Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:1-66, Isaiah 53:1-9, John 3:16
When I read through this part in the Gospels, I always read it with the resurrection in mind because we have the luxury of knowing what happened after Jesus’s death. But what if I was there when it happened? What if I was one of the people following Jesus around at that time? As I’m watching Him, this man who says He’s come to save the world dies so helplessly, receiving an excruciating punishment—what would I be thinking and feeling?
In Matthew 27, I see all the different types of responses to Jesus and His pending death. Judas hangs himself after seeing the direct outcome of his actions. Religious leaders are laser-focused on getting Jesus killed. Roman soldiers, other criminals crucified next to Him, and bystanders, mock Jesus. Roman centurions at the crucifixion notice the abnormal darkness and earthquake. The women who followed Him are watching from a distance. Joseph of Arimathea uses his wealth and position to get Jesus’s body for a proper burial.
The best His followers could do at that time was to either quietly observe from a distance or provide a place to bury His dead body. I think I would have done the same if I’m honest. And while doing so, I would have said “oh, perhaps this wasn’t it…” and added it to my list of unmet expectations.
There is something to be said about the proximity of the guards to Jesus—their job was to watch Him and everything around Him closely. They probably heard everything Jesus was saying and how He was responding to His pain. Perhaps they sensed Jesus’s humility, meekness, and vulnerability amid His suffering. Perhaps they saw how He was still speaking with His Father in both love and agony, holding nothing back. Then they saw daylight turning dark when it wasn’t supposed to, and they felt the earth shake! Although they weren’t followers of Jesus, they saw it all and exclaimed what no one else would in this situation—this is the Son of God! To them, this was the only conclusion they could draw based on everything they saw.
It is easy to see the power of Jesus in His resurrection, but I want to have the eyes to see Him as my Lord and King in His death! I want to be so close to Him that I won’t miss anything. When I think hope is dead, Lord help me stay close to you and see who you really are.
Written by Minnie Lee
Hebrews 10:19–20 the author reminds us that we have confidence to enter the sanctuary by the blood of Christ, who opened the way through the curtain by his flesh. In other words, the temple curtain stood in the way so that only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and that only once per year. By his death on the cross, Jesus opened the way through the curtain, a curtain which literally tore in two when Jesus died on the cross.
Tearing of the veil was a picture of death whereby we enter the Presence of God. When Jesus died the veil was torn from top to bottom. If the earthquake that happened at Jesus’ death had ripped the curtain, it would have been from the bottom upward as the earth separated.
The curtain was the barrier between humanity and God, where no one may enter the room where God’s throne is except the high priest, once a year. The torn curtain signifies that death of Jesus makes access to God possible for humanity.
Jesus’s death was so painful and humiliating that we tend to avert our eyes. However, He is inviting us to look directly at the events of Good Friday, view his suffering and humiliation on the cross, and see the LOVE there. ❤️
“Blessed are those who mourn….”
Father we thank you for Your great sacrifice. The mourning may be for the night, but joy shall come in the morning. For the wisdom of God is to use the frailty of His son to deliver mankind. We praise and bless your Holy Name. We thank You for your kindness and suffering. May we live every day to make Christ known. May it be a commitment and privilege of our lives.
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Day 3 Fasting: The Tomb is the Womb of Resurrection.
“Those from among you
Shall build the old waste places;
You shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,
The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In.”
(Isaiah 58:12)
Father, we pray for the power of resurrection this day to come into our lives, our families, our friends, our nations. Let the grave that holds captives be broken to release all, including ourselves. Let those in our families, our nations, those dead to the things of God, let us come back up to life by Your Power that raises Jesus from the dead. Let the ruins in our families that were destroyed, the relationships that were estranged and scattered, the dreams forsaken, the hopes deferred, let the power of resurrection come onto all this day, that none shall be lost but to be brought back life, with speed. For the Glory of our Name.
Father, we decree and declare in Your Name the ancient ruins shall be rebuilt in our Nations, in our communities, neighborhoods, churches, and families. There is a place where the Words of Life and Death are birthed by the power of our tongues (Proverbs 18:21). Let our tongues turn the course by our words now. Let life come back, let resurrection come back over the prodigal nations/children who were “dead” and scattered, let Life and Your Spirit come into them now, to change hearts and bring them back to paths of righteousness. Let the course of our prayers and proclamations this day turn the table of darkness, to prophesy that Your Kingdom come, Your will be done across the Nations of the Earth, and in our families’ lives even now. Let them come back. Let the wicked ones forsake his ways when there is still time. Unite your remnants this day Lord, to come and humble ourselves in fasting and prayers, to seek the face of the Lord in True Repentance, and stand in the gap and in the authority You have given us, to intercede on behalf of our Governments, Nations and others. May Your glory be revealed in ways we never thought possible. Cause us to be bold and strong in our Prayers and Prophetic Declarations. For we are called for such a time like this.
In Jesus’ Name we pray. Amen.
@SEARCHING:❤️
@CHANGED LIFE:❤️
Be blessed dear sisters.
Lord Jesus, May our hearts remain in you, long after tomorrow’s celebration of your resurrection in the months to come. May we live with hearts and minds focused on you. Amen.
The last two days (ch 26 & 27) have caused me to look at the religious leaders and how hard their hearts were In spite of what they experienced first hand:
1. From 6th to 9th hour the earth darkens
2. When Jesus gave up his Spirit on the cross, the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom – you know the religious leaders heard about it
3. Earthquake – everyone felt it
4. Godly dead people were resurrected from tombs and made appearances in city after Jesus’ resurrection!!!!
Jesus had been performing miracles for 3 years and the religious leaders were more and more determined to kill Him.
Even the next morning they asked Pilate to put a guard on the tomb.
And what about all the regular people? I picture chaos in the city on Saturday – everyone having a story to tell. Unexplainable other than Jesus was who He claimed to be.
I’m thinking this is why thousands of people put their faith in Jesus at Pentecost.
But where I sit today – my takeaway- I don’t want to have a hard heart. I don’t want to think I have all the answers.
I want to draw closer and closer to Jesus even when I don’t understand what He is doing in my life.
I want to be like those precious ladies who were constantly there even when most of the disciples ran and hid. They followed Him in life and they followed Him in His death. They grieved but they stayed!!!! Even sitting across from the tomb after Joseph left having rolled the stone over the tomb. They stayed.
Happy Easter, dear sisters!
It’s amazing how Jesus used his power as the son of God to endure all shame, pain, despair, betrayal, and darkness, so that we could be saved from it all. Oh, my humble and mighty King of Kings. Be blessed She’s!!