“”So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”
(Matthew 27:66 NIV)
Have you ever wondered if the seal on the tomb and the posted guards were the leadership’s knee-jerk reaction to the earthquake and resurrection of righteous people as described in verses 51 and 52?
“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They come out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” (Matthew 27:51-52 NIV)
To me, it’s almost comical that the priests and Pharisees and Pilate believed a government seal and a couple hired guards could get in the way of God’s will! It turns out that all our might, all our fury and human legislation falls apart in the face of a holy God. The guard and seal were not even a nuisance to God that morning, any more than an ant would be to an elephant. Human effort did not hinder the resurrection narrative. In fact, it only provided further proof as to Jesus’ Son-of-God status!
We do this, though. We get ourselves worked up and in the way of what God is doing. We whine and moan and make things more complicated than they need to be. And in the end, it only hurts more. God is going forward with His good will, with or without us. We may as well acknowledge His sovereignty and get on board. Then, and only then, do we get to stand on the winning side of the resurrection story.
“Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” (Proverbs 19:21 NIV)
Lord, please help us. We don’t want to just give way to Your good plans, but actually get in step with them. You are doing something Kingdom and we are honored to be a tiny part of it. Your will be done. Amen.