We rightly put all our focus on what happened to Jesus from the garden to Calvary – but I wanted to touch on these two HEAVY verses that don’t seem to get much play.
Matthew 27:52-53 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
WOW!!!
For 3 hours darkness fell over ALL the land. (If the sky went black from midnight to three AM we wouldn’t give this much thought – but this was right around noon and ALL was black)
After those 3 hours of black, Jesus called out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Shortly after He called out again He died
When He died the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom
The earth shook
Rocks split
That would have been enough to freak everyone out. In fact, it was enough to change the mind of some that said, “Truly this was the Son of God”. I would imagine they said this with their eyes as big as saucers and their mouth hanging open in awe.
But what about the above verses?!?!?
There were followers of Jesus Christ (saints) who had already died and were buried. Their friends and family would have known they were dead – they would have held their funeral and buried them. These same people came back to life, went in to the city, and appeared to many!
I HAVE to get done with work and read through that a bunch. I haven’t given that much attention. Pretty much ignored because focus was on Jesus. Thanks!!
Ok. I always look for guidance. No doubt the events that coincide with the death of Jesus would leave us awestruck. When the rock splits and tombs of the holy break open and those then raised to life and appear to many...Is that an explanation point persay? Not only the catastrophic events that occur with His last breath but now people are witness to holy people rising from the grave and walking around town? Wow! What do you do? “Ding dong”...Umm cousin Earls at the door and would like to join us for supper...??? Good luck wrapping your brain around that!!! Did I miss something there? Like I said, always looking for guidance!
It is mind blowing what God has done so we don't "miss His Son"!! First, 100's of years before Jesus is born, God tells us in His Word, through His prophets, in detail, how it would happen. To name a few: 1) Born of a virgin 2) Born in Bethlehem 3) Called out of Egypt 4) Called a Nazarene 5) "Sold" for 30 pieces of silver - and that's just the tip of the iceberg! Then in His earthly ministry, Jesus tells everyone, "I am the One spoke about in the prophets"! Then all this happens upon His death! Then the resurrected Jesus appears to over 500 people for 40 days! Then the same disciples that ran scared and hid in upper rooms are now preaching Jesus until they are killed for it! The evidence is so overwhelming that it would have to be a powerful source to keep a person from seeing the Truth - in fact it is a powerful source - Scripture tells us that Satan has been given the ability to blind the minds of non-believers. It takes God to unveil our eyes and minds to receive the Truth - it is only then that we can say "dah, this is so obvious, the evidence is overwhelming." The things of God are spiritually discerned, natural man WILL NOT receive them.
Want to get heavier? Of course you do. The parable of the sower (found in Matthew 13) talks about 4 different groups - of the 4 only 1 is saved.
Group 1: They hear the Word, but they do not understand it, thus they do not receive it - Satan then comes in snatches away what has been sown in their heart. This seems to indicate that this group is in the same condition as they were before having heard - thus not saved
Group 2: They hear the Word, they immediately receive it with joy, but there is no root, therefore, when tribulation and persecution comes on account of the Word they fall away. (As a side note, this reminds me of events where they stir the audience up with music and an inspiring message, then do an alter call and pronounce them saved, yet there is no depth, there is no conversion) The Scripture says, "he who endures until the end will be saved" - thus, this group is not saved
Group 3: They hear the Word, and they must receive it to a certain extent, otherwise they'd be in group 1. But the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the Word and it proves to be unfruitful. Believers are called to be "in the world, but not of the world" AND followers of Christ will be fruitful - thus, this group is not saved
Group 4: They hear the Word, they understand the Word, they receive the Word, and they bear fruit. They don't fall away, they don't get deceived by the cares of the world, and tribulation and persecution do not stop them from serving Jesus. This group is saved.
It is interesting to consider, group 1 may end up in church, but probably not. Group 2 and 3 will definitely end up in church for a season. Therefore, we should not be surprised when a portion of the church looks and acts like the world. If we know this we will not get confused why the church often looks like the world - the wheat and the weeds will be together until the harvest when the true and false converts are separated out.