May 1, 2025

“Conflicting Reports”

I have been a pastor a lot of years now. I have preached Easter over and over. To do so, I have spent some time studying each year. In all that time, I have never delivered, or heard, a sermon on Matthew 28:11-15. That is the passage that tells of the tomb guards after the resurrection. Think of them for a moment. How must they have felt? They didn’t let a prisoner escape. They lost a dead man. Yikes. They must have known how strongly the religious leaders felt about this man. After all, the leaders worked to have him put to death. If they did that to him, what might they do to them for losing the body? The passage tells how some of them went to the chief priests and reported what had happened. Do you think they drew straws? Do you think that those who went to make the report felt comfortable? I doubt it.

What is more remarkable to me, is that given the report, which seems like it must have included mention of an angel, and the news from the angel that “He has risen,” and even could have included – maybe seeing Jesus with Mary – depending on the exact timing – check out the text – the chief priests didn’t want to check anything out. Instead, immediately, they were concocting a way to deny the whole thing. Their response in the face of compelling evidence that something extraordinary happened was to come up with a way to deny it. And they were willing to put themselves on the line to uphold the lie.

Why, when the fact of Jesus’ resurrection seems so obvious, would they do this? It was the same, that first Easter as it is today. There are those who will see the truth and embrace it, and rejoice, and measure their lives from that moment on. And there are those who will see, or consider, and reject, because it doesn’t suit them. For the followers of Jesus, Jesus’ resurrection was the most glorious news; everything was changed. For others, like the chief priests, it was not welcome news; everything was changed. For followers, they could now begin to understand more fully the blessings and promises that Jesus had taught. For those who were opposed to Jesus, their status and power and positions were threatened – indeed they were rendered moot. For all who will follow Jesus today, Jesus’ resurrection still means blessings. However, each person who would receive these blessings must understand that there is a cost. The one who would follow must do that – follow. If Jesus is Savior, he must be Lord. We don’t get to have and keep our way while we claim Jesus. That was the stumbling block for many in Jesus’ day. It still is today. Some were so invested in themselves, they couldn’t even acknowledge what happened, they had to come up with an alternate report. The same is true today; there are those who cannot acknowledge and say, “This isn’t for me.”  They need to try to deny and tear it down for everyone.

Good news. While there will always be those who will not accept, those who actively deny, their word does not change what we know. Not unless we allow it to. Say what they will, it does not change the truth. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

Grace, Mercy, and Peace,
Pastor Blaine