Nothing stops Jesus

62On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’  64Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.”  66So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

Much had been said about Jesus rising to life again after the crucifixion. Therefore, The chief priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate about this. They were worried that His disciples would steal His body and broadcast the fact that, He had in fact, risen. Therefore, Pilate agreed to a guard being placed outside the tomb. 

Obviously, this didn't work and Jesus rose on the third day. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled the stone away. There was then an earthquake, one in which petrified the guards and they became like stone, totally unaware of what happened. Jesus had risen as He said He would. Nothing stops Jesus.

Now, some theologists are uncertain of whether the guards were Roman or from the Temple guard. If they were Roman, the soldiers would certainly have been punished, possibly by execution. But Matthew states that the guards went into the city and reported what had happened to the chief priests and they were bribed, for a large sum of money, to say that Jesus' disciples came at night, while they slept, and took the body away. Therefore, it is possible that they were from the Temple guard. Also, it is possible that Pilate would not have wanted to be answerable to His superiors if the guards were from his command. Food for thought!

Whatever; this goes to prove once again, that nothing stops Jesus. So, if you have a problem, do you really think that He can't handle this for you? Of course He can. He had risen from the dead and made a mockery of the guards and the schemings of the chief priests, so mere every day things are nothing to Him. But why do we have to wait for Him to act? Don't forget, the Father couldn't bear to look at His Son suffering and dying in agony. He didn't rescue Him and Jesus Himself didn't try to escape either even though at the click of a finger, He could have done. No, there was a waiting period. Things had to be in place for Jesus to bring victory and freedom to us all. He had to go through it all, so that we would be free.

Therefore, when you are going through problems and God doesn't answer your prayers, don't let yourself begin to imagine that He doesn't care for you. It's just not the right time or, there may be something you have to do first. This could be unconfessed sin or Jesus getting things into place for your own victory to come.

Copyright 2025 Grahame Howard. 
If you don't know Jesus or, have fallen away, why not say this prayer right now
Lord Jesus, I have sinned. I ask you to forgive me and be my Lord and Saviour. Please come into my heart, fill me with Your Spirit and give me a brand new start today. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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