April 22, 2011
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Never read this before
I've been going to church since I was about 4 days old. I've read the bible...well a few times cover to cover and try to read it at least once a day, but this just JUMPED out at me this morning as I was reading about the events of Good Friday:
Matt 27:51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
WHAT!? "The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life"
Just think of that weekend: the sky turned dark, the earth shook, the veil was torn top to bottom...and dead people were raised to life!?
Who?
David? Moses? Daniel? Who?
What would an unbeliever have thought?
What did Barbabas think?
What did those who killed Jesus think?
Did this happen on Sunday?
When did they go back to heaven? With Jesus?
What do you think about this? Anyone ever heard a sermon on this passage? Anyone ever studied? I'd appreciate your thoughts!
Comments (4)
My Mom has studied this quite a bit. She's a lifelong Bible scholar and former Bible teacher. (Her father for a short time lived and preached in Zion, IL!)
She speculates that these "holy people" were God-fearing Jews, who had heard and believed Jesus but had died during His lifetime on earth. She thinks that they were raised from the dead at His death in order to confess Him as Lord, and to give further testimony to His divine power over death (even in His own death). And then, like Lazarus, they died again at the end of their lives (time unknown).
These are speculative ideas, not provable, but reasoned out through searching the Scriptures and studying first-century Christianity.
I believe the Bible says all these miraculous things happened at the moment Jesus died - so, on Thursday. Each of these miracles is a significant fulfilling of prophecy.
It is fascinating to study and think about!
"Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life, "finished" the victory cry...it's the power of the Cross!"
"Curtain torn in two, dead are raised to life, "finished" the victory cry...it's the power of the Cross!"
P.S. When I told my Mom I had shared these things with you, she immediately and gently corrected some of my details.
Regarding the holy people ('saints") who were raised, I said they heard and believed Jesus "during His lifetime." My Mom's time frame is His earthly ministry (3+ years). She also pointed me to vs. 53 (which you emphasized above) that they came out of the tombs *after* His resurrection. That spoils my neat little theory about the purpose of their testimony. (Note to self: Always, always fact-check *before* posting!)
Another possibility is that these people were buried near Christ's tomb and were raised to life by the radiating power of His own awesome resurrection.
In speculative Bible discussions, my conclusion is always the same: SOME DAY WE WILL KNOW FOR SURE! I can hardly wait for that day, when we will see Jesus face to face!
Happy Resurrection Day!
Christ is risen!
He is Lord!
SK: )
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