also a respected filmmaker whose career spanned Hollywood’s silent film era and the momentous transition to “talkies” in the late 1920s. Chaplin died on Christmas Day in 1977, at the age of 88.”1 He was buried in a Swiss cemetery near their home.
On March 2, 1978, police arrived at Oona’s door with the news that grave robbers had exhumed her husband’s body. Soon, a ransom notice arrived demanding $600,000. Oona thought this was absolutely ridiculous and knew that her husband would say the same. When this didn’t work, the grave robbers made threats against her life and her children’s lives.
“In May of that year, expecting another call from the crooks, police had Oona’s phone tapped and every one of the area’s 200 phone booths monitored by detectives. The efforts paid out, and two mechanics and political refugees from Eastern Europe, Roman Wardas and Gantscho Ganev, were finally nabbed.
After the two led the authorities to the cornfield where they had temporarily re-buried Chaplin, they were prosecuted for grave robbing and attempted extortion. Wardas, the reported “mastermind,” was sentenced to four years, while Ganev got an 18-month suspended sentence.”2
Charlie’s body was returned to its grave only this time, a concrete topper was added to the plot, insuring no more grave robbers would attempt such a thing.
As I read this, I couldn’t help but think that every Sunday, we celebrate what was deemed a grave robbery by the Roman government. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Consider what transpired shortly after Jesus’ death.
“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, (63) Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. (64) Command therefore
that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. (65) Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.” (Matthew 27:62-65)
Anticipating a grave robbery, the tomb of Jesus was sealed with a stone and a watch of soldiers dispatched to guard it. On Resurrection Sunday, Matthew 28:2-4 records, “And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. (3) His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: (4) And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.”
When the men awakened, Jesus was gone. This is going to cost them their lives because they had failed in their duties. How will they explain it?
“Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. (12) And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, (13) Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. (14) And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. (15) So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” (Matthew 28:11-15) Those grave robbing disciples did it! What a ridiculous lie they concocted!
Today, we celebrate our RISEN Savior, not a ROBBED Savior. Make every Sunday a day of remembrance of this wonderful event. “He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.” (Matthew 28:6)
1https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/grave-robbers-steal-charlie-chaplins-body
2https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/grave-robbers-once-held-charlie-chaplins-body-ransom-180954443/
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