What Jesus Did! 'No Plan Can Stand' — Matthew 28:11-12

Thursday, December 28, 2017

The women went to tell the followers. At the same time, some of the soldiers that were guarding the tomb went into the city. They went to tell the leading priests everything that happened. Then the priests met with the older Jewish leaders and made a plan. They paid the soldiers much money {to tell a lie}.
— Matthew 28:11-12 NLT
Illustration of Matthew 28:11-12 NLT — Then the priests met with the older Jewish leaders and made a plan.

Key Thought

They made a plan! We've heard this before. They had been planning for a long time how they would get rid of Jesus. When Judas accepted their deal, they thought they had this "Jesus Problem" figured out. Little did they know that their plan was going to put them in opposition to God. Little did they know that their plans would not only furnish the early disciples—and us—a Savior, but also furnish them the fire to spread their message all over the world. But for now, they needed a plan because they had been defeated at their execution of Jesus. He arose from the grave! It was a grave guarded by Roman soldiers. They had even asked for the soldiers to guard the tomb to keep anything from happening to the body. But when you oppose God and his work, your plans are doomed to fail. We are the living proof of their failure and the failure of generations like them. Jesus' followers still know that he is the Living Lord of all creation and no plan can extinguish that faith.

Today's Prayer

I know, all powerful Father, that there are those who plan the eradication of all Christian believers from their country, and some even dream of the day that we be eliminated from the face of the earth. So I pray now for all my brothers and sisters, and all those close to believing in Jesus as Lord, who find themselves in hostile circumstance. Please give them hope that while some plan to silence them, if they keep telling the message, it will never be stopped. I join with thousands of other voices today Father, and pray for the victory of the Gospel of Jesus Christ all over the world. In the name of the one true Savior and Lord I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

  • Acts 5:34-39
  • Matthew 26:1-5
  • 1 John 4:4

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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