God's Truth Prevails!

Remember how the chief priests weren’t satisfied once Jesus was killed? A few weeks back we saw how they were still living in fear and asked Pilate to order the tomb to be made secure. They didn’t want the disciples to steal Jesus’ body and proclaim He rose from the grave (see Matthew 27:62-66). Well, now that Jesus really did rise from the dead, look what they do!

Matthew 28:11-15      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. ¹² When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, ¹³ telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ ¹⁴ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 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.

While the women went to tell the disciples about Jesus’ resurrection, some of the guards went and reported everything to the chief priests. I’m guessing “everything” included the violent earthquake, the radiant angel rolling the stone away, Jesus’ body gone but the grave clothes still present, and how they all fell frozen out of fear. Plus, maybe they even heard what the angel told the women about Jesus rising from the dead, just as He said.

How much more proof did the guards and chief priests need to believe Jesus is the Son of God? I think, at this point, they knew in their heads that it was true, but they still refused to believe it in their hearts. I think they didn’t want to believe it because it meant their job, status, livelihood, etc. 

The chief priests and elders kept trying to suppress and conceal God’s power and the truth about Jesus Christ. As much as they tried, they couldn’t. God is all-powerful and wasn’t hindered by all their schemes. God’s power and His truth will always prevail. Even though this “story” was circulated among the Jews, God had the real truth recorded, for both Jews and Gentiles, in the Bible. The entire New Testament has been translated into more than 1200 languages! His truth prevails!

What command or truth of God have you and I tried to ignore or suppress?

We might deceive ourselves and others, but it won’t work on God.

Maybe you are lovingly sharing the truths of God with others, but have been asked to stop. 

Maybe you haven’t been bribed to shut-up, but you know it could mean the difference in a promotion. 

No matter what you and I do, God’s truth will prevail. I’d rather be like the women than the guards, though. The women experienced joy in the midst of their fear (Matthew 28:8), by accepting and acting upon God’s truth.

Alice