PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 27:62-66
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“His disciples may steal the body and say he has been raised from the dead.” (Matthew 27:64)
How do you fake someone coming back to life, especially when their death was public.
And even if they did make it all up, would it be a lie they’d be willing to die for?
I think of Chuck Colson’s testimony (worked with Nixon during Watergate, sent to jail).
He knew from experience how fast fellow ‘liars’ buckle under pressure to save themselves.
All of the disciples faced persecution, violence and death for their claims.
Pressure may lead someone to recant on the truth, but to be willing to die for a lie?????
The disciples met the risen Jesus, and it changed their lives!!!!
‘You ask me how I know he lives… He lives within my heart!’
I have also met and experienced the risen Jesus, and He has changed my life.
People may laugh, and accuse me of perpetuating an illusion, or an hoax.
But maybe, as in “The Matrix”, they are living in the illusion, the hoax.
Believing the resurrection is like taking the ‘red pill’, it will open your eyes.
It will not make life easier, and many will turn against you for it.
But the hope of Jesus alive is better than the hopelessness of Jesus dead.
PRAYER
Lord, continue to make Your living presence real to me, especially in times when the illusion of despair tries to suck the life out of my hope.
Lord thank you for showing us the truth despite all those that called You the deceiver. Help us have the resilience in the face of the truth that You have shown us, and that your victory on the cross was a better victory than your first!
It seems that the leaders were listening – now they chalk it up to a big ploy – that Jesus’ followers are going to make it look like Jesus rose from the dead 0 the 2nd deception (the first that he claimed to be the Messiah). They are worried that this could happen so they ask Pilate to post guards. I believe they did this request on the Sabbath day – so they must really be worried! This offers another affirmation of Jesus’ teaching – that even those who denied him and the betrayer – give witness that Jesus is not simply a fraud – but the real deal – the real Messiah. His resurrection can’t be blocked by Pilate’s best guards! Jesus you’ve come and are real to me – help me to live for you!
What were they thinking? They had Him killed and now they thought that they had power over death? They could keep Him in the grave? The disciples ran away and now they feared that they would steal their Lord? There was and is no tomb that could keep my Lord from rising. His death is new life. He was victorious over the grave and now I can live, truly live in that power. I serve a riden Saviour who is Christ the Lord.
I serve a risen Savior
He’s in the world today.
I know that He is living,
Whatever men may say.
I see His hand of mercy;
I hear His voice of cheer;
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.