Galilee
Follow the money.
The tomb was empty.
The soldiers who had seen what happened were terrified.
When the religious leaders who demanded Jesus’ death heard what happened, they paid off the guards to say that, while they were sleeping, grave-robbers had stolen Jesus body (Matt 28:11-15).
Women told another story
Meanwhile Mary of Magdala, with a number of her friends, began spreading the word that Jesus was alive. They told the men to go to Galilee where Jesus said he would meet them (Matt 28:10).
And so…
The eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matt 28:16-20).
Then came Paul…
Some say Paul turned Jesus’ message and mission into his own personal cause. Others say that if we listen carefully to Paul, we will hear someone who can be explained, not by following the money, but by listening to the story and transformed life of a broken and humbled legalist who found in Jesus— a loving God, a merciful Savior, and a transforming Spirit who brought fullness of meaning to the Law— while offering forgiveness, grace, and reconciliation with our Father and one another.
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