Matthew 28:11-15
11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, ‘You are to say, “His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.” 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.’ 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
When the priests heard the story of the empty tomb, did they believe the disciples stole the body? There was no way. The priests believed the soldier’s story of what happened. They must have been pretty scared to go so far as to bribe the soldiers to lie about what happened. Did they start realizing that only God could defeat death? What would happen to them who had sentenced Jesus to death? Once the news reached Pilate, did he realize that Jesus, whom he had sent to the cross, had risen from the dead? Were the words from his wife’s warning him echo in his mind? Mostly, did he remember the words of Jesus on the cross, “Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do.”? Did he ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus as his Savior? I find this incredibly comforting. If Jesus can forgive the very ones that crucified him, while he was suffering, wouldn’t he also forgive me for my trespasses, no matter what?