“The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 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.”
Matthew 27:62-64 NIV

As the disciples waited in hiding, the Pharisees and religious leaders were still conspiring against Jesus and those who followed Him. Death wasn’t enough for them. There was something to Jesus and His life that led them to believe He may actually be able to make good on His claims to rise from the dead.

Maybe it would be His disciples to come and do this, and stage a fake resurrection. Maybe they would hide the body and claim He had been in one place and then another, always eluding the grasp and eyes of His persecutors. And then again, there was Lazarus and reports of others whom He had brought back from the other side of death.

So, better safe than sorry, they went to Pilate and brought the Romans in one last time to make sure the job was done.

A beating, flogging, crucifixion, blood loss and exposure finalized with a spear through the heart wasn’t enough for them. There had to be one more effort.

And while the disciples wonder if they’re next, the Pharisees were wondering if there was one more shoe to drop. Both of them were right.
The disciples would one day face death in the Name of Jesus, but not this weekend. Some sooner than others, but not this weekend. No one else dies.
The Pharisees did have another shoe that was already in mid-air and getting ready to make impact when the sun rose and the Son rose the next morning.

Was there something to watch out for? Absolutely!
Jesus had already shown His authority over life and death. He could restore the broken and heal the sick. He proved His authority over and over again, even though He didn’t need to…

Like He said at Lazarus’ tomb, He was saying and doing all this for our benefit that we might see and believe. For 11 or so men and a handful of devout women, there was joy to come from this day of waiting. For the Pharisees, a personal confrontation with the truth of just who Jesus was and who He continues to be…

Today we wait as we remember, but we also hold the distinct privilege of knowing that Sunday morning is coming and that victory is already secured!
So, GoLove in that victory! GoLove in that hope! GoLove in that assurance that Jesus is victorious! GoLove someone else in His Name and share the joy you have found in Him!