The days following the first Easter Sunday were defining days.
The days following Easter Sunday 2025 are also defining days.
In the days following the first Easter, the religious hierarchy began conspiring with Roman authorities to discredit the story that was spreading, and spreading quickly, that the same Jesus whom they had killed on the cross was now gone from His tomb.
The Roman soldiers accepted the bribe that was offered by the religious leaders, and spread the deception that the followers of Jesus had stolen His body to support their religious beliefs and fake a resurrection.
A campaign of misinformation was launched, driven by personal ambition, pride, ignorance, and rebellion, resulting in cultural chaos.
And deception.
But things became complicated. Jesus began making live personal appearances. Many appearances.
In the days following Easter, two men were walking to a nearby city discussing their personal disappointment in the way things had turned out for the Nazarene---and for them personally. The prophets were apparently wrong. Or, maybe He just wasn't the Messiah after all, they concluded.
The lies and deception had led them to doubt. And despair.
Be informed, not misled.