Did you know that the Bible talks about one of the most dramatic cover-ups ever attempted? It involved the highest officials, great sums of money and a very powerful godfather. The story goes like this.
A humble tradesman who by all accounts could possibly have no influence started causing trouble with the local powers. He started muscling in on their territory. Some of their sources of income were cut by this man. Some of the men who formerly worked for these top officials quit their jobs and began to pledge allegiance to this simple man. It was clear that something had to be done. A plan was put together. The plan went like this.
These influential powers decided to infiltrate this growing apostasy from the inside. For a mere pittance, they bribed a close friend of the trouble-maker to get some inside information. By this deception they were able to capture the man in a location that only the infiltrator knew. Their target was abducted, tortured and then finally murdered. The officials thought that that was the end of it. They were wrong.
Some days later, word began to spread that the man wouldn’t stay dead. News went around town that the man would come back from the dead. Those who had sent the man to his death began to worry that this ridiculous talk could cause trouble. To ensure that these tales would be fruitless they now turned to the local military.
Matthew 27:62-65
“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.”
They sealed the man’s tomb but to no effect. The next day, the body was still gone! Now they were in a real fix. To solve this problem they turned to bribery.
Matthew 28:12-15
“And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
And if this come to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.”
What a colossal cover-up! Top ruling leaders paid off the governmental authorities to propagate a lie about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. And still they were merely pawns in the whole operation. The kingpin himself, referred to by Jesus Christ as their god (lower case ‘g’) father, the devil, orchestrated the whole affair. And he might have gotten away with it – except for one slight detail: Jesus Christ was really raised from the dead. He is risen. He is alive today and able to save all those who call upon him.
Sadly, however, it seems that for many, the great cover-up has been a success. Are you one of the unfortunates that’s been conned?