Can’t Guard the Tomb
He STILL rose.
As I began to pray this morning when I woke up, God led me to read the next devotional in my current Bible plan, “Journeying with Jesus.” On Day 33, it talks about the moments after Jesus was crucified and how Pilate ordered that His tomb be secured with a guard. Pilate, the chief priests, and the Pharisees were all threatened by the promise that Jesus would rise again. They thought His body would be stolen so people would think He did mysteriously rise.
“The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”
— MATTHEW 27:62-65 NIV
I’ve read this story many times, but I simply glanced over it. But y’all…I started laughing this morning because I was like, “they did ALL that, and He still rose!” I don’t know about y’all, but it’s so funny to me when God shows out in Bible stories because realistically, we’ve all probably had moments when we thought we could overpower Him. I’m sure He just shakes His head like, “Look at my poor child.”
The real message that hit me while reading this story was, “and I STILL rose.” I was like dang, Jesus had the worst of the worst done to Him, then died, was put in a tomb that was SEALED and GUARDED, and guess what? He STILL rose. So, I begin to think about how this relates to us with our everyday battles. No - we may not be experiencing nearly as much pain as Jesus did, and I’m assuming you’re still alive since you’re reading this, but have you ever felt like you were in a “dead” situation?
I want to offer some encouragement to help you no matter what you may feel or will feel during future adversity: you can and will rise above it. We can still rise above any situation, no matter who or what is trying to guard our “tombs.” For the purpose of this post, think of our “tombs” as dead situations. The “guards” are negative thoughts, evil spirits, and other tactics that the enemy uses to “guard” our minds from believing and receiving all that God has promised us. The enemy may try to block us, life may try to stop us, and the evil spirits within people may try to hurt us, BUT good thing we serve a God who rose despite being “blocked.” He’s our power source.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
— PSALMS 73:26 NIV
Our God is not a God of death, but LIFE. No turmoil, no family crisis, no financial losses, NOTHING can stop us from rising out of our tombs if we keep rocking with God. Even with “faith the size of a mustard seed,” He will breathe life into our dead situations. Nothing can "guard" us from what God has destined for us. Nothing can stop His plan if we keep holding on to His unchanging hand. The “guards” can try, but who or what has ever won against God?
I’ll wait....
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
— ISAIAH 41:10 NIV
I’m praying for us all to get through life’s challenges. We WILL come out of it even BETTER than before.
Written by: Michaela Carter
