Context No. 2968 of 4322 · Matthew

Matthew 27:62-66: in context

62Now on the next day, which was the day after the Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees were gathered together to Pilate, 63saying, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He is risen from the dead;’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone.

The day after Jesus dies, the chief priests and Pharisees go to Pilate. We remember, they say, that this deceiver claimed he would rise after three days. Secure the tomb until the third day, lest his disciples steal the body and tell everyone he has risen. Pilate gives them a guard, and they seal the stone and set the watch.

The irony is heavy. The enemies of Jesus remembered his resurrection promise better than his own disciples did. And their very effort to prevent a faked resurrection, sealing the stone and posting Roman guards, ended up supplying the strongest evidence that the resurrection was real and not staged. Official seals, armed guards; no one could later claim the disciples simply slipped in and stole the body. In trying to shut the door on the resurrection, they bolted it in a way that would make the empty tomb impossible to explain away. Human schemes against God's purpose so often end up serving it.

Do I trust that even the efforts of those opposing God's work end up, in his hands, serving his purpose?

Sources

Matthew 27:64: "Command therefore that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest perhaps his disciples come at night and steal him away."
Psalm 2:4: "He who sits in the heavens will laugh."
Genesis 50:20: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."