Easter: When Doubt Failed

Among the most triumphant passages of scripture is Matthew 28. In chapter 27 Jesus died; there was sadness, injustice, and sacrifice of true love. Then chapter 28 opens with an empty tomb, hope for believers, confusion on the part of Christ’s followers, and panic in the minds of the priests who thought they had silenced Christ’s message.

The priests could see this resurrection “story” being very damaging to their power in the long run. They had a nice thing going: the Romans didn’t mind them, the Jews needed them. What they needed was a weapon that would counteract something this important, something this powerful. What weapon did they choose? Doubt.

They would begin a lie that would spread and grow, all for the purpose of casting doubt. If they struck while the iron was hot, and if they used all their influence to support this story, they might just win.

But…we both read and live this story. Their attack on truth failed and followers of Christ all over the world live in the hope the resurrection of Christ gives.

We read of another Doubt Bringer wanting power, and using a similar tool in Gen 3. Remember his words? “Hath God said?”. The serpent (Satan) had to fight a concept that was so important, so powerful, that his personal power relied on it being destroyed. He was fighting belief in God’s Word. Satan won that one, Eve took the fruit against God’s one command and gave it to her husband, who also ate it. They allowed that doubt to rob them of the victory that they had lived in to this point.

Doubt is a tool still around today. We must be aware of its capabilities, and know it’s antidote…Faith. Faith allows us to walk in the truth no matter how influential or convincing the Doubt Bringer may be.

Eve could have had faith in what God really said, just as followers of Christ have faith in Christ’s words in Matthew 27:19 where He spoke of Himself, saying: “And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.”

Let’s be aware of the Enemy’s weapon of choice, Doubt. More importantly, let’s know what God has said and not be caught when this tactic is used against us.