Good morning! As a child I often heard my mother speak to me, but didn’t always listen. Did you have a similar experience? Sometimes there were consequences for acting as though I was deaf, but now as an adult I can clearly hear and remember the things my mother or other elders said to me. They were wise and at the time I didn’t know it. However, now I understand. Have you experienced that before? Well today as we finish Matthew chapter 27 we will read about a group of people who remembered. Enjoy today’s reading and your day.

BIBLE VERSE – Matthew 27:57-66 NLT
“57 As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, 58 went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. 59 Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. 60 He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left. 61 Both Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting across from the tomb and watching.

62 The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. 63 They told him, “Sir, we remember what that deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ 64 So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”

65 Pilate replied, “Take guards and secure it the best you can.” 66 So they sealed the tomb and posted guards to protect it.”

REFLECTION
Joseph of Arimathea was rich, but also a follower of Christ. He was brave enough to ask Pilate for Jesus’ body and carefully cared for it until it was placed in the tomb. That had to be an emotional moment and painful for those who loved Jesus.

Yet, in the midst of their mourning the disciples who were not mentioned as being present seemingly forgot what “Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of his enemies. 23 He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” And the disciples were filled with grief.” (Matthew 17:22-23), but the leading priests and the Pharisees who didn’t believe Jesus remembered what Jesus said.

Sisters and brothers over the past few months of reading the book of Matthew, do you remember what Jesus said? Jesus said a lot and he taught us a lot through the parables. The Holy Spirit continues to remind us of the things we have learned. We may not remember it all, but in our hearts we have heard the gospel truth and the Holy Spirit will call it to our remembrance as we live to follow Christ Jesus. Let me challenge you to spend more time meditating on the Word of God so that when you are asked for the reason for your hope, you will be ready to respond.

PRAYER
Father God in the name of Jesus we come to you in prayer. Lord, thank you for your word today. Thank you for your Holy Spirit who reminds us of your word daily and penetrates our hearts to receive it into our lives and are seen by our actions. Lord, forgive us when we ignore the warnings or the directions of the Holy Spirit. Lord, help us to be more attuned to your voice and able to recall your truth. Lord, may our lives be a reflection of your love on earth. Lord, may your peace fill the earth and tear down walls that have been dividing our nation and people. Lord, because of you we are one body, so Lord lead us in the way we should go. Change us to be more like you. In Jesus name, amen.

—
PRAYER REQUEST
Do you have a prayer request? We would love to pray for you. Send your prayer request to: contactus@maryewhiteministries.com

Bible Reference: http://www.biblegateway.com

John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck Bible Knowledge Commentary (Unites States, SP Publications, 1983), 90.

Copyright ©️ 2022 Mary E. White Ministries, all rights reserved.