Daily Reading and Devotional from the Gospels
Matthew 28:11–20
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.
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Yea, Right! The disciples of Jesus stole the body. That rag tag group of mostly fishermen, unarmed and untrained in combat, went after the body knowing they might have to go against the well trained Roman soldiers guarding the tomb. Sure, they stole the body of Jesus from it’s well guarded and sealed tomb. Oh, you say the guards fell asleep at their post? What a coincidence that they all fell asleep in unison that way. I bet that happens all the time. That is the reason the Roman army was so feared during that time period, because of their unified sleeping maneuvers. The disciples caught all the guards, all asleep at the same time, moved the large stone without waking the snoring guards? Yea, that’s the ticket. Sure, they did all of that without waking the guards. Normally aren’t Roman guards that lose their assignment severely punished? I know the guard in Acts 16 was so distraught at the thought of losing his prisoners that he was about to take his own life rather than face the punishment of losing his assignment but hey, it makes perfect sense that these guards are going around bragging to everyone about their negligence. I notice that these sleepy, slipshod guards have come into large quantities of cash. What is the deal with that? And isn’t it strange how those tomb raiders came back to the tomb to rub it in after their crime? It was almost like they expected the body to still be there. That was clever. It really threw me off their trail. I would have expected them to hurry while stealing the body too, but it seems they unwound the clothes that had covered the aloe and myrrh anointed body of Jesus and then wound them back together and left them in the tomb. If I had planned this crime I would not have taken the time to do that with sleeping guards outside. Would you? I would have left the body in the clothes and run like the dickens before those guards got up. That’s just me, I am a bit of a chicken. What really amazes me is how those disciples all say they have seen Jesus risen and are all willing to die for that testimony. If I had been them and knew I was lying I would have sung like a song bird to escape the persecution. Stupid Simon Peter didn’t even think of that while they were crucifying him upside down. That is dedication isn’t? Christianity grew like wildfire during a period when the facts could all be verified about this resurrection too. I wonder why the multitudes didn’t believe those lazy soldiers with all their extra loot? In case you haven’t figured it out, I am being facetious. Jesus died and conquered death. The tomb is empty and my heart is filled with praise!