March 26th, 2024
Let’s read the evangelist Matthew’s account of Jesus’ burial in chapter 27, verses 57 – 66 using the H.E.A.R. method. As you read the passage, do the following:
H- highlight the verses that stand out to you.
E – explain the verse(s) in your own words of what God is saying to you.
A – apply the verse to your life. (What would it look like to live this truth in your
life?)
R – respond in prayer by writing your heart to God.
Each of these four steps cultivates a heart-attitude to hear God speak.
A bit of background: The Chief Priests, along with the Pharisees, visit Pontius Pilate out of fear that Jesus' disciples will secretly steal his body then claim he has risen from the dead. The religious leaders request that Pilate use his troops to have the tomb secured. Pilate, however, gives them permission to use their own guard for the task. The garden tomb is made secure, the stone at the entrance of the tomb is sealed, and a guard is placed near it.
Let’s zoom into V. 66 – The temple guard “secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone” and watching. Why do you think is was ‘vain’ or useless attempt to seal the tomb? Come on.. use your imagination! Write down your thoughts in your journal.
The apostle Paul describes the spiritual significance of Jesus’ burial in Romans chapter 6, verse 4 -
“Therefore we were BURIED WITH HIM by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.”
Pray – “Heavenly Father, I recognize that when Jesus was BURIED in the tomb that I was BURIED WITH HIM. All my past regrets and sins are BURIED to be remembered no more. As Jesus rose from the grave, You gave me NEW LIFE. May I daily live considering my baptism with Jesus, I humbly pray, Amen”
H- highlight the verses that stand out to you.
E – explain the verse(s) in your own words of what God is saying to you.
A – apply the verse to your life. (What would it look like to live this truth in your
life?)
R – respond in prayer by writing your heart to God.
Each of these four steps cultivates a heart-attitude to hear God speak.
A bit of background: The Chief Priests, along with the Pharisees, visit Pontius Pilate out of fear that Jesus' disciples will secretly steal his body then claim he has risen from the dead. The religious leaders request that Pilate use his troops to have the tomb secured. Pilate, however, gives them permission to use their own guard for the task. The garden tomb is made secure, the stone at the entrance of the tomb is sealed, and a guard is placed near it.
Let’s zoom into V. 66 – The temple guard “secured the tomb by setting a seal on the stone” and watching. Why do you think is was ‘vain’ or useless attempt to seal the tomb? Come on.. use your imagination! Write down your thoughts in your journal.
The apostle Paul describes the spiritual significance of Jesus’ burial in Romans chapter 6, verse 4 -
“Therefore we were BURIED WITH HIM by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.”
Pray – “Heavenly Father, I recognize that when Jesus was BURIED in the tomb that I was BURIED WITH HIM. All my past regrets and sins are BURIED to be remembered no more. As Jesus rose from the grave, You gave me NEW LIFE. May I daily live considering my baptism with Jesus, I humbly pray, Amen”
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