April 3 Easter Saturday? Matthew 27:63–64
Good morning from Pastor Glen Brock, Baptist Tabernacle Church, Wendell, North Carolina… “and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” (Matthew 27:63–64)
The Gospels devote a tremendous amount of emphasis to the events leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion on Thursday and Friday of Passover week, as well as Jesus’ glorious resurrection on Sunday, the “Lord’s Day.” Yet little emphasis is given, in the Gospels, to the day between “Good Friday” and Easter Sunday, sometimes known as “Holy Saturday.” None of the Gospels records any of the activities of the disciples on the Sabbath, after his burial, and before his resurrection, except, for Luke; who simply writes, “On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.” I can only imagine that this passing reference to the disciples’ Sabbath rest; may mask the considerable inner turmoil and troubled uncertainty that they were likely experiencing. It is probable that Jesus’ followers were doing on Saturday, what they were doing on Sunday, when Jesus appeared in their midst: meeting together behind closed doors for fear of the Jewish leaders. Their hopes and expectations had been crushed. The one they hoped was the Messiah had been killed as a criminal. They hadn’t understood Jesus’ predictions about suffering and dying before the crucifixion took place and it would not be until Jesus appeared among them, the following day, as the risen Victor and conqueror of death that they would begin to understand. Most likely, they were concerned, if not anxious or even terrified, that what had happened to their leader would now happen to them as well. Only the Gospel of Matthew gives any concrete details as to what took place that day behind the scenes, while activity was limited due to the Sabbath. According to Matthew’s account, it was on Saturday that the Pharisees and chief priests came to Pilate and asked for a guard to be posted at Jesus’ tomb, saying, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first” (Matt. 27:63–64). It appears that the disciples were not the only ones who were afraid! Perhaps the unusual circumstances surrounding Jesus’ death—darkness covering the land, an earthquake, the tearing of the temple curtain—gave the Jewish leaders reason to be concerned. The Pharisees were obviously aware of the predictions Jesus had made about his resurrection, although they were not necessarily inclined to think that Jesus’ words may actually come true. In fact, their words show nothing but disdain and hatred for Jesus whom they call “that impostor” and “fraud.” Nevertheless, it is truly ironic that not only were the Jewish leaders aware of Jesus’ prediction that he would rise on the third day, they acted on it, which demonstrates more “faith” than Jesus’ own followers were able to muster at that time. Pontius Pilate’s responded to the demands of the Jewish leaders, “You have a guard of soldiers!” While the Jewish authorities didn’t believe Jesus’ words any more than the disciples did, they were adamant that the body placed in the tomb must stay there and not be removed. From Matthew’s account, the activities on Holy Saturday offer proof that the Romans and the Jewish authorities secured Jesus’ tomb, which makes it virtually impossible that grave robbers could have stolen the body or that it could have disappeared through some sort of foul play in another way. Matthew sets up his narrative perfectly! What was to happen on Easter Sunday morning, at the crack of dawn! Think about this…The disciples lived with Jesus, ate with Him, ministered with Him, witnessed His miracles, yet, they did not understand! Could it be that we are the same? Declaring to the world that we are with Jesus, yet, lacking the growing faith to actually believe His words, with all of our beings? Let this Easter, 2021, be a time of reflection, renewal and total commitment to the message of Hope and the Cause of Christ! HE IS RISEN!!! Stay Strong, Stay Focused…THE BEST IS YET TO BE!