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Numbers 5 Part 1–Purity, Path to God’s Best

19 Friday Oct 2018

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God had some pretty strict standards. He was going to be dwelling with the Israelites while they were headed to Canaan, so He needed things to be right. After ordering the tribes and setting out the Levitical duties, God knew it was time to set some standards.  So thing one–no unclean folks in camp.  What made people unclean? Skin diseases, bloody discharges, dealing with dead bodies…So for a time after that, those people would have to live outside the camp.  While it seems harsh, it was the simple fact that God wanted to keep his people pure and healthy.  But, there was more.

In addition to the health of the people, God wanted Israel to understand the importance of purity.  They were in a land where people mixed everything–religions, tribes, marriages, food–what ever felt good was the mission of the day.  The total lack of discipline was a destructive force among the peoples; and the difference for why Israel would take the land and keep it.  God knew that discipline was a learned trait.  It needed to start with basic things and then infiltrate all areas of life. So God set rigorous standards for His people that would make them strong and united.

God calls us to be pure as well.  We do not have the same rigorous standards that God gave Israel, but, He does ask us to be holy; like He is holy.  The way we do life needs to be pure and honoring to God.  How we do business, how we treat others and how we worship; all give us the ability to become like the Lord, and have Him dwell in our lives.  As we examine our lives we need to ask–what is unclean, what is keeping us from God’s best.  Once we have made the determination, get separated from it. Help me, Lord, to live a life that is pure in Your sight.

God Bless You

The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites to send away from the camp anyone who has a defiling skin disease[a] or a discharge of any kind, or who is ceremonially unclean because of a dead body. 3 Send away male and female alike; send them outside the camp so they will not defile their camp, where I dwell among them.” 4 The Israelites did so; they sent them outside the camp. They did just as the Lord had instructed Moses.

The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any man or woman who wrongs another in any way[b] and so is unfaithful to the Lord is guilty 7 and must confess the sin they have committed. They must make full restitution for the wrong they have done, add a fifth of the value to it and give it all to the person they have wronged. 8 But if that person has no close relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the Lord and must be given to the priest, along with the ram with which atonement is made for the wrongdoer. 9 All the sacred contributions the Israelites bring to a priest will belong to him.10 Sacred things belong to their owners, but what they give to the priest will belong to the priest.’”

Numbers 4 Part 2–Here’s to the Gershonites

18 Thursday Oct 2018

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Some Jobs do not seem nearly as sexy as others. The Kohathites were charged with the care and protection of all God’s tabernacle treasures.  The Gershonites, conversely, were charged with caring for the tent. It was not nearly as noble sounding, but just as critical to the mission of God.  Without the Tabernacle tent, the treasures would be left out in the desert. The priests would have no place to worship and God would have no designated place to meet the people.

The Gershonites had a very important role.  Their care and protection of the Tabernacle itself would literally keep the people for the next 40+ years.  God is like that. He charges many with duties that do not seem substantial, but are in fact critical to God’s plan.

In our lives, we often forget that many that serve in ministry, do so as volunteers. They pray, do childcare, bring meals, care for the grounds; usually with little or no recognition. Still, each one serves with a heart to please God and simply do the mission he has given them.  It may not be the center stage ministry–but often it is the ministry that allows the center stage to happen.  So here is a shout out for the Gershonites, the keepers of the tent.  Without them, then and now, ministry simply would not happen!

God Bless You

 The Lord said to Moses, 22 “Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. 23 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

24 “This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: 25 They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, that is, the tent of meeting, its covering and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar, the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard, the ropes and all the equipment used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. 27 All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons. You shall assign to them as their responsibility all they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron, the priest.

Numbers 4–The Kohathites, God’s Special Caretakers

17 Wednesday Oct 2018

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Aaron and his family were not only given the distinction of being a part of the tribe of Levi ( The new firstborns of Israel), but God also gave him and his family, (the Kohathites) the honor of caring for and carrying the special articles. As a nomadic group. The people of Israel needed as much symmetry and stability as  possible. That is why God gave the Kohathites an order, and set out a plan for the care and moving of the Tabernacle and the worship articles.  

God was not only clear about who would carry the stuff, but also how it was to be cared for and moved.  If the Kohathite men did not care for the articles correctly, The people would all lose out.  The Ark of the Covenant was especially dear, it is where God made His presence known.  If the Kohathites, or anyone touched it; they would die.  Some incidents occurred where the rules were not followed and the person paid a price. Uzzah in 2 Samuel 6–grabbed the ark and died.  King Uzziah went into the temple to act as a priest and was immediately struck with leprosy.   God took the care of his stuff seriously and only enlisted those He could trust to carry it out.

Here is the amazing part–in proportion, God Loves us sooooooo much more.  When we think of all the time and effort God put into training the men to care for the holy chairs, He personally gave his own life to care for us.  We can never underestimate God’s plan for our lives.  We have to trust that the same God that demonstrated the plan for moving Israel into the promised land; will carefully execute His work in our lives, as well. He has had thousands of years to practice, and He has never been late.  He is always in the right place, at the right time. 

God Bless You 

 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “Take a census of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. 3 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

4 “This is the work of the Kohathites at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things. 5 When the camp is to move, Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain and put it over the ark of the covenant law. 6 Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,[a] spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles in place.

7 “Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings; the bread that is continually there is to remain on it.8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.

9 “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lamp-stand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays, and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. 10 Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.

11 “Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles in place.

12 “They are to take all the articles used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.

13 “They are to remove the ashes from the bronze altar and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 Then they are to place on it all the utensils used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans, meat forks,shovels and sprinkling bowls. Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles in place.

15 “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move, only then are the Kohathites to come and do the carrying.But they must not touch the holy things or they will die. 

Numbers 3–The Levites, God’s Firstborn

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The Levitical tribe had a unique place in Israel.  They were set apart to perform all the duties related to the spiritual functions of the nation.  They were in charge of the Tabernacle and the tent of meeting.  They would care for the furnishings and the Ark of the Covenant.  They would be the priests of the tribes and always be spread through the tribes and not left on their own.

But, the Lord said something unique to Moses–These are to be the replacement for the 1st born males from every Israelite woman that I lost in Egypt.  God had not forgotten the horrible act Pharaoh had ordered.  The Levites were to replace the first born males lost to Israel–the ones that would normally be committed to God. What a seat of honor–to be truly set apart as a tribe, to replace such a grievous loss.  The men of Levi would hold that distinction from then on.

In our lives, God set us apart as well.  We are to be his chosen.  We are to be his ambassadors among the people of the world.  We are to wear the LORD’S name boldly as we live our daily lives.  God treasured the Levitical order; just as He treasures us. We simply need to live as His people, It is as great an honor to live as God’s ambassadors while we walk among those we know each day!

God Bless You

This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.

2 The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.3 Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai. They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

5 The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him. 7 They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community at the tent of meeting by doing the work of the tabernacle. 8 They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.[a] 10 Appoint Aaron and his sons to serve as priests; anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”

11 The Lord also sai

Numbers 2–Putting Things in Order

15 Monday Oct 2018

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God was preparing the people of Israel to enter and take the land God promised, God arranged the tribes in an order to best protect Israel and also to begin to align them with his plan.  There is little prophetical or historical data about why God put the tribes in the order that He did.  There are a few things, however, that do stand out.  

First, The tribe of Judah led  the tribes.  While Judah was not the 1st born among Jacob’s sons, Jacob said as he blessed him, ” Judah,[b] your brothers will praise you; your hand will be on the neck of your enemies; your father’s sons will bow down to you.” Clearly, 500 years earlier Jacob knew Judah was to be the tribe to lead. He told his son that very thing. Now as Israel prepared to receive the promise, God Made Judah the lead.

Next, God Put the Levitical tribes and all the things of God in the center of the people. Strategically, it was brilliant.  No enemy could sneak in and raid the Levitical tribes and the treasures they kept, but, also, they were the heart of the people.  Everyone looked to God for answers, for provision and for direction.  That was Moses and Aaron and God. From the beginning, they would always see God as the center of attention and his priests the heart of the people.  They were, After all a nation of priests and as such, priests should hold a place of honor.

Finally, God set the nation up for a strategic and organized movement into the promised land. He balanced the tribes giving each side a leader.  God knew each would be significant in their role, but also balanced as a group.  He did not say one tribe was better than another, but all had a place and a role.  It is the same with us.  We are all placed according to God’s plan. Where we are placed and how we are used is his choice.  We simply need to keep him at the center of our lives and be prepared to serve , however He leads. That alignment will carry the day!

God Bless You

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard and holding the banners of their family.”

3 On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. 

5 The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them.

7 The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon.8 His division numbers 57,400.

9 All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.

10 On the south will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. 

12 The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. 

14 The tribe of Gad will be next. 

16 All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben, according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second.

17 Then the tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in their own place under their standard.

18 On the west will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim under their standard. 

20 The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. 

22 The tribe of Benjamin will be next. 

24 All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim, according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third.

25 On the north will be the divisions of the camp of Dan under their standard. 

27 The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. 

29 The tribe of Naphtali will be next. 

31 All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last, under their standards.

32 These are the Israelites, counted according to their families. All the men in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550. 33 The Levites, however, were not counted along with the other Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.

34 So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them 

Numbers 1 Part 2–It is All in the Preparation

12 Friday Oct 2018

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​​As God had the tribes count–to collect the number of fighting men available to march in and take the promised Land, He did two things that were unique.  First, the Lord made clear to the people that they were a substantial people when together.  By tribe, Moses received the count and at the end of the day–Israel was protected by GOD, and 600,000 + fighting men.  That is no small number.  The census helped the people to realize that they were all ready and accountable to defend the people when called upon.

The second thing that God did, was to set aside the Levitical tribe to defend the tabernacle, and the things of God. They would never be a part of the troops, they would be charged with the duty of maintaining and protecting the holy and unique part of the nation.  No other nation or tribe had literally been led by God.  He led them, fed them, freed them and prepared them to become a nation of priests.  As such, the Levitical tribe–the tribe of priests were also set apart to maintain and protect all that was holy.  It is also fitting that God chose His leader for His nation from the tribe of priests!  Why shouldn’t Moses, a Levite be the face of His nation!

In our day, God still wants us to know that He is preparing us to reclaim our promise.  God wants us to see we are ready, but, He also wants us to remember that the spiritual preparation is what is critical.  We need to follow the Lord and allow Him to continue His sanctification process in our lives.  But, we also need to understand God is readying us for the spiritual battles we face. Like Israel–He is hardening us, disciplining us and preparing us for the journey–we must take that seriously.  

Thank You, Father, for helping me to understand that while You are clearly in charge, I too must be made ready for the fight.

God Bless You

 

These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45 All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families. 46 The total number was 603,550.

47 The ancestral tribe of the Levites, however, was not counted along with the others. 48 The Lord had said to Moses: 49 “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the covenant law—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 51 Whenever the tabernacle is to move,the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death. 52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard. 53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.”

54 The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.

Numbers 1 Part 1–Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!!!

11 Thursday Oct 2018

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God is methodical. From the beginning of time, He has had all knowledge of what was to come.  After liberating the children of Israel from captivity in Egypt, He brought them together in the desert, He gave them the law and prepared them to be a nation. Now 2 years after their release from captivity, it was time to ready them to take the land.  The book of Numbers is not an accounting guide. It is the story of God aligning the people of Israel to be a nation of free people.  

Ironically, the first thing God requires in the book, is for Moses to take a census.  He is to number the people of Israel, He is also to number the fighting men. God appoints leaders from each of the tribes named for Jacob’s sons and the two half tribes named for Joseph’s sons.  God was ready to have these people organized and prepared to enter the promised land.

In our lives, God is equally prepared.  He begins a work in us that He promises to carry on until we join Him.  It is methodical, just like the preparation of Israel. We have to trust that even though we cannot see the end; God has and does. We have to trust and simply follow Him there.  There is no promise that the journey will be easy–it took God two (2) years to get this group organized and prepared to be a nation! While we trust God to lead us, He will work in our lives to make us ready for what He has planned.  It has been, is and will always be a matter of trusting God to take the lead and then humbly following Him to victory! Welcome to the book of Numbers!

God Bless You 

 The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: 2 “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. 3 You and Aaron are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more and able to serve in the army. 4 One man from each tribe, each of them the head of his family, is to help you. 5 These are the names of the men who are to assist you:

from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;

6 from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

7 from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;

8 from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;

9 from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;

10 from the sons of Joseph:

from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud;

from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

11 from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;

12 from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

13 from Asher, Pagiel son of Okran;

14 from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;

15 from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”

16 These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.

Matthew 28 Final–The Great Commission

10 Wednesday Oct 2018

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The Lord returned to a place to stand with the men He prepared to change the world. Now, after the Resurrection, after the years of preparation, Jesus had simply one more command.  Go and make disciples.  What a great command–He did not ask them to go unseat the Jewish leadership–although they could have.  He didn’t ask them to go and overthrow the Roman government–though, that was still the popular desire for the Jewish leadership.  

Instead, He told them to do for the world, what He had done for them. Make disciples–baptize them, teach them and pour their lives into others. He did not give them the job, however, without the accompanying promise–“I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.”  All these men would be martyred–John survived simply because when, boiled in oil, nothing happened–he was then exiled to Patmos–where he wrote the book of Revelation.  These men heeded Christ’s command and began the work of saving the world–a job that continues on today.

We have the same calling. Go and make disciples. It is as simple as sharing your heart with your kids.  Telling those you work with what makes you tick. Serving in your church as a teacher, server, prayer warrior or giver.  Never losing sight of the eternal perspective that comes from following Christ daily, hiding in His word; seeking Him in prayer. We should be in fellowship with other believers, and living in a way that allows Christ to mold you into His image. As you are going–if you follow him, you will make disciples.

God Bless You

 

 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Great Commission

16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Matthew 28 Part 1–He Has Risen!

09 Tuesday Oct 2018

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What an amazing way to start the week. When one stops to think how significant it was for Jesus to face and beat death, it is not only a joyful thought, but an empowering one.  The entire world thought the defeat was complete. In fact, many would have argued, it was too easy.  But, on that Sunday morning, there was a violent earthquake and an archangel appeared, rolled away the stone, scared the guards to death, and announced the truth; Jesus had risen.

Mary and Martha started their morning sad and wishing that they were not going to the grave of the Master. They had no idea, that they would first be greeted by an angel, but then met by Jesus, himself.  Not a ghost–but Jesus–hugging them and setting their hearts at ease. He sent them to meet the disciples; and, tell them to meet up with Him in Galilee.  So, they did. while they may have slowly trudged to the tomb, they raced back.  Their Savior had risen, just as He said.

The beautiful thing about the Gospel is that God demonstrated His love for us.  The most powerful thing about the Gospel is that Jesus defeated death and the enemy.  He rose from the dead, and now sits at God’s right hand; interceding for us and redeeming our eternal lives.  We can only be joyful knowing that He did rise. We can believe His promises, simply because he kept each one. Now, because he did we are invited and allowed to spend eternity with Him in heaven–all we have to do is ask. There simply is no better news than that He is risen. We, like Mary, Martha and the rest have to embrace that; and agree that He has risen indeed!

God Bless You

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Mathew 27 Final–The Burial

08 Monday Oct 2018

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The complete sadness  of the followers of Jesus was obvious. The crowd finally cleared as people started the sabbath. Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus in his tomb. The ladies, Mary, Martha, Mary Magdalene wrapped and prepared the body of Jesus.  Deflated, depressed and despondent, the crowd cleared and the Lord lay in a lovely tomb. Still, the religious elite were not happy.  They, who had been extremely deceptive, just knew the disciples would try to trick them and steal the body–so, they asked for and were given a group of Roman soldiers to guard the tomb. In addition a seal was places on the stone to make sure no one sneaked in.

As is often the case, the world cannot deal effectively with spiritual things. Jesus promised to rise from the dead. His apostles were home and without hope–the ones that should have been full of anticipation. The religious elite were on the edge of their seats–the ones that “won” and put Jesus to death.  It simply seems backward.  We have to face each day, each trial, each new situation trusting that God will do what He said He would do.  He has done so since the very beginning.  We are simply travelers passing through–we have to trust someone, and it only makes since to trust our Lord, the one that created, loved and died for us.  We have to make a personal and daily choice to forget what is behind, and press forward to take what is ahead. Trust God, follow Him and not doubt that His plan remains the best. 

God Bless You

As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59 Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61 Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb

62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 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.”

65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.