This Sunday has been set aside as a “special day” to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ – though every Sunday [the first day of the week] should be celebrated in this manner. Sadly, though, since the day that Jesus Christ arose from the grave, there have been those who have tried to discredit the Biblical account, who have tried to change the event into a non-event, and those who have tried to rewrite the resurrection account altogether. The Scriptures record that when Jesus was placed in the tomb, the chief priests were worried that some “man orchestrated intervention” from Jesus’ followers would give credence and credibility to this man called “Jesus”, and to his purported “resurrection”.
For we read in Matthew 27:62-66,
“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.”
In Matthew 28 the resurrection account is recorded. In Matthew 28:4 we read that the Roman soldiers (who were guarding the sealed tomb where Jesus’ body was laid) fainted because, “And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:” [Matthew 28:2-3]. Then, in Matthew 28:11-15 we find the first “revisionists” were already at work. For the passage states,
“Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done. And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
You might now ask, “Why would these chief priests have concocted such a story?” Could it have been because they were fearful of losing their administrative positions? Could it have been that to embrace Jesus as the promised Messiah would cause them to lose their “religious control” – and cause them to change their wicked ways? After all, Jesus had previously rebuked the religious leaders as being “blind, stiff-necked, hypocrites” that sought man’s praise instead of God’s righteousness. [Read Matthew 23]. Or, could it have been that in Jesus’ resurrection He answered the high priest’s question, “I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.” [Matthew 26:63-64]. But it seems that the high priest would rather create fiction rather than embrace the truth.
For some 2000 years, man has put forth many fictitious notions about “what really happened” that day called “resurrection day“. Now, you and I are left with making a decision. Have you trusted in man’s account – that either Jesus wasn’t really dead on the cross, that he revived in the tomb, and that he was hid away; or that his disciples stole his body while armed Roman soldiers guarded the sealed tomb? Or, do you trust what the angel of the Lord stated as recorded in Matthew 28:6,
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
I pray that you have placed your faith and trust in the risen Savior Jesus Christ for salvation – and that you have not rejected Jesus Christ due to believing man’s lies.
