All things are Possible

2 P&P Blog for the week of 8-14 April 2023

Sketch of the Empty Tomb

This week, as I’ve been pondering the events of Jesus’ death and resurrection … I noticed something that may sometimes get glossed over as we remember His act of love and mercy for us. To what do I refer? The stone. So, let’s investigate two scenes that are part of Matthew 27.

Matthew 27:62-65 (NIV) tells us this: “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.”

Notice these verses? 1) It is the chief priests and Pharisees—who remembered the words of Jesus—when He said He would “rise again after three days.” 2) They decide to take action by placing a stone at the entrance to the tomb. 3) Pilate {the Governor} instructs them to seal Him in the grave. 4) Then, they post a guard.

Man certainly had his say! Right?

Now, read on: Matthew 28:1-10 (NIV) tells us this—“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.’ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. ‘Greetings,’ he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’”

Now it’s God’s turn:

1) There is an earthquake! 2) An angel appears from heaven to roll the stone away. 3) The angel sits on the now-removed stone as a guardian. 4) The human guards, who were posted, are now quaking in fear of God’s ambassadors. 5) The angel proclaims: “He is Risen!” (Thus, keeping His promise).6) The angel invites the women to see for themselves that the tomb lies empty. 7) Jesus {the King of Kings} appears—to confirm the truth that He is alive!

While man had his say, Jesus had—and has—the ultimate victory! What an awesome gift this was to His followers more than 2000 years ago. But more importantly what a beautiful gift this truth is to our souls today! I’m reminded of Matthew 19:23-26. Here, Jesus is talking about who can be saved. The Disciples have questions; Jesus has an answer: “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (NKJV) While this verse applies to salvation, it’s also true of the scene from Matthew 27-28. And in this Easter season, I think it can be applied to our hearts. So, I leave you with a few thoughts … what, in your life, is seemingly impossible? In what way has “man” rolled a stone in your path—that Jesus is waiting to remove? What action might He want you to take (perhaps faith and belief or sharing His story) before He might bring it to pass?

Wishing you a miraculous blessing this Easter morning because we love and serve a Risen Lord! That’s a reason to trust Him. It’s also a reason to rejoice. And it’s a reason to praise and proclaim Him, today and always.

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