Verse of the day: Matthew 27:62-66, On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.
Yesterday we celebrated the death of our Savior. We discussed the blessings of His last words on the Cross. However, what happened between His crucifixion and the morning His tomb was discovered empty? Well, foolish human wisdom and arrogance was in full play. The priests and Pharisees, as well as government officials, decided that they would put an end to God’s plan by placing guards to protect the tomb. Protect the tomb? No, it was more like they were trying to protect their own desire to have the people’s praise as their spiritual leaders. They wanted to continue to have control over their followers, dictating how they should live and how they should follow laws that they themselves were not able to keep (Matthew 23). They refused to believe and give Jesus the glory that belonged to Him and Him alone. Their arrogance and pride were no better than Satan’s pride; the same pride that led to his fall. How often do we, filled with our pride, think that we can arrange circumstances to make things work out the way WE want them to? How often do we decide that we are our own gods, and we know what is best, in spite of what God’s Word tells us? It seems that the Pharisees were actually in a panic. Let us not forget what happened when Jesus was crucified. Matthew 27:50-54 tells us, “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God!’” How silly we are to think that we can thwart God’s plans with our miserable tactics. How does God react to these feeble attempts? He laughs. Psalm 2:1-4 tells us, “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 ‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision.” At the same time that the Pharisees and others are plotting to stop God’s plan, the disciples are hunkered down, feeling hopeless and probably wondering what will happen to them now that Jesus is gone? They hid themselves in fear over what might be done to them if they are identified as “Jesus followers”. What a hopeless time. Three days must have felt like an eternity. However, regardless of what man plots, regardless of how often we are persecuted for being followers of Jesus, the one thing we need to remind ourselves and each other of is, “God will not be stopped!” Just like the death could not keep Him in the tomb, so it is with man’s foolish wisdom and plans. They cannot stop God’s plan for each of our lives. We are living in uncertain times, from man’s perspective, and the world is in a panic. This is the time, especially as we celebrate the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, for us to let the Light of Jesus shine brightly! Let us be encouraged by the fact that our God is unstoppable, and encourage one another with that truth. God has a plan and is in full control, even in the midst of circumstances that seem to be out of control. As we wait for one more day to celebrate Resurrection Sunday, let us spread a message of encouragement to those who are currently feeling hopeless. Our God is alive and well, and because of that we have a Living Hope. His Name is Jesus!
Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).
