I read a story of a man who was on his way to the airport to catch a plane. He came to an intersection where his wife had told him he needed to turn left to get to the airport. It was a narrow little road and he was on a board road that also would let I see some of nature’s beauty. He decided to take the more scenic route. There is a way that seems right to man the Bible says. The time was getting away and little voice kept saying turn around and take the narrow road. He reasoned "I feel like an idiot." Pride and stubbornness kept him going on the scenic road. He got to the airport and raced to the where he was to board the plane only to hear, "The gate has been shut. The doors are locked. The plane is leaving. You have been left behind." He was to late because he made the wrong choice. The plane would not be coming back for him. (From a sermon by Dennis Selfridge, What we have in Jesus. 10/17/2009).
Mat 28:11-15 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' 14 And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." 15 So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
Almost as a setting of a theatrical production: While one small group of women was scurrying off to tell the disciples the message from the angels, the soldiers were on the way to the chief priests with an entirely different disposition. The women were filled with apprehensive joy, some confusion, reviving hope and almost speechlessness. The soldiers were even more confused, but full of fear, disappointment, and shame.
Some of the guard stayed behind, to guard an empty tomb, to pretend to be protecting what was already missing. Some went to report to the Temple authorities.
Upon hearing the news, the priests on duty sent out messengers immediately to the members of the Sanheidren. Gill describes the coming in of the rulers and elders graphically: "moreover, the rulers and governors, who (were concerned with the news of) the sepulchre, coming to themselves, returned to the city with a pale and frightened countenance.''
There was much mumbling and small discussions as the assembly was taking their places in their seats. No doubt, someone had already developed the idea of paying off the soldiers and telling a lie. Someone, we do not know who, spoke up quickly when the question was asked, “What shall we do?” It must have been a common opinion from the Sanhedrin Court that what had happened was not of God, but was a misfortunate opportunity of circumstances.
The guards reported the earthquake, being knocked off their feet and being powerless to respond. They were witness to the women showing up and finding the empty tomb. They must have seen the men in sparkling white robes speak to the women. They must have, after things quieted, searched the tomb themselves to find it empty.
Their reporting to the court should have raised some spiritual questions in the council. But instead, they decided to pay the guards off, plant a lie, and blame the disciples. Matthew records that occasionally when he was witnessing to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah, this story sometimes comes up, that the disciples stole the body. It is doubtful that the guards repeated it often because it would mean their certain death. You see, if a guard in those days allowed a mission to fail because he fell asleep, it would cost him his life. That is why the Sanhedrin court members told the guards that they would smooth over the issue with the governor.
I. Captive by Fallenness
Those who stayed behind guarded the empty tomb. These probably felt silly, and as grandpa would say, “You closed the gate after the calves got out.”
They, undoubtedly, were uncomfortable in their post. They had no good explanation as to what had happened or how it happened. Their duty now was to stand there and look at the open mouth of the tomb. Every look reminded them that they failed their mission. The ones who went to report at least did not have to stand there looking at a constant reminder of their failure. However, this scene did not move them to the truth.
For 2000 years, the world has stared at the empty tomb and denied its reality and its message. Perhaps you are one of those. You have heard the message of the resurrection and are unmoved. You have seen lives change, people grow spiritually, but you still hand on to your denial. Your heart condemns you every time you look at the victory of the Savior, but something is holding you back. There is stubbornness or fear. You can’t explain it. You just know there is a battle for you to just let go.
We are not criticizing you right now, but sympathizing with you. Many of us here experienced that before we finally gave ourselves to the sweet surrender to Jesus Christ. We are praying for you and are going to do that right now.
Christians: would you pray right now for anyone in this service that is holding on to fear, stubbornness and reluctance?
Will you pray that this spirit of opposition be defeated, right now? Let’s pray: (Pray).
II. Captive by Failure
Now, let’s look at the guards who were selected to go to chief priests and report their failure. Certainly, they were relieved that they did not have to continue to stand there and stare at their failure. However, their assignment was no easier. They have to confess to their supervisors that they had completely failed.
You can imagine the confession. “Sirs, we were standing and guarding the tomb, on full alert, when we began to tremble from an earthquake. Then drowsiness came over us all, all at once and we couldn’t stand. We tried to arouse, but were powerless to see the stone shake and then roll to the side of the tomb. I tried to break free of the stupor that overtook us. I couldn’t. Then women came, and men in white came and spoke with them. Then they were all gone, and it all seemed like a dream. All of us said we experienced the same thing.”
I commend the courage of these soldiers, because it is not easy to confess to a major, colossal failure. They had to admit that they failed in their mission.
Maybe this is where you are today. Perhaps what is keeping you from Christ is a major failure. Perhaps you are struggling to get past that major failure and you seem to be stuck in life. I have great news for you. Jesus arose so you can arise from your failure.
Unfortunately for these men, they passed on believing what they had certainly seen. However, you can be freed from the failure that has knocked you off course.
True Christians here today are rooting for you to get up and move on, but we are praying, knowing it will take the power of God. However, the power of God is available to you, right here and right now.
Christians: Pray with me for those who are struggling with that colossal failure, that one mistake that seemed to redefine the life.
Let’s pray: (Prayer).
III. Captive by Fallacy
The third group was the members of the Sanhedrin court. They were summoned from their daily activities in starting a new week. Many were merchants, businessmen, farmers tending to livestock, some were priests and teachers. Some probably had students assembling to hear another stirring lesson on Religion.
But now they were being told that the “issue” that they believed to be resolved, this rebel teacher and distractor of the people, had risen to a more problematic state. The body that they had believe had been buried and behind them was missing and could present even more problems in the near future. It was their move, and they would need to handle this aggressively and powerfully.
When someone suggested that the disciples possibly could have arranged for the body to be stolen, that might present an out. If they supported that possibility with, maybe some bribes, and some confident stories, they might could limit the damage. It sounded good, and…. It might work.
So that is how they proceeded. They could take up a collection to pay off the soldiers and unify their story. It sounded good. So they voted to do that.
That is where so many are today, grasping for any possibility but the pure message of God. Anything would seem to be better than saying that we are sinners and need some outside offering for redemption. You don’t want another voice telling you that you are not good enough when your life is fully committed to being a good citizen and kind person. I mean, we are not bad people, and the message of salvation runs counter to our claims of being, at least, OK. I mean, should the few kind of bad things we do outweigh the good we do daily?
The problem with that thinking is that the comparisons used to evaluate us are not the standards to be used in judgment. You see, God is not only a righteous judge, He is a good judge.
Supposed someone violently attacked one of your loved ones and left them dead (God forbid), and they went before a good judge. The suspect told the judge, “Yes, I did that, but I give regularly, every month, to Hendrick Home for Children.”
What would you think of the judge that said, “Yes, your good outweighs your bad. We will ignore the brutal murder of this one person.”
If you are like me, you would say, “Hey, this trial is not about his good, but he needs to be held responsible for the evil he did.” A good judge will realize that the trial is for the evil one does, and not to balance the life.
Let me show you: 1Co 15:3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
Why did Jesus die? For your sins. 1Jn 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Not only my sins and your sins, but the sins of the whole world. Jesus died to build a bridge between us and God. That gap between mankind and God was dug by sin. It was because of our sins that Jesus died. Romans 4:25 says that Jesus was delivered to death because of our trespasses, our sins.
Your temptation today if you refuse to take your responsibility in the death of Jesus is to grasp on any story and pledge to it. The problem; it doesn’t work, and you know it. It does not matter how many times you repeat it or how much you try to convince yourself you are good enough, the Good Judge still sets on the throne. He is going to judge you, not by your good deeds, but primarily for your refusal to take responsibility for the brutal death of His Son and your absolute refusal to receive His forgiveness.
He has built the bridge, and you will be held responsible for not crossing over it. Oh, that pounding in your heart right now is your heart’s very cry to let go and let God.
There will be Christians praying right now that you will let go of your selfrighteousness and surrender to the forgiveness and salvation of Jesus Christ. You know the tomb is empty, and so is your life without Christ. Your efforts to fill it with meaning and value are admittedly lies and bribes. Let those go and let’s pray to God for salvation.
Christians: Pray right now that those who are captive by the spirit of self-righteousness will be free from its deceptive power.
Let’s pray: (Pray).
If you have been captive by the constant reminder of your fallenness, we have prayed for you. If you have been freed from that and have accepted Christ, please come forward during the invitation so that we can celebrate with you. There is room at the cross for you.
If you have been captive by that collosal failure that you struggled with, and you have been freed today as people prayed for you, please come forward so we can rejoice with you.
If you have been captive by the deceptiveness of false righteousness and you have been freed because you prayed while others prayed for you, please come forward so we can join in your joy.
