4/14/21
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
Our Gospel reading from Matthew 27:57-66 reminds me of the book of Jonah. It may seem a strange connection, but it's there. In Jonah, every character believes God except Jonah, the one to whom God had specifically spoken.
In Matthew 27, as well as the other Gospels, not one single follower of Jesus expected him to rise from the dead. As far as they were concerned, once he died, it was all over.
After Jesus, death, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate (v. 62). They knew what Jesus had said. Based on Jesus' words about rising from the dead, they asked for a guard so the disciples wouldn't steal the body. Jesus' promise of resurrection was known to the Jewish leaders. It was forgotten by Jesus' disciples .
Pilate, who seemed to have some idea that Jesus might be telling the truth, told the priests to take guards and make the tome bas secure as they could. It seems he may have expected the resurrection as well.
In their time of trial, the disciples were prone to forgetting the promises of Jesus. We are also quick to forget. Especially during the hard times, then, we need to strive to remember God's Word and promises. Yes, that means we recall them, like the priests, not like the disciples. God fulfills all his promises.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
Many churches throughout the world use a Bible reading schedule called a "lectionary." It's just a fancy word meaning "selected readings." Posts like this reflect on the readings for an upcoming Sunday or other Church holiday, as found in the historic one-year lectionary.
Our Gospel reading from Matthew 27:57-66 reminds me of the book of Jonah. It may seem a strange connection, but it's there. In Jonah, every character believes God except Jonah, the one to whom God had specifically spoken.
In Matthew 27, as well as the other Gospels, not one single follower of Jesus expected him to rise from the dead. As far as they were concerned, once he died, it was all over.
After Jesus, death, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate (v. 62). They knew what Jesus had said. Based on Jesus' words about rising from the dead, they asked for a guard so the disciples wouldn't steal the body. Jesus' promise of resurrection was known to the Jewish leaders. It was forgotten by Jesus' disciples .
Pilate, who seemed to have some idea that Jesus might be telling the truth, told the priests to take guards and make the tome bas secure as they could. It seems he may have expected the resurrection as well.
In their time of trial, the disciples were prone to forgetting the promises of Jesus. We are also quick to forget. Especially during the hard times, then, we need to strive to remember God's Word and promises. Yes, that means we recall them, like the priests, not like the disciples. God fulfills all his promises.
If this brief meditation was helpful to you, I hope you will check out the other materials on our website at www.WittenbergCoMo.com and consider supporting us.
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