Today’s Daily Bible Reading is from Matthew 27:55-66. In this Scripture, Jesus was buried in a tomb that was hewn from a rock by Joseph of Arimathaea, who was a disciple of Jesus. Joseph went to Pilate and begged for the body of Jesus.

Pilate commanded Jesus’ body to be delivered to Joseph. Joseph took His body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in the tomb he prepared. Then he rolled a huge stone in front of the door of the sepulcher and left. Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, who followed Jesus from Galilee, were sitting against the sepulcher. Can you see in this Scripture how much some of Jesus’ followers loved Him by the way they took care of Him after His death?

We see John’s record of this in John 19:38-42:
38 And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
39 And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight.
40 Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.
41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid.
42 There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.

The next day, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and told him that Jesus said after the third day He would rise again. They asked Pilate to make the tomb secure, so the disciples couldn’t take the body of Jesus away during the night and say He had risen. Pilate gave them a soldier to take to the tomb to secure the tomb and keep watch over it. Was a soldier going to keep God’s will from taking place?

Daily Bible Reading:

Matthew 27:55-66

55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him:
56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children.
57 When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus’ disciple:
58 He went to Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be delivered.
59 And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,
60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
61 And there was Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, sitting over against the sepulchre.
62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64 Command therefore that the sepulchrebe made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

Things to think about:

• Who were some of Jesus’ devout followers during this time?

• Who was the man who went to Pilate and requested Jesus’ body?

• Why did the chief Priests and Pharisees want the tomb to be guarded?

• Do you believe?

Prayer of the Day:

Dear Heavenly Father,

We thank You for Your Son, Jesus, who came into this world, lived, and died for our sins. As we read this Scripture of Jesus’ burial, our hearts are heavy, just knowing what He went through so our sins might be covered by the blood. Thank You for making a way for us. In Jesus’ name, we pray. We love You, Lord. Amen.

– Excerpt from The Book of Matthew: Life of Jesus Christ