February 13

today's reading: Matthew 27: 54-66

Afraid

It is amazing what fear will drive people to do, isn't it?

The fear of the unknown must have been suffocating in the hours surrounding the death of Christ.

Just before He died, there were three hours of utter darkness in the middle of the day! The "sixth hour" until the "ninth hour" was actually noon until 3pm. Not usually a time of darkness.

As soon as Jesus gave up His life, the curtain in the temple(which was a very heavy cloth) was torn from top to bottom.

 

The earth shook SO violently THAT ROCKS AND BOULDERS SPLIT!

 

The most unusual event was that tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were RAISED TO LIFE!

 

Now, that's one POWER FULL earthquake!

 

It is no wonder that Pilate wanted to be absolutely certain that the body of the One whose death would precipitate these earthly phenomena, would be securely sealed in that tomb!

 

His fear and that of the soldiers, elders, and priests, was that the body of Jesus would be stolen to make people believe that Jesus had actually risen from the dead.

 

Do you imagine that there might have been some fear in them that it
JUST MIGHT BE TRUE?
 ...that Jesus REALLY HAD RISEN JUST AS HE SAID HE WOULD?

 

But, they would not have wanted it to be true, would they?

 

They would not want to have..........

       crucified one who would rise from the dead on the third day.....
 

               just as prophecy had said would be the case for the Messiah......

                      just as Jesus Christ had said He would do.......
 

                       .......... that would be too much ................