Saturday, April 15, 2006
Holy Saturday
SATURDAY -- THE WEEK THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
Matthew 27:62-66 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise.' 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." Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.
THE SECURE GRAVE
Many cemeteries are enclosed with high fences. After all, you can't be too careful. Who knows when someone inside may make a break for it? Not! The sad fact is there is a need to guard against vandals and grave robbers.
That was also the point made by the Jewish delegation that went to Pilate the day after Jesus' death and burial. In fact, might they not have used the very expression we just did? "You can't be too careful! If someone breaks into the grave of Jesus and steals the body, this man will cause us more trouble after his death than he did before it."
The recent bestseller (film coming in May) THE DaVINCI CODE promotes the idea that Jesus didn't actually die on the cross. But those who put the Rabbi from Nazareth to death -- the Jewish council, the Roman procurator, the Roman detail the centurion headed up -- they all knew Jesus was dead. They did not set their guard to keep Jesus in but to keep His disciples out. And once again they were successful. No disciple broke into Jesus grave.
So it is that those who opposed Christ long ago actually speak against the lies of those who deny His death and resurrection today. The glorious grace of God uses even the efforts of sinful unbelief to work His gracious will.
Vain the stone, the watch, the seal;
Christ has burst the gates of hell.
(TLH 193:2)
