Daily Devotions
The Implications of the Evidence
Reading for August 15th: Jeremiah 10-13
Weekly reading for August 9-15: Matthew 25-28
While they were going, behold, some of the guards went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. Matthew 28:11
Have you thought very much about how that conversation must have gone? Pilate had placed these guards in front of Jesus’ tomb, and they had witnessed things that were nearly unbelievable.
Sometime in the early morning hours, at around dawn on the first day of the week, these men felt the earth suddenly quake below them. They saw an angel of the Lord with an appearance “like lightning” and clothing “white as snow” come down from heaven, roll away the stone that sealed the tomb, and sit down in front of them. Trembling and understandably shaken by the things they had seen, the guards were reduced to a state “like dead men” and physically unable to move (Matt. 28:1-4). In fact, these guards were so much of a nonfactor in the story, that Mark, Luke, and John don’t even mention them at all. How long they were incapacitated by these events is anyone’s guess. Eventually, though, they were able to gather themselves and tell the chief priests everything they had seen. Notice their response.
“And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and 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” (Matt. 28:12-15).
The chief priests and elders had firsthand eyewitness testimony from men who had been at the tomb when Jesus was raised from the dead. There was no disputing what they had seen and heard. So why didn’t the chief priests and elders become disciples of Jesus? Why did they spread lies about Him? It was not because the evidence wasn’t compelling, but because the implications of the evidence weren’t pleasant. To believe would mean that they would have to admit that He was the Christ foretold by the prophets, that He was the Son of God, and that they were wrong to crucify Him. Because those were truths they just weren’t willing to accept, they chose to reject the evidence, even when it was undeniable.
The same phenomenon happens today. People reject the inspiration of the Bible, the truths taught in it, and Jesus as the Christ not because the evidence isn’t compelling, but because the implications of the evidence aren’t always pleasant. To believe would mean they would have to give up, change, or accept more than they’re comfortable with; therefore, the evidence is dismissed based on its implications.
Father, give us hearts that are humble enough to seek the truth of your Word, regardless of what it may require of us.
