Passing by

Never were soldiers, in any army, in any time of history, given a more useless command than that given by Pontius Pilate to unnamed Roman soldiers, posted at the door of a borrowed tomb, outside the city of Jerusalem. These poor soldiers were commanded to secure the tomb. No one was to get in and no one was to get out (Matthew 27:64-66). Two thousand years later Christians are still celebrating the fact that Jesus Christ, who was entombed there, got out. I have often wondered about those soldiers. While we have no details, it is assumed that the soldiers thought so little of their assignment, they fell asleep and Jesus passed by them on His way out of the tomb. Awakened by the earthquake, they “became like dead men” (Matt. 28:4). Willie Nelson sang a song a few years ago that had nothing to do with the resurrection of Jesus, but the title must have been close to what the soldiers felt that morning – “The Last Thing I Needed, First Thing This Morning, Was to Have You Walk Out on Me.” It may be the last thing you think you need, but when the living Lord, passes by you today, what will you feel?