Easter Thoughts - Pt. 3

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 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. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:50-54 ESV).

 

Mary and I have had the privilege of traveling to the Holy Land. One of the incredible vistas is found standing at the Mount of Olives and looking toward the Old City across the Kidron Valley. On the side of the valley nearest the old city walls of Jerusalem are thousands of “tombs.” Most of them are simply above ground stone graves. I have included a picture of this in today’s devotional. The Jewish Cemetery on the Mount of Olives is the most ancient and most important Jewish cemetery in Jerusalem. Burial on the Mount of Olives started some 3,000 years ago in the days of the First Temple, and continues to this day. The cemetery contains anywhere between 70,000 and 150,000 tombs from various periods, including the tombs of famous figures in Jewish history.

 

The history behind this burial site is interesting. Since a very common belief in Jesus’ day that “Messiah” would be proven by the miraculous raising of the dead, many believed that the closer you were to the Temple, the easier it would be to get a “front row seat,” or as some believed the “place of prominence.” So, when Matthew writes, “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” (v. 52), He is declaring finally that Messiah has come and conquered the great enemy of death itself.

 

Now, let me add that these many “witnesses” to this miracle would have been shocked to notice that some of the people who were resurrected would not have met their requirements for the front row. At least one of these was the repentant thief who died with Jesus. Remember that Jesus said to him: “Truly, I tell you, this day you shall be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43). No grave, above or below ground, will hold the child of God in its grip! Death is conquered in Jesus!