They Took the Money

They Took the Money

Matthew 28:11 – While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 – After they had assembled with the elders and formed a plan, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 – telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came at night and stole his body while we were asleep.’

verse 14 – If this matter is heard before the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 – So they took the money as they were instructed. And this story is told among the Jews to this day.

Suppress the truth.  Spread the false narrative.  Get rich.  One tiny detail about this story caught my eye as I read it this morning.  Only some of the guard went into the city.  What did the remaining members of the guard do?  I don’t know.  But they weren’t among the ones who took the money to spread a lie. 

As we approach the end pay attention  to our ability to buy and sell.  Watch how life is changing right before our eyes.  The enemy’s powerful deceptions will be such that we will be compelled to choose between truth and error; the true testimony of Jesus and false narratives.  The incentive to take care of life and liberty will be so powerful that many in the end will take the money and preserve their freedom to buy and sell at the cost of their souls.

But there will be some like the remaining guard who will not spread the false narratives and who will not take the money.  They will be so affected by the true testimony of Jesus and washed by His blood that they would rather die than betray their Lord.

The choice is ours to make today.  As we take in the story of Jesus.  His life, death, and resurrection; as we gaze into the empty tomb – what will we believe?  What story will we share?  Will we take the money or will we take the blood?  Let’s take the blood of Jesus Christ and be cleansed of sin today and every day until His return in glory!