ListenDaily - 14 April 2009; Satan's "Plan B"
Easter passes too quickly for me, in church I mean. The day itself is great, we had a wonderful day, Sunrise Service, then three, different, beautiful worship services. But I feel the need to pause here for a moment, and examine the other things that happened on that day of resurrection, and the events that followed.
"While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed."
(Matthew 28:11-15) (find this or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Sometimes I wonder what Satan was thinking, likewise I wonder what the Jewish leaders were thinking. It was well known that Jesus had, prior to the crucifixion, raised people from the dead, defeated death, and yet they thought that He would stay dead? (Not to mention the resurrection of believers during the crucifixion.)
Then came the report from the guards. These guards had no reason to lie, their own lives were possibly at stake for their 'failure'. (Though that might explain why they conspired with the chief priests first...) And the Jewish officials did not go to the tomb to see for themselves. Instead, confronted with the story of a resurrected Christ, they devised a story to explain away the resurrection.
What were they thinking?
Did they think that this Man, this Son of God, who had shown mastery over death in the lives of others, and now Himself, could be defeated by a lie? And yet, that lie has persisted for two thousand years. Non-believers often refuse to accept this miracle, instead, believing the lie.
Sadly, many in the church who claim to be believers, and shamefully, many pastors, continue to propagate this lie, the pastors to their own peril. (***See note below***)
Friends, the church as we know it, began, because a group of men and women confronted Jesus with their doubts, overcame those doubts,and boldly proclaimed the Resurrected Christ.
How can we not do the same?
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Questions:
1. I understand non-Christians not believing in the Resurrection, but why do you think so many inside the church have doubts?
2. What are your own thoughts about the Resurrection?
3. How can you help bring people the Truth?
***Note***
But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Matt. 18:6
Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James 3:1
But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping. 2 Peter 2:1-3
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