PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 28:11-15
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“This story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.” (Matthew 28:15)
The religious leaders do NOT want to believe that Jesus is alive.
They are as devoted to their faith that Jesus is not the Messiah.
Just as His disciples were devoted to their confidence that He is!
Some people accuse Christians of blindly following faith, not reason.
But faith lies at the root of all thinking, for the atheist and the theist.
When we believe something, we see all the facts through the lens of that belief.
Those who do not want to believe in the resurrected Jesus will not see any evidence for it.
Not because it’s not there but because they don’t want to.
No, I am not saying that there is clear evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.
I am saying it also takes faith (in different things) to deny it, as to affirm it.
Yes, one reason I believe it is because I want to believe it.
And one reason you do not believe it is because you do not want to.
People believe what they want to believe!
I admit my faith in believing in Jesus… do you admit your faith in denying Him?
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, thank You for giving me evidence that You are alive. Please show Yourself (as You did to Paul) to those who do not want to believe!
deception and blindness. The guards must of shared about the frightening presence of angels – they would not have made up the story – they were shocked and frightened. The guards must have shared about the earthquakes – what blind unbelief on the part of the chief priests! They would be confronted with even more unusual events – what about dead people raised again. How blind and how stubborn. Even today, without eyes of faith/belief, many refuse to consider the ‘strange message’ of the cross – of Jesus paying the sentence for mankind’s sin – of a God having a Son and a Holy Spirit. It takes eyes of faith. I believe!
And the religious leaders continued in their wrong ways to deceive the people and have it their way – men of position of importance desiring the praise of men. And the lie continues. They disciples saw Him and they continued in their faith while the religious leaders saw Him and continued in their faith of unbelief. They continued to feed and live the lie.
I must continue to live for my risen Saviour and walk in His SonShine as He continues to show me the way to live for Jesus.
Living for Jesus a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
O Jesus, Lord and Savior,
I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy [redemption],*
Didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master,
My heart shall be Thy throne,
My life I give, henceforth to live,
O Christ, for Thee alone.