The PassionNäide

Have you ever watched someone double down on a lie when the truth was staring them in the face?

It's amazing how far we'll go to protect our version of events, especially when admitting the truth might cost us something we value.

The religious leaders in today’s reading face the ultimate inconvenient truth. The guards at Jesus’ tomb came with a report that would have included angels and an empty grave. Their carefully constructed plan to keep the ‘problem’ of Jesus buried had backfired spectacularly.

However, rather than facing the reality of the resurrection, they chose to suppress the truth. They gathered their wealth and wielded their influence to buy a better story: “Tell the people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’” (Matthew 28:13, ESV)

Yet, no amount of human wealth or power could undo what God had accomplished. The resurrection happened whether they liked it or not. God's redemptive plan rolled forward regardless of their resistance. The very thing they tried to suppress - the news of Jesus' victory over death - became the message that would transform the world.

Their bribery revealed far more than political manoeuvring. It exposed their heart - they were desperate to suppress the truth that challenged their comfort and control. We, too, can be tempted to pay any price, whether financial, moral, or social, in order to maintain narratives that keep us feeling in charge and in control. But God's truth has a way of persisting. The resurrection happened whether the religious leaders acknowledged it or not. Christ conquered death despite their denial.

Today, ponder this: What truths about God's work in your life are you tempted to suppress or explain away because they challenge your plans, pride, or perceived control?