Today’s reading is Matthew 27:1-28:20.

The story of the soldiers at Jesus’ tomb grabbed me today. 

The Jews asked Pilate to provide soldiers to guard the tomb. He granted that request. Some suggest that he actually said to the Jews, “You have your own guards; you see to it without mine.” However, the fact that the Jews might have to smooth things over with the governor if he found out about Jesus’ body being gone says to me that these were his soldiers. He did, in fact, grant a guard for the tomb.

After the events of that special Sunday, these guards told the story that the disciples came and stole the body while they were asleep. What an amazing story. Was anyone really to believe that soldiers who would be killed for such an admission really fell asleep on the job and allowed the disciples to steal the body? Further, are we really to believe that a bunch of ragtag fisherman and assorted rebels were willing to stand up against a guard of Roman soldiers? On top of that, who thinks it is possible for this group of disciples to roll back the large stone without waking any of the soldiers? Not to mention, this whole story sounds like something cooked up in an Encyclopedia Brown story. I can see now as Encyclopedia’s dad tells him the story, perplexed about getting to the bottom of this mystery. Encyclopedia closes his eyes, thinks deeply and then smiles. We all know the answer is coming out now. “Dad, the soldiers must be making up this story. If they were asleep, how do they know it was the disciples?”

Here is what grabbed me about this story. If I’m looking for reasons to doubt, the devil will supply them. The devil will always throw out some possibility that makes it seem like the story of Jesus just didn’t happen. And God has allowed these stories to go on. Why? Because as Philip Yancey points out in his books, if there is no room for doubt, it wouldn’t be faith. Regrettably, some people can’t handle the idea of faith. Therefore, if there is any room for doubt, they’ll doubt. That’s a sad state. 

Why not take God at His word? Have faith in Him. I know the world will think you are foolish…for now.

***Question: What do you do to increase your faith?

Keep the faith and keep reading,

ELC