READ
As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.
The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.
Matthew 27:57-65
The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”
Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.
Matthew 27:57-65
REFLECT
Imagine that you’re one of the disciples. You’ve been following this man around who claimed to be God, and who you thought was a King. You thought that all the miracles and sermons were leading up to something big. But now there’s just silence. Jesus is dead, you’re on the run from the same people who killed Him, and there’s no sign that He’s coming back. What would you be feeling?
Have you ever felt like Jesus was silent or distant? Maybe He seems silent right now?
The truth is that Jesus does answer our prayers, but it’s not always the answer we want or the timing that we expected. Jesus doesn’t promise that we’ll get everything we ask for, but He does promise to be with us in the waiting.
Reflect on this thought today: Jesus is with me in the waiting.
Have you ever felt like Jesus was silent or distant? Maybe He seems silent right now?
The truth is that Jesus does answer our prayers, but it’s not always the answer we want or the timing that we expected. Jesus doesn’t promise that we’ll get everything we ask for, but He does promise to be with us in the waiting.
Reflect on this thought today: Jesus is with me in the waiting.
RESPOND
Are you waiting on an answer to prayer? Are you losing hope that an answer will come? Does Jesus feel distant? Tell Him about it.
What do you need today? What are you grateful for today? Is there anything you need to get off your chest? Tell Jesus about it.
What do you need today? What are you grateful for today? Is there anything you need to get off your chest? Tell Jesus about it.