The Last Deception

The chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So, give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So, they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (Matthew 27:62–66, NIV 1984).

My Musings – The chief priests and the Pharisees remembered the “sign of Jonah.” They did not believe it, but feared the disciples might be so bold as to stage a resurrection. The same disciples who at His arrest “deserted him and fled.” (Matthew 26:56–57, NIV 1984). A group of men led by Simon Peter who “before the rooster crow[ed]…disown[ed] [Jesus] three times.” (Matthew 26:75, NIV 1984). Yeah, that’s likely. Not. “Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.” (Zechariah 13:7, NIV 1984).

The guards, who witnessed the angel roll away the stone “were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. Some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.” (Matthew 28:4, 11, NIV 1984). No “band of brothers” secretly stealing the body during the night. Rather a violent earthquake and an angel appearing as bright as lightning rolling back the stone proclaiming “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” (Matthew 28:5–6, NIV 1984).

At this point, the logical thing for the chief priests and the Pharisees to do was confess “now we believe.” But it didn’t happen. “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. If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’ 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.” (Matthew 28:12–15, NIV 1984). In truth, this was the “last deception.”

My Advice – Over the next forty days, this was followed by many proofs that Jesus had indeed risen from the grave, victorious over death. After speaking to the women at the tomb, “He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.” (1 Corinthians 15:5–7, NIV 1984).

Pretty compelling evidence. Over five hundred eyewitnesses. The logical thing for us to do is confess “now we believe.”