When the chief priests ask Pilate to secure the tomb of Jesus, I have a sneaking suspicion they’re not really worried about the disciples stealing Christ’s body and then telling everyone He rose from the dead. Rather, I think they’re actually worried that Jesus will indeed rise on the third day, as He foretold, so they’re trying to ensure that Jesus stays imprisoned in the tomb in the event that this happens or so they can take care of Him again if it does. As evidence for my theory, I submit the fact that the same chief priests don’t come to the faith when they hear that Christ is risen. They don’t tear their clothes and repent for having put the Son of God to death. They don’t even bat an eye when the Roman guards tell them that Jesus is alive. They just immediately bribe them to say that the disciples stole Christ’s body. By all accounts, they were expecting this.
And here we see the ultimate insanity of unbelief. You can know that Jesus is the unkillable Son of God, and yet you’ll still try to kill Him. You can know, on an intellectual level, that Jesus is the all-powerful second person of the Trinity. And yet you’ll still think you can imprison Him in a grave of stone so you can safely keep your hands on your pride, your greed, your self-righteousness.
But none of this will work. Spread all the lies you want about corpse-stealing-disciples, but Jesus Christ is risen. He walked out of the tomb you sealed. He has revealed His victory before the world. So let go of your sins. Stop believing the lies you know are not true. And don’t be afraid. The One you put to death has no desire to put you to death. He didn’t walk out of the tomb to strangle you, but to save you, to wrap you in His mercy and forgiveness and salvation, to clothe you in eternal life. The kingdom, the power, the glory, the eternal favor of His Father in heaven, this is what Jesus would have given the chief priests if they’d believed in Him. It’s what He gives to you now. Come receive it.
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