Do you live in fear of what others might Say?

Matthew 27:62-66

“The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.”

Sir we remember what that impostor said; impostor: “a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others, esp. for fraudulent gain.” (The New Oxford American dictionary)  These religious leaders made a request under a false pretense, for Jesus was never the deceiver He was very upfront that He was the Christ, the Messiah sent from God.  And His gain was not fraudulent, for that to be true it would have been a sham, but that also does not hold water, for over 2000 years His Church, that’s you and I and everyone who has entered into a relationship by faith, through the grace of God.  I read this morning that Mercy is not getting what you deserve, but Grace is getting what you do not have coming to you.  Have you experienced Grace?

A detachment of soldiers was sent to guard the tomb and the seal that consisted of wax bearing the imprint of an official Roman seal.  Now it was not a smart thing to break the seal, if caught it could mean death.  Do you see any of the eleven disciples risking death to break that seal, these are the same men who ran at the first sign of trouble? 

There are some parts of the Scripture in which we do not want to be part of the story, but for grins put yourself into the story; what part are you going to play, not the religious leaders, not Pilate, how about the guards who just do as they are told, for to do anything else would mean death.  I bet you see yourself in the role of a disciple, and if so, you have had time to think, what are your thoughts; in three days Jesus is going to smash that rock into a million pieces.  But it may be that I’m next, for they all have seen me with Jesus, and I’m sure they are coming for me. 

If you believe other wise what is it based on, your ego, or maybe you are not like most Christians and are under the authority of the Spirit and when people encounter you they see Jesus.  But most of us would find ourselves on that first day of the week doing what the eleven did.  Turn in your Bible to John 20:19, and this is after the resurrection; “On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

If you are one that is still locked up in fear of what others might say or do, it’s time to accept the power of this life in Christ, an allow His peace to fill your heart.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice