4-13-2015

Good Morning All!!

            Matthew 28:13; “and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’”

          Many years ago, a senator from New York by the name of Daniel Patrick Moynihan was debating with his fellow senators some piece of legislation.  During a rather heated portion of the debate he told his counterpart, “sir, you are entitled to your own set of opinions but you are not entitled to your own set of facts.”  When I listen to the public discourse on many topics, this statement continually runs through my mind.  While it is bad today, it is not a new phenomenon.  It has been the practice for many years.  Many leaders, nations or empires have tried to write their own version of truth or “history” our verse is an example of this.

    When Matthew wrote his Gospel, he told this account of the resurrection.  “(The chief priests and the elders) said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’  And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”   So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.”   They offered their version of “the truth.”  It was their version to show that nothing was any different today than it was yesterday.  The problem is that their set of “facts” goes against what others reports.  Scriptures records many accounts of Jesus being seen after that Easter day.  Paul lists some of the times when Jesus was seen by Cephas (Peter), the Twelve, 500 of the brothers, James and all the apostles and finally to me (Paul).

    So which report do you believe?  How you answer this impacts your entire life.  If you believe the report of the guards and the chief priests, then you live a life which has no hope.  You live a life that is fruitless and without purpose.  If you accept this report, you are still dead and you will die being dead.  If you believe the false report, your life is empty.

    You could believe the report of Jesus’ resurrection.  You could believe the report agreed to by so many.  You could believe the testimony of all those who saw, spoke to, touched and interacted with Jesus during those forty days after Easter.  This is the report that give your life, this is the report that gives you hope, this is the report that gives your life purpose.  In giving you life, even if you die you will live forever.  You can have a life full of God’s incredible love and mercy.

    The testimonies of those who saw Jesus are many but the lies are really all the same one.  There is only one true set of facts; Jesus died but rose again on the third day to give you life.  Trust in this fact; it gives us all the hope we need to face tomorrow.  God’s eternal grace is poured out upon you so grab hold of his truth and live the life that God gives to you; a life that is full of his contented peace.

Father, give us the strength and the faith to trust in the true report of Jesus and his resurrection.  Lead us to grab hold of this great truth so that we may live the life of mercy and grace that you would have us live.  Defend us by your mighty arm.  Fill our hearts with peace and our spirits with your great joy.  In the precious name of Jesus we pray, amen.

God’s Peace,

Pastor Bret