The self righteous Sanhedrin wanted to make sure that Jesus was not able to escape the tomb. Be stolen away by His devoted followers. They asked that Pilate have the tomb sealed and Roman guards placed to guard it from intruders.
Matthew 27:62-66
62 The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.” 65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.(NLT)
I am always in awe of how God arranges things to leave no doubt He is in control. The very act of placing guards at the tomb has placed the Sanhedrin and the guards in a predicament. To say they had fallen asleep would have been punished by death. They were witness to a quake, they saw the angel and went into a dead faint. When Jesus was ready, He did not need the stone rolled away to let Him out. It was rolled away to let others in. The guards will run to the Sanhedrin and tell what they witnessed. They will be bribed to say that the disciples came and stole the body. Sin has once again entered as the Sanhedrin will assure them they will take up for them should they get in trouble.
Matthew 28:1-4
1 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.(NLT)
The women followers were there first. God allowed the women to hear the news first. Our first parents, Eve in particular had allowed the enemy to entice her to do exactly what God said they should not do. But now, Jesus has come to correct the sin of the garden and God allowed the women to be the bearers of the news to the disciples. Considering, women did not have a commanding role in society, what an honor to reveal the news to them first and to allow Mary Magdalene to see the risen Savior before the men.
John 20:14-18
14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.” 16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”). 17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message. (NLT)
Thought For Today:
What they saw in those days with Jesus carried them everywhere with the message that they had seen Jesus crucified, dead and then risen! They could not stay quiet. The Master had conquered death. They risked everything and all but John would die as martyrs because they could not deny what they knew to be truth.
We may be mocked and ridiculed for our Christian beliefs but our commission is no less than the one given to Peter at the breakfast served fireside, by the Sea of Galilee, post resurrection. Once again Peter finds himself by a fire as he was the night Jesus was arrested. He was going to get the opportunity to correct His three denials. Three times, Jesus with His pierced hands will ask Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter will feel the pain of being asked three times. But by that fire with Jesus He received forgiveness.
We live in a world that needs Jesus, that needs hope. A relationship with Jesus has a story. Your story. Your experience with Jesus that can encourage others to believe in Him and find salvation. In essence each believer has become a shepherd of Christ. Feed my sheep. Tell someone He died for their sins, He was buried and raised on the third day. He was seen by over 500 people before His assension was witnessed by His disciples. They were a testimony of what they saw. We must now exercise faith to believe and spread the word. HE IS RISEN!! HE IS ALIVE!!!
John 21:13-17
13 Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. 14 This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead. 15 After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.” “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him. 16 Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?” “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.” “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said. 17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep. (NLT)
Prayer For Today:
Hello Father! Let every knee bow at the name of Jesus! Because He lives, death has been conquered. We pray for boldness to spread the hope that knowing Jesus brings! Forgive us of our sins. in Jesus’ name. Amen.
©2015 Kathy Ledbetter. All Rights Reserved.