(Matthew 28:11-15)
11 Now while they were on their way, some of the men from the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him while we were asleep.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews and is to this day.TODAY'S TAKEAWAY:
Notice that only some of the men from the guard went to speak to the Jewish spiritual leaders. Some of them could have become believers, and many of them would have valued their integrity as a Roman soldier and simply wanted to protect their image and jobs. They had been assigned to make sure that Jesus' body stayed in that tomb, but because of circumstances beyond their control, they failed at their task. Can you imagine? You are a well-trained military personnel, part of the world's greatest military force, known for their discipline and prowess, and you are to tell the world that you fell asleep on the job!!!??? It must have been a good sum of money!
Now, what about the Jewish people hearing this false report coming from the Roman soldiers... who were still considered enemies and invaders to their country. This just shows us how much they didn't want to believe in Jesus and the Truth. And even today, so many people prefer to believe in lies, opposed to seeking and finding the Truth, the Way and the Life, which is only found in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Lies, corruption and manipulation of the truth is nothing new in politics or in life. That is why it is good to have checks and balances and methods of accountability everywhere, even in our churches, because no one is perfect. And therefore, as we hear news and reports and information about life and spirituality, we should be diligent in seeking out God's truth. A good church and pastor will encourage the congregation to - not just take their word for it - but read and study the Bible for ourselves to hold them accountable!
In our personal relationships with the Lord, we can pray and ask Him for His wisdom and guidance in all things, even in understanding His word clearly; so that we can consider what we know to be true, and measure everything else according to the unwavering accountability and standards that are only found in the Lord God and His word! As we seek out Truth, we will find it, and we will know the Way, and the Lord will be there to help us along the way, always!
