11 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.
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
(ESV)
STOP! Think a little 🤔 What is God saying to you?
- What is the writer saying?
- How do I apply this to my life?
As the women headed off to tell the disciples about Jesus’ resurrection, so some of the guards went off to tell the chief priests. The chief priests and elders colluded and bribed the guards to say that the disciples had come and stolen the body at night. There are too many holes in their story. The Roman guard would never have been sleeping. If they had, breaking the seal and rolling away the stone would have woken them up. The disciples would never have overpowered the Roman guards. And the Romans had to have been awake to be able to report on what had happened. Matthew reports that at the time of his writing the cover-up story was still being spread. And it’s a story that continues today.
The eleven disciples went to Galilee where Jesus had directed them to meet Him. When they saw Him they worshipped Him, but some doubted. There Jesus gave them what has become known as the Great Commission. Jesus directed His disciples to go out with His authority and make disciples of all nations, to baptise these new disciples in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and then to teach them to do all He had taught them. Jesus promised to be with them always until the end of the age. Jesus had come to the Jews, God’s chosen people to offer them the kingdom, which they rejected. Now Jesus sends His disciples out to all nations, to the Gentiles, and offers the kingdom to the whole world. Jesus’ instruction was to make disciples, not just believers. Are you following Jesus and doing all He commanded? Are you helping others to follow Jesus and do all He commanded?