Tehillah Generation Chapel
Daily Manna
Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Topic: The empty tomb 14
Reading: Matthew 27:57-66, 28:1-15
Scripture: He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee. (Luke 24:6)
Note: The empty tomb and the stolen body saga became an albatross on the neck of the Jewish religious leaders. Unable to deal with the reality of the truth confessed by the embattled and bewildered Roman soldiers, they had gone under the table to purchase the threat of the resurrection story and offered in its place a concocted version of a stolen body by the disciples.
Reinvigorated and energised by the several appearances of the resurrected Christ, the apostles together with 109 other disciples, making a total of 120 had been in waiting on the assurance of the ascended Christ, in earnest expectation of the outpouring and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
The day of Pentecost proved to be the decisive moment when the wave of God’s Spirit, fire and power swept through the upper room, baptising each of them with the Spirit and with fire. The result was a spontaneous outburst of preaching that pricked the hearts of men and women onto repentance.
Incidentally, the preaching focused on the wicked machinations of the religious establishment, the vain attempt to commit Christ to the corruption of the grave, his defying the power of death and consequent resurrection, leaving the tomb empty.
Every rational person would want to know what motivated the apostles to continue preaching in the name of Jesus, assuming that they really stole the body as claimed by the religious rulers. Why would the apostles continue to risk their lives and possessions for a man who couldn’t honour his word to rise again from the dead? No sane person would sacrifice his life for a failed project.
Food for thought: It’s worth sacrificing for the only man who conquered the grave and overcame death; Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God.
Declaration: And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. (Acts 2:45)
© Author: Rev Fred Aboe
