Buried by Man. Raised by God.

They thought it was over.

The chief priests and Pharisees had succeeded—or so it seemed.
Jesus was dead. His body buried. A massive stone sealed the tomb. Roman guards stood watch.

But beneath their fear-driven precautions was something deeper:
the illusion of control.
They believed they could silence the truth, suppress the movement, and make sure this “deceiver” stayed in the grave.

But the resurrection of Jesus tells a different story.

You can seal a tomb.
You can post guards.
You can do everything in your power to keep Him buried.

But you can’t stop the Son of God from rising.

You Can Seal a Tomb—But Not the Truth

Matthew’s account is almost comical in its irony.
The ones who remembered Jesus’ words about rising again weren’t His disciples—they were His enemies.
They feared His resurrection more than His followers expected it.

So they sealed the tomb.
They did everything humanly possible to stop what was coming.

And yet—on the third day—the earth shook,
the stone rolled,
the angel appeared,
and the tomb stood empty.

It wasn’t stolen.
It wasn’t fabricated.
It wasn’t a myth.

It was a divine disruption—God breaking through death with resurrection power.

The Resurrection Is God’s Declaration

The empty tomb doesn’t whisper religious sentiment.
It thunders: “Jesus is Lord.”

It declares that Christ’s sacrifice was accepted.
That death has been defeated.
That sin has been paid for.
That the curse has been reversed.
That hope is alive for all who believe.

But it’s not just theology. It’s deeply personal.

Because Jesus didn’t just rise in power—He rose in mercy.

When the women met Him, He didn’t say, “Tell those failures I’m back.”
He said, “Go tell My brothers.” (Matt. 28:10)

Resurrection faith doesn’t begin with fear—it begins with forgiveness.

A Real Father’s Forgiveness—and the Gospel Behind It

Earlier this month, the world watched in shock as 17-year-old Austin Metcalf was murdered at a high school track meet in Frisco, Texas. He died in the arms of his twin brother.

But what stunned people even more was what Austin’s father, Jeff Metcalf, said shortly after:
“I forgive the boy who killed my son. I want him to know the love and forgiveness that only Christ can give.”

It wasn’t weakness.
It wasn’t indifference.
It was the strength of a man who knows the greater forgiveness of the Father.

Because in a much deeper, eternal way, we are all guilty of the death of God’s Son.

And yet the Father offers this same forgiveness—to any who will repent and believe.

Not cheap grace.
Costly, blood-bought, cross-secured, resurrection-guaranteed forgiveness.

How Will You Respond?

The resurrection demands a response. Not later. Not someday. Today.

Receive the Risen Christ
Stop sealing yourself inside tombs of guilt, fear, distraction, and pride.
Jesus broke the seal—for you.
Believe. Receive. Rise with Him.

Repent and Return
He still calls failures “brothers.”
Come back. There’s grace in His scars.

Run and Tell
The first response wasn’t contemplation—it was proclamation.
Don’t keep the tomb closed. Open your mouth and speak.

The world tried to bury Him.
But God raised Him.
And now the Risen Christ calls you by name.

He is risen. So rise.