This coming Sunday, I am preaching a text I have never preached before.

Whenever we talk about Resurrection Sunday, most preachers immediately focus on the
empty tomb, or the encounter between Jesus and Mary, or even His appearance to the
disciples in the upper room. But this Sunday… we are going to the alley!

In Matthew 28, Matthew gives us another perspective of the moment—one I had never fully
considered. Matthew gives us the perspective of the guards.

Remember all those folks shouting at Pontius Pilate, “Crucify Him!”? All the people
hanging around the cross, mocking and shouting at Him: The guards, the Sadducees, the
Pharisees, the crowds?

While Mary and the others were running to tell the disciples that the tomb was empty, the
guards were running to tell the chief priests the very same thing.

I am excited this Sunday to unpack that word a little further.

Some lingering questions include:
• What are the implications of an empty tomb?
• What are the benefits of an empty tomb?
• And who needs to hear that the tomb is empty?

My prayer is that you will join us in person this Sunday as we celebrate both Communion
and Resurrection Sunday.

Come—let us worship God together.

See you Sunday. Amen.

Dr. Ron Bell, II