FRIDAY, MAY 20
READ MATTHEW 27:62–28:8
MATTHEW 27:62 Next day, after the preparation, the head cohanim and the P’rushim went together to Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember that that deceiver said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ 64 Therefore, order that the grave be made secure till the third day; otherwise the talmidim may come, steal him away and say to the people, ‘He was raised from the dead’; and the last deception will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You may have your guard. Go and make the grave as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the grave secure by sealing the stone and putting the guard on watch.
28:1 After Shabbat, as the next day was dawning, Miryam of Magdala and the other Miryam went to see the grave. 2 Suddenly there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of Adonai came down from heaven, rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. 4 The guards were so terrified at him that they trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know you are looking for Yeshua, who was executed on the stake. 6 He is not here, because he has been raised — just as he said! Come and look at the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell the talmidim, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and now he is going to the Galil ahead of you. You will see him there.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So they left the tomb quickly, frightened yet filled with joy; and they ran to give the news to his talmidim.
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What do you do the morning after the crucifixion? If you are Pilate and the chief priests, you send soldiers to seal the tomb shut, once and for all! They prefer that Jesus be dead and buried. They want to squelch the crazy rumors that he might rise from the dead. They want to kill the story of hope so things can get back to normal.
Next day, the Marys go to the same place to see the tomb. Matthew doesn’t tell us what they seek. Maybe they just aren’t finished following Jesus. When an angel unseals the stone to reveal an empty tomb, they run to spread the word—the Pharisees’ worst fear. The great good news couldn’t simply die on a cross. Jesus lived on through changed lives: hungry fed, lame healed, lost found, outsiders welcomed. You can’t shut that down! Jesus lives in the beloved community. As disciples follow Jesus beyond the tomb, Jesus lives.
Last June, nine African American Christians were shot dead in a cold-blooded act of racial hatred. What did the families of the dead do? They went to see the tomb. They returned to the scene of the crime, the church. They forgave the gunman and told him to ask for God’s mercy, saying, “It’ll be all right.” That’s what disciples of Jesus Christ do. Standing in the shadow of death they tell the story of “Jesus and his love.” They turn hate to love, death to life.
Wherever you stand today on the last day of General Conference, ask yourself where you are headed. What have you seen? What story will you tell? A story of death and curse? Or of life and blessing?
God, let me see flowers in the desert and light in the darkness so that the story I tell is of love that bears all things. Amen.[Elaine J. W. Stanovsky]
The Western Jurisdiction elected Elaine J. W. Stanovsky to the episcopacy in 2008 and assigned her to the Mountain Sky Area, comprising the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Annual Conferences. She is also president of the board of directors for the General Board of Discipleship (Discipleship Ministries.)
Special Note: The image with the meditation was designed by Rev. Todd Pick and will be used in today’s worship service at General Conference.
Our mailing address is:
The Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
What do you do the morning after the crucifixion? If you are Pilate and the chief priests, you send soldiers to seal the tomb shut, once and for all! They prefer that Jesus be dead and buried. They want to squelch the crazy rumors that he might rise from the dead. They want to kill the story of hope so things can get back to normal.
Next day, the Marys go to the same place to see the tomb. Matthew doesn’t tell us what they seek. Maybe they just aren’t finished following Jesus. When an angel unseals the stone to reveal an empty tomb, they run to spread the word—the Pharisees’ worst fear. The great good news couldn’t simply die on a cross. Jesus lived on through changed lives: hungry fed, lame healed, lost found, outsiders welcomed. You can’t shut that down! Jesus lives in the beloved community. As disciples follow Jesus beyond the tomb, Jesus lives.
Last June, nine African American Christians were shot dead in a cold-blooded act of racial hatred. What did the families of the dead do? They went to see the tomb. They returned to the scene of the crime, the church. They forgave the gunman and told him to ask for God’s mercy, saying, “It’ll be all right.” That’s what disciples of Jesus Christ do. Standing in the shadow of death they tell the story of “Jesus and his love.” They turn hate to love, death to life.
Wherever you stand today on the last day of General Conference, ask yourself where you are headed. What have you seen? What story will you tell? A story of death and curse? Or of life and blessing?
God, let me see flowers in the desert and light in the darkness so that the story I tell is of love that bears all things. Amen.[Elaine J. W. Stanovsky]
The Western Jurisdiction elected Elaine J. W. Stanovsky to the episcopacy in 2008 and assigned her to the Mountain Sky Area, comprising the Rocky Mountain and Yellowstone Annual Conferences. She is also president of the board of directors for the General Board of Discipleship (Discipleship Ministries.)
Special Note: The image with the meditation was designed by Rev. Todd Pick and will be used in today’s worship service at General Conference.
Our mailing address is:
The Upper Room Strategic Initiatives
PO Box 340007
Nashville, Tennessee 37203, United States
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