The Passover Sabbath was over, and now the women were going out to the tomb to do what is right for the dead. Matthew says that they went to see the tomb. That in it’s self would not be unusual. How often have we ourselves stood next to a loved ones headstone grieving and remembering. The other gospels also add that they had come to properly prepare Jesus body for burial. On Friday night there had not been time to properly wash, wrap, and pack spices around Jesus’ body.
Because of their love for Jesus and the kindness they had chosen to show him in death, these ladies get to be the first who see Jesus risen from the dead, and the first messengers of the resurrection.
Well . . . sort of.
There was another group of people who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection: the guards.
While the women met Jesus with joy and worship, the guard that had been posed was terrified. They returned to the chief priests with the news.
I find this section between v. 11 and 15 one of the most startling passages in the whole Bible. Even when these guards have testified to the truth of Jesus’ resurrection the chief priests bribe them to keep them silent. They concoct a lie to hide the truth. I don’t know who spoke first, but obviously someone did, because Matthew heard about it. However, the story that Jesus’ body was stolen while the guards slept was spread among the Jews, and some believed it.
As the people of God we have similar roles to play in the redemption story. We can be people who share the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, or we can be among those who know the truth but guard it to ourselves.
Truth be told, we’ve been known to play both roles depending upon the situation. Sometimes we’re there telling our children, praying with them, sharing the good news with someone in a conversation, and full of worship for the risen Lord. Other times we gauge the crowd we are with and calculate whether speaking up with bring us benefit or loss, acceptance or scorn, and we remain silent.
Like the disciples on the mountain with Jesus as he gives the great commission, we believe but doubt.
Do you think that Jesus knew that some doubted? Of course he did. So what did he do about it? He sent them. He commissioned them. He knew that the more they were proclaiming His message, the more they were living in His Word – making disciples, baptizing and teaching – remembering all the things he had taught and commanded them – the less they would doubt. They would see the fruit He would bear through them. His Holy Spirit would strengthen their faith, convincing and reminding them.
Jesus has commissioned us too. He knows our doubt. He knows that sometimes we’ve guarded the truth. Yet he chooses to entrust this message to us to make disciples. Amazing!
Father, thank you for calling us to believe and to be part of the process of making disciples. Sometimes I don’t understand it all, other times I’m just not brave, and yet other times I doubt. Yet you never give up on me! In Jesus you wash me of my sins and keep sending me out. Give me your Holy Spirit to make me bold to share the hope you have given me in Jesus. Amen.
Because of their love for Jesus and the kindness they had chosen to show him in death, these ladies get to be the first who see Jesus risen from the dead, and the first messengers of the resurrection.
Well . . . sort of.
There was another group of people who witnessed Jesus’ resurrection: the guards.
While the women met Jesus with joy and worship, the guard that had been posed was terrified. They returned to the chief priests with the news.
I find this section between v. 11 and 15 one of the most startling passages in the whole Bible. Even when these guards have testified to the truth of Jesus’ resurrection the chief priests bribe them to keep them silent. They concoct a lie to hide the truth. I don’t know who spoke first, but obviously someone did, because Matthew heard about it. However, the story that Jesus’ body was stolen while the guards slept was spread among the Jews, and some believed it.
As the people of God we have similar roles to play in the redemption story. We can be people who share the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, or we can be among those who know the truth but guard it to ourselves.
Truth be told, we’ve been known to play both roles depending upon the situation. Sometimes we’re there telling our children, praying with them, sharing the good news with someone in a conversation, and full of worship for the risen Lord. Other times we gauge the crowd we are with and calculate whether speaking up with bring us benefit or loss, acceptance or scorn, and we remain silent.
Like the disciples on the mountain with Jesus as he gives the great commission, we believe but doubt.
Do you think that Jesus knew that some doubted? Of course he did. So what did he do about it? He sent them. He commissioned them. He knew that the more they were proclaiming His message, the more they were living in His Word – making disciples, baptizing and teaching – remembering all the things he had taught and commanded them – the less they would doubt. They would see the fruit He would bear through them. His Holy Spirit would strengthen their faith, convincing and reminding them.
Jesus has commissioned us too. He knows our doubt. He knows that sometimes we’ve guarded the truth. Yet he chooses to entrust this message to us to make disciples. Amazing!
Father, thank you for calling us to believe and to be part of the process of making disciples. Sometimes I don’t understand it all, other times I’m just not brave, and yet other times I doubt. Yet you never give up on me! In Jesus you wash me of my sins and keep sending me out. Give me your Holy Spirit to make me bold to share the hope you have given me in Jesus. Amen.
Comments