Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
May 10, 2022: SOAP #4541:  2Samuel 18; Psalm 56; Matthew 27

SCRIPTURE:  Matthew (NIV) 27:62 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.

OBSERVATION: If only the disciples had remembered what Jesus had said!  They could have set up a watch at the tomb.  They could have been counting off the days until Jesus returned.  They did not remember, so they hid away.

But someone remembered!  The chief priests and the Pharisees remembered!  Something rang true about Jesus’ words.  Perhaps the disciples would break into the tomb and steal the body.  So, Pilate made sure no one would break in, but he could not stop Jesus from breaking out!  The heavy stone, the Roman seal, the Roman guard, and death itself could not keep Jesus from breaking out of that tomb.

APPLICATION: The post-resurrection Jesus is living in me!  There is no power in the world or universe strong enough to box Him in.  Satan may try to box me in and put me in a grave.  He may use the latest technology.  He may do his best.  People may do their best.  But people, religious leaders, governmental leaders and Satan himself have already met their match at the empty tomb!   Satan has no power to entomb me in fear or doubt, or despair, or discouragement, or unhappiness.  I need but remind him.  The resurrected life of Christ within me can never be entombed again!

PRAYER:  Lord, I never want to forget your power to break out of that tomb.  I never want to forget that same power is at work in me.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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