Three

The Jewish leaders remembered that Jesus had said he would rise in three days (John 2:19). After Jesus was buried in the tomb, the leaders requested that guards watch the tomb to prevent anyone from stealing Jesus’ body (Matthew 27). In addition to the guards, a massive stone weighing over two tons was rolled in front of the tomb and sealed. To get into or out of the tomb, someone would need to overpower the guards and move that heavy stone.

Despite what the leaders did to make sure Jesus’ body stayed in the tomb, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day and left the tomb! Because the tomb was empty and they couldn’t find a body anywhere, the Jewish leaders paid the guards to lie and say the disciples stole the body (Matthew 28:11–15).

The truth is that Jesus really did rise from the dead, just as he had said he would. And he lives today!