Matthew 28:11-15

Matthew 28:11-15

And while they went out, behold!  After some of the guard went into the city they proclaimed all the things that became to the chief priests.  And after being gathered together with the counsel of the elders and after taking a considerable amount of silver they gave it to the guards while saying, “Say that after coming in the night His disciples stole Him while we were sleeping.  And if this should be heard by the governor, we will persuade him and you all will be made free from concern.”  And the ones who took the silver did as they were taught.  And this word spread across the Jews even until today.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

The guards go and report what happened.  It is likely that the guards went with fear and trepidation because they had been unable to do their job.  It is likely that they expected to be chastised.  It is likely that they would lose their jobs and suffer both hardship and communal rejection.  But they have a job to do and they do it.  These soldiers are caught between God and their employers.  On a worldly level, I give them credit for doing their job even when things go wrong and their employers will be unhappy.

How do you respond when things go poorly and you have to report it to another?  Do you readily face the music in order to put it behind you or do you try and ignore it for as long as you can?

Second Thought:

Today we see the religious leaders’ reaction to the resurrection.  Notice that we are not told that they denied what happened.  They don’t accuse the guards of any wrongdoing.  Instead, they cover it up!  They cannot explain it and they do not want to be seen in the community as being wrong.  They buy off the testimony of the guards and intentionally believe a lie in order to keep up the public opinion of themselves.  They have a perfect opportunity to repent after seeing God the Father raise His Son from the dead.  But rather than change, these religious leaders cover it up so they can believe the lie instead.

How do you respond when God proves what you believe to be a lie?  How easily do you change who you are when what you are is different than God’s truth?

Third Thought:

The report spreads.  Unfortunately, this is often true with lies.  Truth is often stranger than fiction and as a result the world typically believes the fiction instead of the truth.  We can see it all over the world.  As I said in the second point for today, people have a tendency to believe whatever allows them to stay where they are rather than believe that which will require them to change.  So the report spreads.  Even before He can ascend into heaven, Jesus and God’s work in Him is being discredited by the influence of the world.  This is why faith is necessary and important.  Without faith, we believe what we want.  Only with faith can we believe the truth.

Do you believe?  Do you have faith?  What do you believe?

Passage for Tomorrow: Matthew 28:16-20