As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today. – Matt 28:11-15
They used deception to arrest him. Then they used an illegal court to try him. They used false charges to accuse him. And then they used bribery to discredit him.
While this may sound like something we’ve recently read in our morning news headlines, it’s actually something far more significant. And quite frankly, it’s something far more divisive than politics. Despite the overwhelming evidence suggesting otherwise, many people in the world today deny that Jesus ever existed, let alone arose from the tomb. Instead of doing their own research, they’ve bought into the lie. And this is precisely what the religious authorities who put Jesus to death were hoping would happen.
Except it really hasn’t worked out like they’d hoped. Isn’t it interesting that no matter how many lies are buried on top, the truth always finds its way to the surface? Like the smallest candle in the deepest of caves, the light always has a way of overcoming its darkness.
And the religious leaders really weren’t very good liars, were they. “Tell everyone that Jesus’ disciples came and took his body while you were sleeping!” Oh, this is fantastic! Everyone will believe that! But just one question: if they were sleeping, how did they know that the disciples came?
I mean, if you’re going to lie, at least make it somewhat plausible.
But that’s just it, isn’t it. There’s no such thing as a natural explanation for a supernatural event. These religious leaders couldn’t explain the empty tomb anymore than they could explain how Lazarus came back to life after being dead for four days. But if they could lie and have Jesus crucified, they could also lie about his resurrection and squash Christianity for good.
Or so they thought.
That happened 2000 years ago, and yet here we are still talking about, teaching others about it, and believing it. And today, we still celebrate it!
Happy Resurrection Day!
He is Risen!
Former Blackout Artist 