Buried by Man. Raised by God.
Scripture: “Therefore, order the tomb to be made secure until the third day…” (Matthew 27:64)
Reflection:
The religious leaders remembered what Jesus said about rising again. They didn’t believe it—but they feared it. So they did what we often do when we’re afraid: they tried to control the outcome. They posted guards, rolled the stone, sealed the tomb. But no amount of human strategy can stop the sovereign plan of God.
Question:
What areas of your life are you trying to control out of fear or unbelief? What would it look like to trust God instead?
Prayer:
Lord, I confess that I try to secure what only You can sustain. Help me surrender control and trust the power of Your promises.
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.
When You’ve Seen the Son
Philip’s request is sincere, but it reveals a common spiritual blindness—we often long for more, even when God has already revealed Himself. Like Philip, we might feel that seeing some external glory would finally secure our faith. But what we need isn’t more signs—it’s deeper sight. Jesus, standing right in front of Philip, was the full revelation of the Father.
Jesus: The Mirror of God
We live in a world that demands visibility. We crave something tangible—proof we can see, hear, and touch.
Even as believers, we sometimes echo Philip’s plea in John 14:8:
“Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”
But Jesus’ reply is both tender and astonishing:
“Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)
That one sentence reshapes everything.
One Way, One Truth, One Life — One Savior
Jesus begins with a tender call to trust, not in abstract comfort, but in a person—Himself. He knows that His disciples’ hearts are heavy with sorrow and confusion. His answer? Faith. Faith not only in God generally, but in Jesus specifically. Why? Because He is the full revelation of God—the one in whom God’s promises are made visible and real.
One Way, One Truth, One Life — One Savior
In an age of spiritual buffet lines and build-your-own belief systems, Jesus’ words in John 14:6 are as offensive as they are clear:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
This isn’t a metaphor. It’s a bold and exclusive claim that stands at the center of the Christian faith. In these few words, Jesus declares that He alone is the means by which sinful humanity is reconciled to a holy God. And not only that—He is also the truth that reveals God perfectly, and the life that grants eternal existence in communion with Him.
The Mark of True Discipleship: Love Like Jesus
In the upper room, on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus performed an unimaginable act. The eternal Son of God, the King of Glory, took on the role of a servant and washed the feet of His disciples (John 13:1–11). But the lesson didn’t stop there.
The Mark of True Discipleship
Scripture: John 13:21, 1 John 2:19
“Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (John 13:21)
“They went out from us, but they were not of us…” (1 John 2:19)
Judas: The Archetypal False Disciple Betrayal, Darkness, and the Unshakable Plan of God
In one of the most haunting scenes in the Gospels, Jesus announces to His disciples: “Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (John 13:21)
This is not a betrayal from a distant enemy. It’s one of His own—Judas Iscariot, who had walked closely with Jesus, witnessed His miracles, and shared intimate meals with Him. But beneath the surface, something far more sinister is unfolding.
Betrayed Yet Sovereign
Scripture: John 13:21, 1 John 2:19
“Truly, truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” (John 13:21)
“They went out from us, but they were not of us…” (1 John 2:19)
