Matthew 27:54 says, Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. When the soldiers watching Jesus saw the earthquake, were afraid and said that Jesus was truly the Son of God. We may not feel an earthquake, but until we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord we better be afraid, because He truly is the Son of God and the only way to salvation. Verse fifty-five states, And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: Verse fifty-six adds, Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children. Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of Jesus, and the mother of James and John were watching from afar off. Still, even if they were afar off, they still cared what happened to Jesus. Verse fifty-seven says, When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple: Verse fifty-eight adds, He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered. When evening came a rich man from Atimethaea named Joseph came to Pilate and begged him for the body of Jesus. Evidently the eleven remaining disciples who were closest to Jesus were not concerned with what happened to His body. We should never allow events to keep us from being close to Jesus, but we never have to worry about anything happening to Him physically. Verse fifty-nine continues, And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, Joseph took the body of Jesus and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth. We need to remember all that had happened to Jesus right before and during His crucifixion and realize that His body was a mess, but Joseph still took charge and prepared the body for burial. Verse sixty concludes, And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed. Joseph then laid the body of Jesus in his own tomb, which he had carved out of rock, and rolled a stone in front of it. When we hear someone say that God has promised them certain things in this world as followers of Christ because He wants them to be happy, we need to remember that Jesus had neither a home or even His own tomb here, and that He was beaten and crucified. Verse sixty-one states, And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Jesus were sitting against the tomb. They still had not abandoned Jesus, even though they really did not understand what had really happened at this time. We should never abandon Jesus even when we do not fully understand what is happening in our life at all times. Verse sixty-two declares, Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, That morning, the chief priests and Pharisees came to Pilate, still concerned with insuring that Jesus remained in the tomb. Verse sixty-three declares, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. The chief priests and Pharisees remembered what Jesus said about rising again the third day. These religious leaders called Jesus a deceiver. We better hope that as followers of Christ that we never begin to view Jesus as a deceiver, because if we do, then we have never truly accepted Him for Who He is, the Savior of all who put their faith in Him. Verse sixty-four adds, Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. The chief priests and Pharisees asked Pilate to make sure that he tomb was secure for three days so that the disciples could not come and steal Jesus' body and claim that He had risen. They did not know it, but their actions would offer further proof that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead by insuring that when His body was gone that no one truthfully could claim that the disciples had stolen it. The best laid plans of those who attempt to discredit Jesus will always ultimately fail. Verse sixty-five declares, Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. Pilate told them that they had their watch, or troops to guard the tomb and then told them to go and make the tomb as secure as they could. Verse sixty-six adds, So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch. The tomb was sealed and the guard was set, which insured that no one would get in, but did nothing to keep Jesus there. People of the world may take all kinds of actions to discredit Jesus, but they will never keep Him in the tomb. He has risen, and is the only way for anyone to become a part of the everlasting family of God.
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