Matthew 28:11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.
The guards were afraid that they would get in trouble. The chief priests were afraid that people would actually believe that Jesus, whom they had tried to discredit for His entire ministry, had risen from the dead just as He said. Once again, money is involved in the plot. But God…
Matthew 28:12-13 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’
In the tale of this coverup, Hebrews 11:1 comes to mind–”Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” Part of faith is belief. Part of belief is the fact that Jesus’s death and resurrection isn’t an accepted fact to all. As a Christian, as a believer of Christ, I choose to believe that He is who He says He is, that He does what He says He does, that He keeps His promises. That’s faith.
Matthew 28:14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
Lord, Faith, hope, and love are central tenets of our faith, but love–You–are at the core. Thank you for my faith, which is so strong, for hope, which is so powerful, but most of all, thank You for Your great love, which gave all so that I can have eternity with You. Thank You. Amen.
Matthew 28:15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
Have a blessed day.