POLITICAL MANEUVERING!

Saturday, April 20, 2019

POLITICAL MANEUVERING!

Matt 27:62-66

62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,

63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.

64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.

65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Matt 28:11-15

11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.

12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, 13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept. 14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you. 15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

           It is curious to me that this kind of scheming so parallels our own times. I heard one person recently say “If you tell the same lie over and over eventually it becomes the truth.” I also recently read an article in which it was said that “truth is a matter of perspective.” This is the mindset of our modern culture and it is not so far removed from history as we may think.

           The soldiers had seen the stone roll away. They were witnesses to the resurrection and came and told the unbiased facts to the authorities. I suspect they would have continued to present the facts had it not been for the money that was offered to present a lie. Four words reveal the machinery of subterfuge: THEY-TOOK-THE-MONEY!

           Thomas learned that doubt can not outlast evidence. Jesus appeared and Thomas was invited to put his finger into the nail holes in Jesus’ hands and feet. He changed his mind and cried out “My Lord, and my God!”

Luke 24:33-34

33 And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,

34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.

Dear Lord, we believe that you have risen from the dead. We believe that you are coming again. Even so, come quickly. AMEN