Days 266 & 267: Psalm 22; Matthew 27:32-28:20; Mark 15:21-16:20; Luke 23:26-24:53; John 19:17-21:25

Jesus' life story is the only one ever written that doesn't end with death. I suppose the prophet Elijah would also be one except that he never even experienced death, but is taken straight up into heaven. Jesus doesn't get off that easy. He prayed in the garden that, if possible, he would prefer not having to go through with it but if not, he was willing to die. And so he does. And it was not an easy death.

While Jesus was in the tomb Pilate receives a very odd request...

     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.”
     “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. (Matthew 27:62-66)

I think Pilate had to be getting pretty fed up with these guys by now. How much nerve does it take to go back to him after the events of Thursday night and Friday and ask for some soldiers to guard Jesus' tomb? Pilate had to think they were nuts! The man was dead. It also occurs to me that they had to go to him with this request on Saturday...the Sabbath. I guess they didn't think this was a problem. I find myself being sympathetic to Pilate!

I've always loved the account of the two guys walking home to Emmaus and being joined by the resurrected Jesus on the way. You get the impression that Jesus was having a little fun with them...

As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him...And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. (Luke 24:15-16, 27)

Wouldn't you love to have heard that teaching?

Then he stays with them for dinner. Imagine how you would react to this... 

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. (Luke 24:30-31)

I think that would have made a pretty big impression!

Luke's gospel closes with Jesus meeting with all his followers.

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the 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)

So are we...So am I.