by Don Ruhl

Read the Bible in a Year This evening read Matthew 27:51--66

They Thought That They Stopped Him Finally

Jesus is dead. He is in the tomb. However, the Jewish leaders believe that it is not over. Remembering that He had prophesied to rise from the dead, and believing that His disciples might come and steal His body to make it appear that Jesus has fulfilled His prophecy, the leaders go to Pilate, asking to prevent what they believe is the last possible deception of Jesus when His disciples come and steal the body. Pilate grants their wish. Matthew writes,

66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard (Mat. 27:66).

Often the chapter and verse divisions break up our thoughts as we read, and that is not good. On the other hand, sometimes they are good for the very reason that they break up our thoughts, making us stop reading for the moment. I think that it is good that the verse above is the last one in Matthew chapter 27, and that the next verse starts a new chapter, because Matthew 27:66 ends one of the greatest events in history, and chapter 28 begins one of the greatest events in history.

Let us pause for a day, thinking of the Son of God suffering horribly at the hands of men. Then men place Him in a tomb. Is it over? Is there no more to story? What happens next? What will His disciples do now that He is dead? Let us think about those questions, and then tomorrow we will see what happens. While you are waiting, remember that the disciples had to wait three days, not one like we are going to do.

Don Ruhl Church of Christ 220 NE Savage Street Grants Pass, Oregon 97526-1310 541-476-3100