Luke 24

62-64After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with Pilate. They said, “Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ We’ve got to get that tomb sealed until the third day. There’s a good chance his disciples will come and steal the corpse and then go around saying, ‘He’s risen from the dead.’ Then we’ll be worse off than before, the final deceit surpassing the first.”
65-66Pilate told them, “You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can.” So they went out and secured the tomb, sealing the stone and posting guards.

(The Message, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 Eugene H. Peterson by NavPress Publishing)

 

Jesus didn’t hide His plans for bringing eternal life. Even those who rejected Him and reject Him now are aware of His promise. “I will be raised,” He said.  “He is risen!”, we say still today.

 

The religious and the powerful conspired to kill Jesus. They knew of His promise to rise. They conspired to cover up His resurrection. You can’t guard your unbelief too carefully.

 

But, nothing can stop Jesus. He rose. He offers new life, power, and  way of living. The religious and the powerful miss it. Those who admit their need and trust in His power find entrance into His new life.

 

The power of Pilate and the religious leaders didn’t have a chance. They contributed to His death and through that death Jesus won. They worked to discredit His promised resurrection and in so doing strengthened the faithful.

 

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