While he was still alive, that “deceiver”—Jesus, said, “After 3 days I will rise from the dead.” So 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 ever. Matt. 27:62-64
Lord Jesus, as the sun rose the day after your crucifixion, no one realized the most undeserved death imaginable would yield the greatest return calculable. Already the veil in the temple had been ripped top to bottom, all judgment against our sins us was cancelled, and the powers of darkness were crushed (Col.2:14-15). Many people came out of their tombs alive (like the first fruits of your immanent resurrection), and you whisked the grace-loved thief to paradise (Matt.27:52-53, Lk.23:43). Hallelujah!
Indeed, no one realized your cruel death would bring us eternal life. They couldn’t imagine your fatal wounding would secure our total healing. Precisely because you were crushed under God’s judgment, we are now cherished by the God of all grace (Isa. 53:5). They had the verses but no clue; the Scriptures but zero understanding; religion but not the Gospel.
However, those who crucified you did remember your promise of resurrection. They weren’t saddened by your death; they were terrified of your life. Wanting to “re-kill” a resurrected Lazarus dead (Jn.12:10), they weren’t about to indulge a resurrected Jesus. O silly, sick, sinful men—they’d sooner hold back the rising of the sun than the rising of the Son of God.
Resurrection Sunday was coming, and there was absolutely nothing they could do about it. Tears about your death would soon be replaced with shouts about your triumph: “The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed!” Hallelujah everything was about to change—literally everything. Hallelujah and So Very Amen.
