Matthew 28:11 While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 telling them, “You must say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 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 is still told among the Jews to this day.

Interesting that the battle for the narrative of Jesus’ disappearance from the tomb is mentioned. The priests are wanting to characterize Jesus’ resurrection as “fake news”. The truth would further undermine their authority in the eyes of many. And, as is true in our day, people were inclined to believe what they wanted to believe. Followers of Jesus believed he was genuinely raised from the dead. v.15 says that “the Jews” believed the fiction.

They say that one of the first casualties of war is the truth. The ongoing conflict between Russia and the Ukraine seems to illustrate this. It would seem that the story coming from Ukrainians is closer to the truth than the story coming from Russia, but everyone has an agenda.

Lord give us grace to know the truth when we hear it. Amen.