Um, What Happened?

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

11-15 Meanwhile, the guards had scattered, but a few of them went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened. They called a meeting of the religious leaders and came up with a plan: They took a large sum of money and gave it to the soldiers, bribing them to say, “His disciples came in the night and stole the body while we were sleeping.” They assured them, “If the governor hears about your sleeping on duty, we will make sure you don’t get blamed.” The soldiers took the bribe and did as they were told. That story, cooked up in the Jewish High Council, is still going around.

-Matthew 28:11-15 The Message

The Report of the Guard

Verse 11: While they were going, behold, some of the guards went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.

Verse 12: And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers

Verse 13: and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’

Verse 14: And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”

Verse 15: So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.

Verses 11-15 studies: Jesus’ resurrection was already causing tension in Jerusalem. The group of women that Jesus told to let the disciples know the Good News that Jesus was alive were going to the streets looking for the disciples. Meanwhile, the religious leaders were plotting how to cover up the resurrection.

To this day, there is still a stir about Jesus’ resurrection. There are two choices; believe it or deny it. Denying it will close you out to opening your mind and eventually try to explain away his resurrection.