MT 28:2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay… 11While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13telling them, “You are to say, `His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15So 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.
When news spread among the Roman guards that Jesus rose from the dead, the Jewish priests and elders were greatly alarmed. The spirit of truth was now breaking forth. The religious leaders knew that they had put to death an innocent man.
In Matthew’s account of the events after the death of Jesus, we read that the Pharisees had actually put precautionary measures in place after hearing earlier rumors that he will rise from the dead . In Matthew 27, we read: “ 62The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63“Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, `After three days I will rise again.’ 64So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” MT 27:65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
But you see, God’s mighty favor was being poured upon Jesus, and they could not stop it. Stricken by sheer panic, they devised a plan to cover-up the truth. They resorted to bribery. They instructed the Roman guards to lie and say that the body of Jesus did not resurrect. Immediately, the guards spread lies that the disciples stole the body of the Lord from the tomb while they were sleeping.
Just like all lies, the conspiracy between the Romans guards and the religious leaders eventually collapsed. After three days, the tomb of Jesus was empty. He had risen from the dead just as he predicted. No matter how the conspirators tried to make their lie airtight, it simply cracked under the pressure of truth. Jesus indeed rose from the dead.
In the next 40 days, he would be seen and heard by many. The Bible documents 10 post- resurrection appearances of Jesus. He appeared to Mary Magdalene; to two travelers on the road to Emmaus; to Peter in Jerusalem; to 10 disciples in the Upper Room; to seven disciples fishing on the Sea of Galilee; to 11 disciples on the mountain in Galilee; to more than 500 men later; to his brother James; and finally, to a number of his disciples in Mount Olives just before he ascended to heaven before their very eyes.
Matthew 27: 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver/liar said, `After three days I will rise again.’ A liar is not just one who makes untruthful statements. The more complete definition is that a liar is one who makes untruthful statements with an intention to deceive.
Throughout the ministry of Jesus, he was always questioned about his intentions. Some thought that his intention was to build a kingdom for himself. Some thought that his intention was to make trouble for the religious authorities. Some even said that his intention was to usher in a new kind of religious movement by the use demonic powers.
But you see, none of these was ever true. Jesus’ true intention was to seek and save the lost. His intention was to fulfill God’s salvation-plan. His intention was to open the life-gate that all may go in. In short, the intentions of Jesus were pure, holy and trustworthy.
We are living in world that does not understand trustworthiness. For our generation, phrases like “hidden-motives”, “double-agent” and “secret-agenda” are heard all the time. In politics, business circles, religious communities and even in family relationships, deception and betrayal are ordinary occurrences.
The effects are quite devastating, and we do not even realize it. As a result, people do not know how to trust. We are suspicious and skeptical. We are defensive and protective of ourselves. We feel vulnerable, insecure and unsafe, even in matters concerning our faith and our relationship with God.
Brothers and sisters, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is God’s powerful way of restoring the spirit of faith and trust in our hearts. When Jesus rose from the dead, just as he said he would, the world saw, for the very first time, a kind of trustworthiness that it had never seen before. It was a kind of trustworthiness that opened our eyes to the Lord’s sovereign rule over life and death. It was a kind of trustworthiness that restored our confidence in the wisdom and purposes of God. It was a kind of trustworthiness that silenced our every insecurity and fear. It was a trustworthiness that made the world realize that in Christ, God is for us and not against us.
When our lives are shaken and when we are overwhelmed by the trials of life, it is very difficult to turn to the trustworthiness of the Lord.
As a pastor, I have journeyed with so many people in their struggles with life. When we are visited by sickness, when our financial resources are depleting, when our families go through periods of shaking, we cannot help but feel unsafe, vulnerable, and even skeptical.
But you see, this is the very message of the Lord’s resurrection. When these seasons of life come, our spirits must be quick to turn to the trustworthiness of Jesus. He is our risen Christ. Those who put their faith in him with also be raised up when they fall.
In the account of Matthew, we read that a violent earthquake shook the earth. An angel of the Lord came down from the heavens and rolled the stone away. When the women saw the angel, they were simply told, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said..”.
After his death, the corpse of Jesus was placed in a solid rock tomb owned by a rich man, Joseph of Arimathea. By means of levers, an extremely large stone weighing approximately two tons was rolled against the entrance of the tomb. Elite Roman guards were stationed to guard the tomb upon the strict instructions of Pilate.
But you see, all these elaborate military precautions were not enough to hinder God’s hand. It was the day of vindication. God had set the stage for his victory to be displayed in Jesus Christ. He is Lord over life. He is Lord over death. The resurrection is too powerful to be explained humanly.
How can a lifeless corpse suddenly just come back to life after three days in a closed tomb? How can a tortured body suddenly just rise up in full glory for all the people to see?
The world will always trivialize the Christ we are worshipping, serving and living for. The world will always underestimate the kingdom Jesus has built. It will fabricate lies, manipulate, coerce, maneuver and resort to all sorts of cheap gimmicks to discredit Jesus and the very One who had sent him.
But there is really nothing more to say or prove. Everything that Jesus ever taught or claimed about himself is true. He is the real deal! Jesus is Lord! He is alive! Amen!
