After Jesus' body was placed into the tomb by Joseph of Arimathea, the chief priests and Pharisees sought to secure it, supposing that Jesus' disciples would come and steal the body and claim he had been resurrected. So they petitioned Pilate, saying, Command therefore that the sepulcher 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 (Matthew 27:64). Pilate granted them a detail of soldiers to guard the tomb. However, on the first day of the week, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men (Matt. 28:2-4). The keepers (Roman soldiers) went into the city to tell the chief priests what had happened. Instead of believing in Jesus, they ... assembled with the elders, and [when they] had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept (Matt. 28:12-13). Isn't their stubborn unbelief unbelievable?
How could these men continue to disregard Jesus as the Son of God in the face of such clear evidence? It seems that sin had hardened their hearts (cf. Hebrews 3:13), much like what happened to Pharaoh in Moses' day. Pharaoh saw all the great wonders and miracles, but yet he would not change his ways. He, and the religious leaders of Jesus' day, liked things as they were, and wanted them to stay that way. The Jews' last error of disbelief in the face of Jesus' resurrection was worse than the first error of crucifying him; for if they had repented and been baptized, they could have received forgiveness (cf. Acts 2:23,38). But in their stubbornness, they lost their souls. Earlier, Jesus warned his disciples not to think like the Jewish leaders saying, For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul (Matthew 16:26)?
If we're not careful, the same thing could happen to us today. Jesus calls his disciples to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him (Matt. 16:24). But some Christians are not willing to go that far because they are comfortable with the way things are in their own lives. Sadly, they will be very uncomfortable in eternity just like a certain rich man (cf. Luke 16:25). The prayer of Agur, the son of Jakeh, would be good for us to contemplate from time to time: Two things have I required of thee; Deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: Give me neither poverty nor riches; Feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, And say, Who is the LORD? Or lest I be poor, and steal, And take the name of my God in vain (Proverbs 30:7-9).
We cannot allow the riches of this world be more delightful to us than serving the Lord and doing His will. The question is, what makes us full? If it is the cares, riches, and pleasures of this world, then how are we different than those chief priests who bribed the guards to keep quiet about what they saw? Are we too comfortable living without Christ as the preeminent factor in our lives? If we leave this world in such a state, that error cannot be overcome. Here is how Paul described how we should look at our lives on this earth: For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). If that is our true status today, then read the next verse.
Brotherly, Jamie
