Preparations...
Matthew 27:57-66
57 Towards evening, there came a wealthy man from Ramatayim (Arimithea) named Yosef (Joseph), who was himself a talmid (disciple/student) of Yeshua. 58 He approached Pilate and asked for Yeshua’s body, and Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59 Yosef took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen sheet, 60 and laid it in his own tomb, which he had recently had cut out of the rock. After rolling a large stone in front of the entrance to the tomb, he went away. 61 Miryam of Magdala and the other Miryam stayed there, sitting opposite the grave.
62 Next day, after the preparation, the head cohanim (priest) and the P’rushim (Pharisees) went together to Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ 64 Therefore, order that the grave be made secure till the third day; otherwise the talmidim (disciples/students) may come, steal him away and say to the people, ‘He was raised from the dead’; and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You may have your guard. Go and make the grave as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the grave secure by sealing the stone and putting the guard on watch.
The grave... preparations made. Linen sheets. Oils. All have significance in how they were handled and show us that Jesus was cared for by those who loved Him.
A rich man, who became a disciple of Jesus. Did you know that there were more disciples than just the 12? And even though Jesus did say that money should not be worshipped,
Two women named Mary... More people that are a significant part of the importance of what occurred at the grave.
The day after preparation... This would be the "first day" of the Festival of Passover. Technically no work should be done this day, and yet these leaders of Torah were "fearful" of what would happen to Jesus. They were so concerned that the body would disappear that they went to Pilate on a day they should have been focused on Passover and remembering all that God had done to take them out of Egypt.
I find it interesting that they said, "Sir, we remember the 'deceiver.'" They actually called Jesus the deceiver. Words like this make it challenging for people to know the Truth. When people who are "teachers of Torah" are making claims and statements that Jesus is a "deceiver," it makes it difficult for people to know who to believe.
This still happens today. People who are "teachers of the Word" make claims and statements that people believe. And yet, these teachings are not in the Word of God. Because people are not seeking God for themselves, they cannot discern what is Truth. They follow man and not God.
We must be followers of God and His Word. We MUST be reading the Word for ourselves and asking Holy Spirit to help us rightly divide Truth. We discuss the Word together with those in our community. We seek HIM and His TRUTH with those He connects us with.
Today, as you read about the preparations that occurred for the grave, ask yourself what you are doing to prepare yourself for hearing HIM. As you are working your normal tasks every day, take time to LISTEN for Him in all you. Don't take the word of man, but HIS Truth.
Love and blessings,
Rose
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