One Year Bible for Monday February 14th - Why the Disciples Did Not Steal Jesus' Body! The Great Commission is the Most Brilliant Strategy Ever!
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The mercy seat was also called the place of atonement. This was connected with the rituals of the Day of Atonement. The Ark and the mercy seat were kept in the holy of holies and only the high priest could enter it, because God's very presence dwelt there. The Holy of Holies could be entered only by the high priest on the Day of Atonement. The high priest sprinkled the blood of a sacrificial bull onto the mercy seat as an atonement for the sins of the people of Israel.
The table for the showbread, the lampstand and incense burner were all part of the rituals used in worship. The lampstand was symbolic of Israel being the light in the darkness. The showbread table reminded the Israelites of how God provided manna in nthe wildnerness each day of their wandering. The bread was unleavened to point to the fact they didn't have time for the bread to rise. Leaven also represented sin. Finally, the incense was made up of aromatic gums and spices and were symbolic of their prayers rising up to God. The smell of the incense would remain on them all day to remind them of God's continual presence.
As you read through the next three chapters, you can see once again how everything in the tabernacle was made for a purpose. And everything was set apart, or made holy, because God would dwell in there. The people gave great respect to Moses and his leadership by doing everything he had commanded!
1. We see the amazing aspect of the resurrection that the women were the first to see the risen Jesus. The gives credence to the truth of the story of Jesus rising from the dead. If someone were trying to make up a story that would have crediblity in the eyes of the middle Eastern culture, it would not have included the women being the first witnesses. A woman's witness was not even allowed in court.
"The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him." Verses 8-9
2. Bribing the guards to say Jesus' disciples stole his body is an unplausible idea for many reasons.
- The soldiers guarded the tomb at the risk of their life, if someone stole the body.
- The stone was massive and it was highly doubtful the disciples would have had the resources or strength to move it.
- Probably the most important reason is what would be the disciples' motive in stealing Jesus' body? If Jesus was not raised from the dead like he said he would, they would have realized he Jesus lied and had not told them the truth. Why would they perpetuate this lie after giving up everything to follow him?
The argument of the disciples stealing Jesus' body as proof he was not raised from the dead is a really lackluster argument.
3. Finally, Jesus gives the disciples the Great Commission. It is one of the few things that church does not get to vote on. The Great Commission is clear and simple, but that does not mean it is easy to accomplish. In fact, it won't be accomplished until Jesus returns. There will always be more disciples for us to make until Jesus calls us home or returns to rapture His church.
Here is the most important part of the Great Commission that is missed by most North American churches today.
Our marching orders are to make disciples, who will make disciples. The pastor, the staff, or just a handful people are not the only ones responsible for making disciples. If that were the case the church never would have grown exponentially like it did in the 1st century. Each person in the church has two major aspects of being a Christ follower.
1. Grow to Christ like maturity in their own lives, as they live the life Jesus would live if he were them.
2. As a mature believer lead others through the discipleship process so they then would repeat the process all over again. This is brilliant process that will reach the whole world for Christ is we make sure to use it and do it effectively.
And we know we are not alone as we acccomplish the greatest purpose we were left on earth for! Jesus' power and authority has been given to use for his glory!
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