The Third Sunday of Easter (CL)

Matthew 28:11-20
11 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 And 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 has been spread among the Jews to this day.
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2001 (Mt 28:11–20). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

What do you tell other people? Most of the time when you find this text you start with verse 16. But just a few words earlier, we find others pronouncing their own thoughts concerning Jesus Christ. The chief priests bribe the soldiers to deceive the people into think that Jesus Christ's body was stolen by his disciples. Even Matthew reports that this lie is spread at the time he writes this.

You have the report or witness given of the Chief priests and the Soldiers. Yet, on the other hand you have the witness and testimony of the eleven who see Jesus. They are given the command to spread the teaching of Jesus. They are commanded to go and make disciples of all nations. We are all given the command to bear witness to what we have seen and heard.

The Soldiers bear witness to what they have seen and heard to the Chief Priests. The Chief Priest take that witness and bury it out of sight. The Apostles bear witness to what they have seen and heard to each of us. The question then becomes what do we do with that witness. Do we spread the word or do we keep it to ourselves.

Jesus Christ is risen from the Dead. His body was not stolen. His life was taken away but then it was returned. He has come back to life. Through his passion and death he provides salvation to you also. He has given you life through his sacrifice. Jesus Christ has provided you with Forgiveness for all the times you have kept silent. But he has also given you a testimony to speak to others.