Sealed In A Stone-Cold Tomb

OPENING PRAYER:

Please, Lord, reveal new gems of truth in your Word today so that I might see them clearly and that they may deepen my faith.

READ: Matthew 27:57-66

The Burial of Jesus

57 As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Matthew 27:57-66

REFLECT:

Are you exhausted or jaded? Or sad? The Lord is at hand. Allow him time to heal and restore you. Where were the disciples when Jesus died? Some seem not to have been around, but others cared faithfully to the end, notably many of the women (vs 55,56). Have you noticed that when there is a crisis or challenge, some people come out of the woodwork and are worth their weight in gold? (And other people, whom you thought you could depend on, can’t be seen for dust!)

At this point, Joseph of Arimathea stepped up (vs 57–60). He was a wealthy member of the Sanhedrin ruling council, but he was different; he was a secret disciple of Jesus (John 19:38). Now, he came out publicly as a disciple, when it was the hardest time to do so. Jesus was dead and disgraced. The ‘establishment’ had triumphed. Joseph had nothing to gain and everything to lose. But he was undaunted. He may have been the only disciple in Jerusalem with the influence to access Pilate and ask for Jesus’ body.

Pilate agreed. Mary Magdalene and another Mary stayed and watched as Joseph buried their Lord (v 61). Love is stronger than death. Joseph’s actions made him the first person in the world to serve the crucified Christ.

The tomb was placed under extra security (vs 62–66) to make sure Jesus stayed dead and buried.

APPLY:

Easter Eve is a day to learn to wait patiently. It would be a pity if we give up just before God sends the blessing.

I WILL STATEMENT:

I WILL start a conversation with my spouse about how I can love or respect them more.

CLOSING PRAYER:

Dear Lord, help me as I learn what it means to take up my cross and follow you.

WORSHIP:

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