Faith Like A Mustard Seed

Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay.  Acts 2:31

Before Jesus gave up His life for us, He spoke openly about what would happen to Him. 

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.  Matthew 16:21

Then the Jews demanded of him, “What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”  Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”  John 2:18-19

His disciples did not believe any of this because they did not yet understand. 

Indeed, the disciples saw many great things; over five thousand people were fed with a few fish and some bread, the blind received sight, the lame could walk, demons and even nature submitted to the will of Jesus, yet when Jesus was raised up, as He predicted, they were filled only with doubt. 

But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.  Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.  Luke 24:11-12

The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.  Luke 24:20-21

As those who trusted in Jesus are grieving, and pondering what to do, the enemies of Christ are waiting for His words to come to pass. 

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.”  Matthew 27:62-64

A heavy stone covered the entrance to the tomb, and guards were placed there as well.  It is probable that had these guards fallen asleep, or not guarded the tomb as instructed, they would have faced the same situation that Jesus had faced (flogging and crucifixion). 

The stone was there, the guards were there, yet what happened on the third day?

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.   Matthew 28:2-4

The women who went to the tomb did not find Jesus inside, and went to tell the disciples.  Likewise, the guards went to tell the chief priests what had happened. 

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.  When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’  If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”  So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.  Matthew 28:11-15

They knew it would happen, but tried to stop it.  After it had happened, they tried to cover it up.  Their efforts were useless.  Meanwhile, the disciples finally realized what had happened. 

When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them.  Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.  They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:30-31

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.  He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.  You are witnesses of these things.  Luke 24:45-48

And praise God they did remember and understand, for if the Good News was not told to us, how else would we know…and believe? 

—->  Father, thank You for Your Word, that we might know what You have done for us, that we might know You, and how to be closer to You.  Thank You for Your truth revealed, that we can have a relationship with You because of what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us on the cross.  By trusting in Him alone, You take away our sins, as far as the east is from the west.  No one is like You, no one can compare to You.  Fill us with Your Holy Spirit each day, and enable us to live each day for You, to spread Your Word and Your love, for Your praise and Your glory alone.  Amen.

Dave Earley   http://www.init-2-winit.org