Scripture to Read: Matthew 27:57–66 & 28:1–15
Our Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross. His body was removed from the cross, and Joseph of Arimathea got permission from Pilate to put Jesus in his tomb. Matthew 27:62–66 records the meeting the chief priests and the Pharisees have with Pilate. These so-called religious leaders were afraid that Jesus’s disciples would steal Jesus’s body, trying to prove that Jesus rose from the grave. It is interesting when we consider that Jesus had told His disciples numerous times that He would rise from the dead on the third day. But the disciples were so overcome by Christ’s death that they did not remember His promise of His resurrection. But the chief priests and the Pharisees remembered Jesus’s promise, and they were worried something would happen. So, Pilate gave the chief priests and the Pharisees permission to have guards secure the tomb. The Good News is that nothing was going to keep our Lord from fulfilling His promise. Our Lord Jesus Christ completely defeated death on that first resurrection morning and rose from the grave. The guards, who were to protect the tomb so Christ’s body was not stolen, according to Matthew 28:4, “shook for fear of him and became like dead men,” when an angel of the Lord showed up. We know the resurrection happened and God clarified it in 1 Corinthians 15:13–14, “But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.” Happy Easter!
Challenge & Application
· We get to celebrate Christ’s resurrection every day, but pray for those who will be in worship for the first time hearing this Good News.
· Be sure and walk in this Good News daily, and always be ready to share this Good News as well (1 Peter 3:15).
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!