3. READ: MATTHEW 27:57-66 AND MATTHEW 28:1-15
[Matthew 27:57] "As evening approached, there came a
rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a
disciple of Jesus. [58] Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus'
body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. [59] Joseph took
the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, [60] and placed it in
his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big
stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. [61] Mary
Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the
tomb.
[62] "The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the
chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. [63]
'Sir,' they said, 'we remember that while He was
still alive that deceiver said, "After three days I will rise
again." [64] 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.'
[65] "'Take a guard,' Pilate answered.
'Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.' [66] So
they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone
and posting the guard."
[Matthew 28:1] "After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first
day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at
the tomb.
[2] "There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of
the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back
the stone and sat on it. [3] His appearance was like lightning, and
his clothes were white as snow. [4] The guards were so afraid of
him that they shook and became like dead men.
[5] "The angel said to the women, 'Do not be
afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, Who was
crucified. [6] He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come
and see the place where He lay. [7] Then go quickly and tell His
disciples: "He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of
you into Galilee. There you will see Him." Now I have told
you.'
[8] "So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid
yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. [9] Suddenly
Jesus met them. 'Greetings,' He said. They came to Him,
clasped His feet and worshiped Him. [10] Then Jesus said to them,
'Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brothers to go to Galilee;
there they will see Me.'
[11] "While the women were on their way, some of the
guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests
everything that had happened. [12] When the chief priests had met
with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large
sum of money, [13] telling them, 'You are to say, "His
disciples came during the night and stole Him away while we were
asleep." [14] If this report gets to the governor, we will
satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.' [15] So the
soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this
story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very
day."
a. How was the tomb of Jesus made secure?
b. Who opened Jesus' tomb the next day?
c. What "story" did the soldiers circulate?
