I’ve always loved a good story—reading it, writing it, telling it. But even better than a good fictional story is a good true story. Like when Hope, as a whole church, helped Genesis Youth Foundation through Lent donations (a community coming together!), when the USA hockey teams won gold (in 1980: “Do you believe in miracles?”), when my sister got engaged (the guy got the girl!).

So, you can imagine my disappointment when, after sharing with a group of Ignition high school students my harrowing story of getting lost on the Superior Hiking Trail during a cold northern Minnesota May and being found at midnight by my father (perhaps you see the testimony!), they asked me, “Is it true, though?” Yes! I wanted to shout. Of course it’s true! Why would I spend all that time telling you a good story that is fake? And on a church stage, no less. Look, here’s where it happened! Here is the proof—ask my dad how scared he was!

In today’s passage, there’s great opportunity for apologetics. From the Greek word apologia, apologetics is a branch of theology dedicated to defending the Christian faith. There’s a story circulating—one concocted by the high priests who condemned Jesus—that this Jesus fellow didn’t rise from the dead at all, never mind what the guards witnessed. Amazingly, rather than being transformed by the primary sources’ testimonies, the Jewish leaders hold their ground, still threatened by what this Good News means for their power and privilege.

And what of the storytellers? In the Message translation, it says, “The soldiers took the bribe and did as they were told.” They acquiesced to the cover-up. What a scary thought, that the power of money could sway us away from proclaiming a society-transforming miracle! OK, so maybe God’s word isn’t just an ancient document …

What’s next? Matthew jumps into his apologia, complete with carbon-dating of Jesus’ shroud and real-life pictures of the tomb—right? Wrong. As we’ll see in the coming days, Matthew doesn’t elaborate on any apologetic action of the disciples. Yes, he says there’s another story circulating, but clearly, he’s not primarily concerned—and I would say Jesus isn’t primarily concerned—about dismantling the high council’s concoction of a story.

We don’t apologize (this time, I mean “say sorry”) for the Gospel—which is good news about something that REALLY HAPPENED!—but we also recognize the assignment: Share the Good News; don’t worry about stamping out all the bad news. It’s perhaps a small shift, but a shift that changes everything. Because the undercurrent of our passage today isn’t the Jewish leaders’ duplicity. The actual story here is that Jesus is alive—he is risen indeed! And that it isn’t just a story, but an event that changes the course of humanity: “Because Jesus defeated death, they all lived happily ever after!”

Reflection:

  • Our Christian Gospel is not just a story concocted by a human few; it is a life-changing historical event orchestrated by God himself that changed the course of humanity forever. How does this Good News change your life today?
  • What stories do you hear that seek to discredit the Gospel? Are they convincing? What evidence in your life indicates God’s Good News of new life in Jesus?
  • This passage highlights a modern reality: Money and power threaten the Gospel, and sometimes, we must choose. Do you see this tension in your life? Where might Jesus be inviting you to let go of the former to embrace the latter?