They say nothing in life is free, I guess in one sense that’s true. They say money isn’t everything, on one hand that’s also true. They say character matters, that’s debatable especially if yours can be bought. For the life of me I cannot understand why folks, especially politicians and even some good, godly people, can allow themselves to fall for the oldest trick of Satan: “ No one will ever know, I’ve got your back.” They say everyone has a price, but that all depends on who everyone is, and what’s being offered. Most of our politicians today are bought and paid for by special interest. And unfortunately so are some preachers in high places. If your position is higher than your calling, you have been bought -but not by the blood of Jesus.
In Matthew’s gospel something happened that sent shockwaves throughout Galilee, Jerusalem and beyond. The price of deception wasn’t going to be enough to hide the truth about what had taken place on the third day. No amount of coverup would keep this under wraps. You may be able to fool some of the people most of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time. I think that’s the way it goes🤔 regardless, you get it.
“Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
Matthew 28:1-15 NKJV
How about them apples? If you can’t explain it, just lie about it. Or at least pay someone to do your dirty work for you. The chief priest and elders who thought they’d gotten rid of Jesus for good had a dilemma on their hands. Jesus had walked out of a guarded tomb after being dead for three days! Here’s the deal-They had gone to great lengths to have the seal of Pilate placed on the stone, they had twenty four hour military guards on site, but what they tried to prevent from happening became the lie they set out to spread through a bribe. The disciples stole the body. Some folks will believe anything and others will do anything for money. But this is the elephant in the room, money can’t let the truth go away. Especially if the evidence shows up to debunk your claim. Evidence is everything in a case.
We need to understand this fact from what we just read. The stone wasn’t rolled away so that Jesus could get out. He was already out. The stone was rolled away to let people in, so they could see the proof of what He had said prior to His death. If He could walk through a closed door, He certainly didn’t need someone to let Him out. I loved what Matthew wrote. ‘The angel rolled the stone away and sat upon it. Lol that’s how you declare victory! The angel’s presence paralyzed the guards, yet comforted the women. The guards recounted everything they had witnessed, yet they were willing to be paid to deceive the people. Money cannot change what they have witnessed. Neither will it remove the evidence. Let me show you how people who live their lives seeking power live a life of deception.
Verse thirteen:“saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’”
Matthew 28:13 NKJV
Have you seen the Halloween commercial where the kids are running away from a killer but instead of running to the car to get away they hide among the very weapons the murderer uses and in plain sight? 🤦♀️ it’s comical but typical of people who makes poor choices when faced with something they can’t explain or control. They don’t think. I don’t know how they planned on their explanation sticking because here’s the problem with that scenario: If it’s true that the disciples stole the body, how did they resurrect Him? How did they overpower the guards, were they sleeping that soundly? If an earthquake was what it sounded like when the angels rolled the stone away, what supernatural strength would the eleven disciples have needed to perform such a feat without disturbing the soldiers? Surely the soldiers would have awakened. Don’t you think? Hate and jealousy are blind. It obscures reality and the ability to think clearly.
There are those who will stop at nothing, no matter the cost, to undermine the Good News about Jesus. They will spread confusion and lies to try and deceive gullible people into believing a lie. False teachers of religious ideology are rising up all over the world today. They’re doing their best to deceive and lead people astray. I have no doubt that people will and maybe are being paid to spread a false narrative about those of us who believe that there is only one way to heaven. His Name is Jesus Christ the Son of the only true, and living God. The apostles, Paul, Peter and John write extensively about deceivers cropping up even in our churches. Just open your spiritual ears and eyes to what is being peddled as truth today. If you’re undiscerning you’ll buy into the lies.
We just had a disturbing thing happen in my country of birth. A man succeeded in brainwashing people into believing that he was indeed God, not even a god but God. Able to kill and make alive. I’m still reeling that people are so gullible. But that’s possible when we refuse to study and become acquainted with the Word of God for ourselves. That’s what happens when we don’t have fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ and instead have taken what belongs to God and given it to man. Any human that demands you bow to him/her is full of the devil. God never sets a man in His place to be worshipped. Not even angelic messengers. Revelation 19:10
The only angel seeking worship is Satan. He gets it through his servants parading as man’s answer to man. This satanic preacher in Jamaica and around the world, will only succeed when leaders are able to deceive through stealth and bribery. What are they offering for your loyalty? What promises of protection have they told you that they can provide? When man becomes your source they have ultimate control over every aspect of your life. Our loyalty is to God alone. He will never send anyone to represent Him who asks for your allegiance and worship. Worship God and His Son Jesus Christ! They are your source. Bribery will never conceal the truth. The Truth will always prevail.
The leaders in Israel couldn’t stop the resurrection from getting out. Jesus was showing up everywhere lol. What do you do when evidence debunks bribery? You persecute the believers and reward the deceived. Verse fifteen says; “and this saying,“ what saying? That the disciples stole Jesus’ body, “is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.” Notice it doesn’t say in those days , but until this day. The bribe is still working today, but unfortunately it’s not only working on the Jews but on all those refusing to accept the finished work of Jesus. Deception has a long reaching effect on uninformed people. But the evidence stretches farther because those who have seen the empty tomb still speak to the fact that He’s risen. The gospel is being spread worldwide, you can’t argue with a changed life. You can’t deny miracles. You can’t bribe away an empty tomb.
He’s alive in me! Hallelujah! You can’t offer me enough money to change my story. I know who I was before the stone was rolled away. I know who I was before He met me on my Emmaus road. I know what He’s done and is doing for me! Can you say the same today? I pray so. Because the deceiver isn’t coming, he’s here. Do you have enough evidence to debunk the lie? Do you have enough integrity to refuse the bribe? The soldiers were paid a large sum of money to lie about what they saw. They took the bait of Satan. But Jesus is very much alive, He’s gone before you into glory, He’s seated at the right hand of eternal Power. Hallelujah! He ever lives to make intercession for us. Glory to God! Yes my brother my sister, the deceiver has been paid, the lies are being spread, but the evidence is irrefutably real. What will you believe?
Go deeper: Deuteronomy 18:20-22; Ezekiel 13:1-9; Jeremiah 14:14; 23:16; Matthew 24:24; 2 Timothy 4:3-4; Acts 20:30;1 John 4:1-6; Matthew 7:15-20; 2 Peter 2
Never measure your faith by your fears, but instead insist that your fears submit to your faith.
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
November 10, 2021