Above his head they placed the written charge against him: this is Jesus, the king of the Jews … So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Matthew 27:37, 66

For Meditation

The foolishness of man! How could a stone keep the Son of God in the tomb? But that is what unbelief can do to humans. It twists the mind and wraps it in ignorance and leads it to death.

They had done everything they planned to do to Him. Their voices and chants of “Crucify Him!” prevailed over the sound judgment of Pilate, who confessed his inability to find any “basis for a charge against him” (Jn. 19:6). 

However, Pilate did one good thing to mollify his tormented mind. He ordered the soldiers to put a notice on the cross. It was a veiled sarcasm to remind the Jewish leaders of their folly in crucifying their King.

“JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS” (Matt. 27:37). Who could miss that?

The notice cut through their hearts. Those leaders were no fools. They understood Pilate’s mind, and they knew in their hearts, it was the truth. But it was the reality they had resisted and fought against since Jesus began His public ministry. They had cleverly crafted and pursued His arrest, trial, and crucifixion to reject and cover up this truth. How could they bear looking on the notice on the cross announcing their enemy as their King? 

“Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be King of the Jews,” they protested to Pilate. To which Pilate responded:

“What I have written, I have written.”

Now, Jesus is dead, and they celebrate with choice wine and dancing. They expect the body to stay on the cross for the birds of the air to delight themselves of a sumptuous feast on it. Then, they would take it down and heap it on the dumpster to rot away. But unknown to them, the rich man, Joseph of Arimathea, and Nicodemus, one of their own, have gone for the Governor’s permission and buried Jesus in Joseph’s upscale tomb. The news disrupts their celebration, and they rush to Pilate. They tell him to have the tomb sealed for three days before his disciples come up with one of their deceiving tactics. It will be “worse than the first.” 

“Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.”

So, they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard (Matt. 27:66). 

Why then is the tomb empty on the third day? Amazing! Can’t the guards explain?

“You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.  See the place where they laid Him,” the angel tells the women at the graveside (Mk. 16:6).

His resurrection seals His claims. Jesus is King of the Jews—Israel’s Messiah! The women report to the disciples, and Peter and John verify their claims. Jesus reveals Himself to the disciples on multiple occasions for forty days, and they witness Him ascend into heaven.

Now, can anybody raise a disclaimer to His Lordship? Will any other person step forward to let this dream die? No! There is no one. 

So, why don’t you let go of your unbelief? Why not accept the truth of Jesus as Savior and Lord and save yourself from hell?