Matthew 28:11-15 (NLT)
11 As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. 12 A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. 13 They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ 14 If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” 15 So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary had gone to the tomb of Jesus early Sunday morning after his crucifixion. A great earthquake took place and an angel appeared who rolled back the stone on the temple. The Roman soldiers guarding the tomb fell faint from fear. The women were told to go tell the others Jesus was raised from the dead. Some of the guards who had seen what took place went to the religious leaders. The leaders offered these guards a bribe to lie about what happened and they took the bribe. It became a wide spread story that the disciples came and stole the body of Jesus.

Years ago I was sitting at a stoplight waiting for it to turn green. As I looked up into my rearview mirror I saw a car about to ram into mine. The other car impacted and knocked me so hard the drink I had in my hand went flying into the dashboard. As I got out of the car to see what happened the man in the other car jumped out with a gallon of brake fluid and starting filling up his master brake cylinder. Then he turned to me and said he was sorry and wondered if I could just forget the accident. Looking at the back of my car it wasn’t going to be easy to forget with the rear smashed in. So I called the highway patrol to the dismay of the other person. When the office asked my story I said, “I was sitting at the traffic light waiting for it to turn green. I looked up in my rearview mirror just about the time he ran into me. I guess his car must have brake problems because he immediately jumped out and started filling the car up with brake fluid.” The officer said, “Now if the brakes are bad on that car we are going to have to tow it, so what is your story?” The other man said, “I thought his car was moving. The light was green so I assumed he wasn’t stopped, but as I got up close to him I saw he was stopped at a green light and I ran into him.” I was stunned. This man told a lie to keep from admitting to a brake problem and having his car towed. Relating to the verses above the guards changed their story to protect their interests. They lied to keep the truth silent. And because there were two stories some came to doubt the resurrection of Christ, while others believed fully with their hearts. But the truth of the evidence was still there for anyone who would have believed to look.