Living Large

Happy Sunday!

Matthew 27:62-66 says, "That day was the day called Preparation day. The next day, the leading priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. They said, “Sir, we remember that while that liar was still alive he said, ‘I will rise from death in three days.’  So give the order for the tomb to be guarded well for three days. His followers might come and try to steal the body. Then they could tell everyone that he has risen from death. That lie will be even worse than what they said about him before.”  Pilate said, “Take some soldiers and go guard the tomb the best way you know.”  So they all went to the tomb and made it safe from thieves. They did this by sealing the stone in the entrance and putting soldiers there to guard it."(Easy-to-Read Version).

One of our questions today in Children's Church was, "Did Jesus really die?"  I was surprised to have students that answered "No".  But it was good to be able to discuss this, and give supporting scriptures.  The scripture passage I listed above reveals that the enemies of Jesus acknowledged and verified that he was dead.  "Graveyard Dead", as my Aunt Theaha would say.  These scriptures also show that the leading priests and Pharisees heard every word Jesus said.  They were so convinced that the disciples would steal the body of Jesus and fake a resurrection that they went to Pilate for reinforcements.

Matthew 28:1-4 says, "When the Sabbath was over, just as the first day of the week was dawning Mary from Magdala and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. At that moment there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from Heaven, went forward and rolled back the stone and took his seat upon it. His appearance was dazzling like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. The GUARDS shook with terror at the sight of him and collapsed like dead men."(Phillips).  Don't miss this!  The Guards were still at the tomb, and witnessed the earthquake, and the angel rolling the stone away!  

Matthew 28:11-15 says, "The women went to tell the followers. At the same time, some of the soldiers who were guarding the tomb went into the city. They went to tell the leading priests everything that happened. Then the priests met with the older Jewish leaders and made a plan. They PAID the soldiers a LOT of MONEY and said to them, “Tell the people that Jesus’ followers came during the night and stole the body while you were sleeping.  If the governor hears about this, we will talk to him and keep you out of trouble.”  So the soldiers kept the money and obeyed the priests. And that story is still spread among the Jews even today."(Easy-to-Read Version).  Can you imagine how those guards or soldiers must have felt?  They knew and had seen this with their own eyes!  The King James translation of this scripture says, "they gave them LARGE money" to keep this a secret.  Thankfully, it's no secret that He Is Risen!  And he didn't just stop there, "...also he shewed himself ALIVE after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:"(Acts 1:3, KJV).

The Resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our Christian existence. It's the one thing that separates our relationship with God from all other religions.  Our Savior is ALIVE!  Romans 10:9 tells us what it takes to be a part of the Winning Team, "For if you tell others with your own mouth that Jesus Christ is your Lord and believe in your own heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved."(Living Bible).   

Love and prayers, Cynthia