Tag: easter

TODAY’S DAILY BIBLE VERSE

April 20, 2025

Matthew chapter 28 verse 6:
“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

VERSE CONTEXT

The Gospel according to Matthew was written by the apostle Matthew, a former tax collector turned disciple of Jesus. He wrote primarily to a Jewish audience, showing them that Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies—the promised Messiah and King. The events of chapter 28 take place three days after the crucifixion. Roman soldiers had guarded the tomb to prevent Jesus’ followers from stealing His body, but something happened that no guard could prevent: a divine resurrection.

Verse 6 is spoken by the angel who appeared to Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” when they came to visit the tomb early on the first day of the week. The verse itself captures the heart of the Gospel message. The angel declares that Jesus is no longer in the tomb—not because He was moved or stolen, but because He has risen. This simple but profound declaration changes everything.

“He is not here:”

This is a direct and physical statement. The body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb. This is not symbolic or spiritual—it refers to His actual, physical absence. The Gospel writers emphasize that His resurrection was bodily, not just spiritual or visionary. The tomb was empty.

“For he is risen, as he said:”

This phrase confirms that Jesus had prophesied His own resurrection multiple times during His earthly ministry (for example, Matthew chapter 16 verse 21: “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples…that he must…be killed, and be raised again the third day”). This was not an unexpected miracle—it was a promised fulfillment. The resurrection proves that Jesus spoke the truth about His identity, His mission, and His divine authority.

“Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

The angel invites the women to look at the evidence with their own eyes. They are not asked to believe blindly—they are called to witness the empty tomb for themselves. Christianity has always been a faith grounded in historical events, not myth or vague spirituality. This tomb had been sealed, guarded, and occupied—but now it stood open, unguarded, and empty.

It is also critical that this message was first delivered to women—in a culture where women’s testimony was not even considered legally binding. Yet God chose them to be the first eyewitnesses to the greatest event in human history. That detail further confirms that this account was not fabricated for credibility—it was recorded just as it happened.

This verse stands at the heart of Christian doctrine: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died for sin, was buried, and rose again the third day. His resurrection was not only foretold—it was accomplished publicly and visibly. This singular truth sets Jesus apart from every other religious figure who has ever lived. We do not worship a teacher who died—we worship a Savior who lives.

BROADER CONTEXT

Matthew chapter 28 is the final chapter of Matthew’s Gospel and serves as the climax of the entire book. It begins with the resurrection of Jesus and ends with the Great Commission—the final instruction to take the message of His death and resurrection to the world. This chapter does not merely serve as the conclusion of a story, but as the launching point for the Church’s mission. In this way, the resurrection is not just an ending—it is a beginning.

From a broader perspective, the resurrection of Jesus is the central doctrine of Christianity. Without it, everything else collapses. The apostle Paul wrote in First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 17: “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.” This means that the resurrection validates everything Jesus claimed about Himself: that He is the Son of God, that His death was sufficient for sin, and that eternal life is found in Him alone. Without it, the cross is a tragedy; with it, the cross becomes victory.

Matthew builds his Gospel to emphasize this reality. From the genealogy in chapter 1 establishing Jesus as the rightful heir to David’s throne, to His miracles, parables, and final Passover meal, Matthew shows Jesus as the Messiah-King who fulfills all righteousness. But in chapter 27, the King is crucified. He dies not for His own sins, but for the sins of His people. If the story ended there, Jesus would be no different from every other prophet, rabbi, or religious teacher who died and was buried. But chapter 28 changes everything. The tomb is empty.

In Jewish history, resurrection was already understood to be a sign of the last days—a final victory of God over sin and death. But Jesus’ resurrection happens in the middle of history. This means the end has broken into the present. His resurrection is a firstfruits, a preview of what will happen to all who belong to Him (First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 20: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept”). The angel’s declaration in Matthew chapter 28 verse 6 is the fulfillment of Jesus’ own prophecies and the validation of all messianic hopes. This is the point where faith in the crucified Christ becomes trust in the living Christ.

This moment also distinguishes Christianity from every other religion in the world. No other religious founder predicted His death and resurrection and fulfilled it. Let’s consider this historically. Buddha, born in the 6th century B.C., taught the Eightfold Path to enlightenment and died at the age of 80. He was cremated, and his ashes were divided among relics. He never claimed to rise from the dead. Muhammad, the founder of Islam in the 7th century A.D., taught that he was a prophet and received revelations from Allah. He died in Medina in A.D. 632 and was buried. His grave remains a pilgrimage site. Confucius, a philosopher of ancient China, died in 479 B.C. and is buried in Qufu. His teachings formed a moral system, not a path to divine union or resurrection. Krishna and other Hindu deities appear in mythological cycles involving reincarnation, but these are not bodily, historical resurrections rooted in verifiable events. Joseph Smith, founder of Mormonism, was killed in 1844. His body remains in the ground in Illinois. In every case, their bodies remain in their tombs or were cremated. Their teachings continue, but they are dead. But Jesus of Nazareth walked out of His tomb, and over 500 people saw Him alive (First Corinthians chapter 15 verse 6). The resurrection is not a metaphor. It is not a symbolic victory over hardship. It is a real, historical event with real, eternal implications.

Historically, even skeptical scholars like Bart Ehrman (an agnostic New Testament scholar) acknowledge that the disciples believed they saw the risen Christ and were willing to die for that belief. That doesn’t prove the resurrection to a skeptic, but it does prove that the men who saw the empty tomb were convinced—even unto death—that Jesus rose. This resurrection is what caused the early Church to explode into existence. It wasn’t Jesus’ teachings alone that changed the world—it was the belief that the crucified Christ was alive. The apostles did not die for a philosophy—they died for a risen King.

When the angel says, “He is not here: for he is risen,” he is not simply stating a fact. He is declaring the defeat of sin, the triumph of truth, and the beginning of a new creation. Jesus is the firstborn from the dead. Because He lives, all who trust in Him will live also (John chapter 11 verse 25: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live”).

APPLICATION

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not a seasonal celebration—it is a permanent reality that demands a perpetual response. When the angel declared, “He is not here: for he is risen,” he wasn’t offering a poetic statement to inspire one day of the year. He was announcing the final and total defeat of sin, death, and the grave. That kind of victory does not allow for part-time faith. This is where the danger lies for many who identify as Christian in name but not in life. Every year on Easter, churches are filled with people—some with sincere belief, and others simply participating in a tradition. You can hear the words “He is risen” roll off lips that haven’t uttered a prayer in months. Suits are worn. Eggs are hunted. Pews are filled. But for many, Jesus remains a figure they acknowledge—not a Savior they follow. We need to be clear: Easter is not a holiday. It is a declaration of war against sin and death. It is not a photo opportunity or a family gathering. It is the anniversary of the moment when death itself was overthrown, and our debt was paid in full. To respond to that with seasonal attendance or casual acknowledgment is not just inadequate—it is offensive to the very cross we claim to celebrate.

You cannot proclaim “He is risen!” while living as if He is still buried.

The resurrection demands total surrender. Jesus did not rise from the grave so we could give Him an hour on Sunday or a nod on Christmas. He rose to be Lord of our lives—not a guest we invite in once a year. Romans chapter 6 verses 4–6 declares: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead… even so we also should walk in newness of life… knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed.” That newness of life is daily, not annual.

If Christ is risen, then He is alive now. And if He is alive now, then He is King now. And if He is King, then our only proper response is to bow in obedience every day, all day, not just when it’s convenient or culturally expected. The resurrection was not God’s attempt to impress us—it was His demand that we turn from sin, repent, and live unto righteousness.

The once-a-year Christian must be warned in love: admiring Jesus will not save you—only following Him will. Jesus said in Luke chapter 9 verse 23: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” The cross is not a holiday emblem. It’s a death sentence to our old life. The empty tomb is not an Easter prop—it is proof that Christ’s victory over sin is final, and our response must be faithful submission.

Let the resurrection remind every believer that this is our identity now: we are no longer dead in sin but alive in Christ. And let it be a warning to the nominal, cultural, or holiday-only Christian: God is not mocked. A risen Savior demands more than seasonal praise—He demands your whole life. So what shall we say to those who attend church on Easter and return to sin on Monday? We say: Come all the way. Die with Christ. Rise with Christ. Live with Christ. Or else, you are only decorating a tomb He already walked out of.

FINAL THOUGHT

“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.” These are not just words for Easter—they are the foundation of the Christian life. Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grave, just as He promised. That fact alone separates Christianity from every other religion and worldview. Every other founder lies buried. Every other teacher has returned to dust. But not Jesus.

The resurrection proves His identity, validates His sacrifice, and demands our full allegiance. Not one hour. Not one day. Not two holidays a year. But every day, all day. To say “He is risen” with our lips while living as though He is still in the grave is hypocrisy. The risen Savior is not seeking admiration—He demands obedience, repentance, and surrender.

For the true believer, today is a celebration of life, hope, and eternal promise. For the cultural Christian, it must be a wake-up call. Easter is not a seasonal tradition—it is a heavenly declaration that Jesus Christ is alive, Lord of all, and returning again. And when He comes, He’s not coming back to be ignored.

So let the resurrection not just inspire you today—let it transform you for life.

PRAYER

Risen King Jesus,
We give You glory today because You are alive. The tomb could not hold You. Death could not defeat You. And sin has no claim on You. We worship You as the living Savior who conquered the grave and bought our freedom with Your blood.

Lord, awaken every heart that has treated this holy day as just another tradition. Shake the souls of the comfortable and call back the wanderers. Let every once-a-year worshipper hear Your voice and come to full surrender.

And for those who are already Yours, fill us with resurrection power. Help us walk in the boldness, hope, and holiness that comes from knowing You are alive and reigning. May our lives be a living testimony that the tomb is empty and that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We praise You, Jesus, and we long for the day when faith becomes sight. Until then, keep us faithful. In Your matchless name we pray,
Amen.

CLOSING

If you’ve found these daily verses encouraging, enlightening, or fruitful, please consider helping us spread the truth and light of God’s Word by subscribing to the blog and YouTube channels and liking and following the Facebook page. Most of all, share Believers of Biblical Truth and our links with others who may need the sermons and daily teachings just as much as we do.

You are loved—so much in fact, that we want you to know and be Believers of Biblical Truth.

Shalom Shalom.

TODAY’S DAILY BIBLE VERSE

In the silence, now that their LORD is buried, followers continue in faith and prepare for the Sabbath. 
Matthew chapter 27 verses 62 through 66:
Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre (SEP-ul-ker) be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulchre (SEP-ul-ker) sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.

VERSE CONTEXT

This passage is the only account in all four Gospels that gives us any record of what happened on the day after the crucifixion—what we now call Holy Saturday. The scene is not focused on the disciples, nor Mary, nor any display of mourning or faith. Instead, we find the enemies of Jesus—the chief priests and Pharisees—gathered before Pilate.

“Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation…” (verse 62) places this event squarely on Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath. This would have been the day after Jesus’ death, and by Jewish law, a day of complete rest and religious reverence. But while the followers of Christ were hiding, shattered, and silent, His enemies were moving—working on the Sabbath to protect their agenda.

They remembered Jesus’ words: “After three days I will rise again.” This is extraordinary. The Pharisees took Jesus’ resurrection prophecy more seriously than His own disciples did. They feared His influence, even in death, so they begged Pilate to secure the tomb. Their fear of a “staged resurrection” drove them to demand military guards and an official Roman seal.

Pilate replies, “Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.” (verse 65). The phrase “as sure as ye can” drips with irony. These men did everything humanly possible to stop a resurrection—not realizing they were fulfilling prophecy and helping prove it instead.

“So they went, and made the sepulchre (SEP-ul-ker) sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.” (verse 66). They thought sealing a stone could stop the plan of God. But here lies the power of Holy Saturday—God was not finished, even though heaven was silent. Jesus’ body lay in the tomb, but His mission was still unfolding.

Holy Saturday isn’t just a historical pause—it’s a spiritual principle. It represents every moment in a believer’s life when God seems quiet, when promises feel broken, and when the story looks over. And that’s where the real test of faith begins.

Lamentations chapter 3 verses 25 through 26 captures that truth perfectly:
“The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”

The prophet Jeremiah wrote those words from the rubble of Jerusalem, surrounded by loss. He knew the kind of grief and silence that Holy Saturday represents. But even in devastation, Jeremiah clung to the truth that God is still good, still saving, still present—even when unseen. The silence of Saturday is not the absence of God—it is the testing of our trust. The tomb was closed, the stone sealed, the world quiet—but heaven was not defeated. Waiting is not weakness. It is the ground where resurrection roots are growing.

Broader Context

Matthew chapter 27 begins with the sentencing of Jesus, follows His mocking and crucifixion, and concludes with His burial. Verses 62 through 66—the guard at the tomb—are the final words of the chapter, and that’s significant. Matthew could have ended with verse 61, with the women sitting in sorrow outside the tomb. But he didn’t. He closed the chapter by drawing attention to the schemes of Jesus’ enemies—and that was no accident. Matthew 27:62–66 isn’t a throwaway detail—it’s the tension-building moment where man’s effort to stop God reaches its highest point… and ultimately fails. The tomb is sealed. The watch is set. The enemies of Jesus believe they’ve secured their victory. But the truth is, they’ve secured the evidence. When the stone is rolled away and the tomb is found empty, it won’t be a stolen body—it will be a divine resurrection, with Roman guards and religious elites powerless to deny it. God used the fear of the Pharisees to validate the miracle of the resurrection beyond question. This is a divine irony only God could write.

Holy Saturday occupies a theological space between two extremes: Good Friday – the day of atonement, judgment, blood, and suffering. The wrath of God poured out upon the sinless Son. Resurrection Sunday – the day of triumph, joy, victory, and new life. The empty tomb, the angel’s announcement, and the risen Lord.

But between these days is a tomb sealed with silence. In that silence is a message the Church must never forget: there is a space in the believer’s life where it feels like God is not moving, not speaking, not delivering—and that space tests our faith more than any trial. The disciples were devastated. The women were preparing spices. Their hope was bruised, and they didn’t yet understand that the quiet tomb was part of the plan. This reflects the life of every Christian who has stood at the edge of promise but not yet seen it fulfilled. We live much of our lives in Holy Saturday moments—between prayer and answer, diagnosis and healing, loss and comfort, death and new life.

This day fits into a larger biblical pattern: Noah waited 7 days in the ark after the door closed, before the flood came (Genesis chapter 7 verse 10). Abraham waited decades between promise and Isaac. Joseph waited in prison between prophecy and promotion. Israel waited 400 years of silence between the prophets and Christ. Believers today wait between the first coming of Christ and His return. Holy Saturday is part of that rhythm. It teaches us not only how to rejoice in resurrection, but how to remain faithful in silence.

APPLICATION

Appreciating God’s Greatness
The greatness of God is seen most profoundly in moments when we feel like He is absent. Holy Saturday is a testimony to the truth that God’s power is not diminished by silence. In fact, it is in the quiet places of redemptive history that some of His most decisive work takes place. The very day when the world thought Jesus was dead and forgotten—when His disciples were scattered and His enemies triumphant—was the day when the plan of salvation was resting in divine certainty. While Rome set a watch and the Pharisees sealed the sepulchre (SEP-ul-ker), the God of heaven was not worried. His plan needed no earthly defense. What appeared to be the end was simply the waiting hour before the greatest victory the world would ever know. The power of God is not only displayed in signs and wonders, but in His unstoppable purpose even when all seems still. Holy Saturday is a day of divine silence—but not divine inactivity. The resurrection was already certain. That is the greatness of our God.

For the Believer
Believers must not rush past this day too quickly. In the space between the agony of the cross and the triumph of the empty tomb is a sacred reminder that the Christian life is filled with seasons of silence. There will be times when God appears quiet, when the promise seems to delay, and when our hearts feel broken beyond repair. But Holy Saturday teaches that the silence of God is never the absence of God. His plan is still unfolding. The women who loved Jesus still prepared spices. The disciples, confused and shaken, still obeyed the Sabbath. They didn’t feel victorious, but they remained faithful in what they knew to do. This is the call for us today: to trust God in the quiet, to wait with hope, to believe that the sealed tomb is not the final word. The enemy may appear to have the upper hand, and the darkness may seem to linger longer than we can bear—but God is never late. The waiting is part of the story. The silence is part of the plan. And the tomb is about to open.

Call to Action
Do not despise the waiting. Obey when it’s hard. Worship when you don’t feel it. Read God’s Word even when you feel numb. Trust when there’s no visible sign of breakthrough. This is what it means to quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. Be faithful in the Holy Saturday moments of your life—the places between pain and promise, between the grave and the glory. For those who wait for Him, the Lord is good.

For the Unbeliever
If you do not yet belong to Christ, this day is a mirror into the state of your soul. You may not be actively opposing God like the Pharisees, but the effect is the same if you choose not to believe. They remembered Jesus’ words and tried to shut the tomb. You may remember the words of Scripture, the preaching you’ve heard, the invitation you’ve received—but choose to seal your heart in unbelief. But no guard and no stone can stop the truth. The resurrection is coming. The King will rise. You still live in Saturday, in the space before the judgment appears. That space is a gift—a place to repent, to believe, to surrender. Tomorrow, the tomb will be empty. The stone will roll away. But for you to be saved, your heart must open now. Don’t waste the silence. Let this be the day you believe before the glory of Sunday arrives.

FINAL ENCOURAGEMENT

Holy Saturday is the quiet classroom of faith. It teaches us that God’s plan does not require constant activity, noise, or even visible movement to be perfectly on track. When Jesus’ body lay in the sepulchre (SEP-ul-ker), the world thought the story had ended. The disciples mourned. The women waited. The Pharisees schemed. But heaven did not panic. The plan of redemption was not behind schedule. What looked like delay was divine timing. What sounded like silence was the sovereign stillness before resurrection.

Let today remind us that when God appears silent in your life, He is not absent. When your prayers seem unanswered, it may be because the answer is already set and the appointed time is simply not yet here. Wait on the Lord. Trust in the quiet. Stand beside the tomb knowing the stone will move—not because of your strength, but because nothing can stop the will of God. You may be living in a Saturday season, but Sunday is already written into your story.

PRAYER

Father, we come to You in the stillness of this day, knowing that even when our hearts are heavy and heaven feels silent, You are still at work. Thank You for reminding us that waiting is not weakness. You do not abandon Your promises, and You are never late. Teach us to trust You in the quiet places, to worship You in the dark seasons, and to obey even when we don’t yet see the answer. Help us to remember that Your silence does not mean absence, and Your plan is always moving forward—just like it was on this day, so long ago, when the world thought the tomb had won. Strengthen the believer who waits, and awaken the heart of the one who still doubts. Let today be a sacred reminder that the story is not over. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

CLOSING

If you’ve found these daily verses encouraging, enlightening, or fruitful, please consider helping us spread the truth and light of God’s Word by subscribing to the blog and YouTube channels and liking and following the Facebook page. Most of all, share Believers of Biblical Truth and our links with others who may need the sermons and daily teachings just as much as we do.

You are loved—so much in fact, that we want you to know and be Believers of Biblical Truth.

Shalom Shalom.