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. Matthew 28:11-15
 |
| The stone was rolled away. Where is Jesus? He is Risen. He is Risen indeed. |
While they were sleeping? What guard gets
to sleep when they are on duty? That would be cause for execution. The guards
may have sensed that they were going to die either way…so they let the Jewish
elders bribe them. What a rumor to start—to perpetrate a lie. Those Jewish
leaders must have been afraid of the truth—that Jesus was the Son of God—their Messiah.
They just couldn’t believe it. They couldn’t believe that the resurrection was
true—so they bribed the guards to lie. Those guards harbored that lie. They concealed
it from the public and from the governor. Did they tell their families and
friends the truth? It didn’t matter. Jesus’ disciples and followers learned the
truth…and saw Jesus for themselves. Jesus had indeed risen from the dead. Go
and tell others. He is risen…He is risen indeed.
That is still the same message we need to
share today. Jesus is not dead. He is risen from the dead. He is actually in
heaven creating a new home for all who believe in Him for they will have a new
eternal life with Him.
Since you have been raised to new life with
Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the
place of honor at God's right hand. Colossians 3:1
Do you believe that Jesus was raised from
the dead? Then seek Him first in your life, set
your sights on the realities of heaven and be sure to live so that others
know you love Jesus…so they will want to live for Him, too.
Time may be shorter than you think for we don’t
know the hour or the day when Jesus Christ will return to earth and call us to
our heavenly home for eternity. Be ready. Don’t harbor any lies…like those
guards did…but seek the truth.
Jesus said…"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the
Father except through me." John 14:6
Prayer
~ Thank You Jesus…for being the Lamb of God…for taking away the sins of the
world…for being the way, the truth, and the life. I long for and look forward
to an eternity in Heaven with You, with our Heavenly Father, and with the Holy Spirit.
Daily
Bible Reading: Judges 8-9
©
2018 Text and photos by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All
scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted
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