On the day that followed the day of Preparation, hence on Easter Sabbath, the chief priests and Pharisees came together to 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 be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night, and steal Him away, and say to the people: He is risen from the dead, so the last error shall be worse than the first." Pilate said to them: "You have a watch (of soldiers); go your way, make it as secure as you can." So they went and made the sepulchre secure, setting a watch and sealing the stone with the seal of the Chief Council. Troubled by secret unrest, they wanted to make altogether sure of keeping Jesus, whom they hated so bitterly, in death, grave, decay, and corruption, and relegate Him to utter oblivion. But here is God's prophecy concerning Christ: "Neither will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption." God kept Christ's body in the grave without corruption. Death and the grave had not swallowed up and overpowered Christ, but Christ had conquered death and the grave. Soon this became evident. It shall become fully evident to all the world on the Day of Judgment. Also the present-day pharisaical and sadducean enemies of Christ, who fill so many pulpits and chairs of learning and seats of church-government, and would keep Christ in the grave, shall be utterly confounded: God will make them His foot-stool, and they shall wail and confess that the Holy One of God did not see corruption. But you, O Christian and child of God, look upon the buried Saviour with altogether different eyes: confess that He is your Substitute who bears your sin and suffers your death and your burial, and conquers it all for you, that you may live in righteousness and blessedness forever.