THE LENGTHS OF OUR UNBELIEF

September 16, 2021

THE LENGTHS OF OUR UNBELIEF


The angel said, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as he said." (Mt 28:5-6)
Now while they were on their way, some of the guards came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened. And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers and said, "You are to say, 'His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.'" (Mt. 28:11-13)

To study the Pharisees is to discover something that is in many hearts and often in our own heart. They were aggressive unbelievers. And their unbelief took them to incredible lengths to try to prove that this Jesus was not the Messiah.

THE BIGGEST TRUTH AND BIGGEST LIE

The greatest miracle (the resurrection) called for the greatest deception. The soldiers at the tomb were the only ones who had firsthand knowledge of what had happened. They were physically present when Jesus broke from that tomb and when the angels came from heaven and literally rolled the stone away in glorious array. It was so real to them that "they shook for fear of him and became like dead men." (vs. 4)

But the Pharisees had concocted a storyline about Jesus that He was not the Messiah, just a mere imposter. So they paid the guards to lie about what they had seen with their own eyes.

Why? Why not just embrace the obvious realization that Jesus was who He said He was and bow before the Lord of heaven and earth?

The Pharisees, in their pride, had position. They were the elite in society. This afforded them money, power, and a supposed level of authority and status among the people. They were SOMEBODY, at least in their own eyes. In a sense, they were self-made LORDS, and they did not want to give that position to anyone else.

What's amazing is that they did not realize that if they would bow before the King in humility, God would exalt them to be "kings and priests" in His heavenly kingdom. If we "humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God," He will "exalt us in due time" (1 Peter 5). But these religious "leaders" wanted their piece of the pie right then.

They were unwilling to bend the knee. I hope they enjoyed their moment of self-glory, for it was all they would get for all of eternity.

There is a great value in simply believing. And out of that faith, bending the knee and acknowledging Christ as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. There is a simple joy in accepting the risen Christ for who He said He is and proved to be. Not no need to lie and deceive and create a false narrative to tell others. Just the joy of knowing and following Him, who is Lord of heaven and earth.

Father, show me where I’m concocting my own narrative in resistance to the truth. Where I am unwilling to bend to Your Lordship. Show me the value of full surrender. Help me to listen to You and simply believe.





Also in Graceful Truth

THE COMING JUDGMENT
THE COMING JUDGMENT

September 10, 2024

If you wonder, “When will all this evil in the world be over?” Do not worry. It will happen when the time is ripe and not a moment before. But a day is coming when evil will be completely banished, Satan and his minions will be completely removed, and a new heaven and earth will come with no hint of evil. And at that time, every knee will bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Continue Reading

HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR PRAYERS TO GOD?
HOW IMPORTANT ARE YOUR PRAYERS TO GOD?

September 04, 2024

If God is God, then there are things He values. Some things are important to Him, while others have no meaning or can even be offensive.

God mentions prayer over 650 times in the Scriptures. So, how important are our prayers?

Continue Reading

REPLACING ANXIETY WITH DELIGHT!
REPLACING ANXIETY WITH DELIGHT!

September 02, 2024

We all become anxious at times. Our limited sight causes us to worry about all kinds of real and imagined fears. Rebecca Pippert said, "Whatever you fear, you serve." If we are not careful, our anxiety will drive our lives, make our decisions, and shape our futures. Worry is more crippling than we realize and can fill days, weeks, and even years with unneeded sorrow.

Continue Reading