“Behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it”.
What’s the best way to keep your house safe from a burglary—be- sides installing an alarm system and having guard dogs patrol your property? Statistics show that most burglars enter homes through the front door or the back door. If these doors in your house are hollow, the first thing you should do is replace them with a solid material door. Make sure it swings outward and also use security hinges. Window- less doors are safest and high-grade deadbolt locks are best.
When the Jewish authorities wished to keep Jesus locked securely in the tomb, they went to great lengths, even approaching Pilate on the Sabbath to carry out their work. They told the ruler, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ Therefore, command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So, the last deception will be worse than the first” (Matthew 27:63, 64).
But Roman seals and soldiers could not hold the Lord in Joseph’s tomb. Jewish leaders attempted to make the door covering Jesus’ grave the most securely locked door in the world. But early on Sunday morning, a great earthquake struck as a powerful angel from heaven descended and rolled back the large stone door. Soldiers guarding the tomb fell to the ground as dead men. Then Christ appeared in glory and majesty.
When Jesus paid the price for our redemption, when He suffered on Calvary for our sins, He opened the door to the grave so that all who die may live again. Let’s rejoice in the words Christ once spoke to the apostle John: “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forever- more. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death” (Revelation 1:18).
Dear Lord, help me serve you no matter what others say!
For Further Study: Matt. 27:62–66; 28:1–15; Luke 24:1–12; 1 Cor. 15