A Special Resurrection
And the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. Matt. 27:51-53, NKJV.
At the same time as Christ's last victory cry and death several other events took place. Yesterday we examined the tearing of the Temple curtain. Another simultaneous happening was a massive earthquake that shook the entire area and apparently split open the earth in major fissures in several places. Whereas the rending of the curtain was not visible to all, everybody experienced the fearful earthquake.
A third supernatural incident at the death of Jesus was a special resurrection of some who had died. The only Gospel writer to mention it is Matthew. And in his account the sequence of events is not entirely clear. What he seems to be telling us is that the earth-shattering earthquake not only "split" rocks but also opened up many tombs. From the text above it is not clear if the individuals in those tombs arose at the time of His death or at His own resurrection. The latter seems to be the meaning of the passage. If that is so, the picture is of some of God's faithful ones arising out of their opened tombs on Resurrection morning and going into the city to bear witness to the power of Christ to resurrect.
The Bible does not tell us who these raised individuals were, and most commentators don't speculate on their identity. Ellen White makes the plausible suggestion that "they were those who had been co-laborers with God, and who at the cost of their lives had borne testimony to the truth" (The Desire of Ages, p. 786). Paul alludes to the fact that when the risen Jesus Himself later ascended to heaven He took the raised ones with Him (see Eph. 4:8).
We should not confuse this special resurrection with the general resurrection that occurs at the Second Advent. A limited number of faithful arose with Christ, but the bulk of God's people will sleep in their graves until His appearing at the end of time (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-53).
What we do find in the event reported by Matthew is a clear teaching on the power of Christ to resurrect His followers. Because He lives, we shall also.
And the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. Matt. 27:51-53, NKJV.
At the same time as Christ's last victory cry and death several other events took place. Yesterday we examined the tearing of the Temple curtain. Another simultaneous happening was a massive earthquake that shook the entire area and apparently split open the earth in major fissures in several places. Whereas the rending of the curtain was not visible to all, everybody experienced the fearful earthquake.
A third supernatural incident at the death of Jesus was a special resurrection of some who had died. The only Gospel writer to mention it is Matthew. And in his account the sequence of events is not entirely clear. What he seems to be telling us is that the earth-shattering earthquake not only "split" rocks but also opened up many tombs. From the text above it is not clear if the individuals in those tombs arose at the time of His death or at His own resurrection. The latter seems to be the meaning of the passage. If that is so, the picture is of some of God's faithful ones arising out of their opened tombs on Resurrection morning and going into the city to bear witness to the power of Christ to resurrect.
The Bible does not tell us who these raised individuals were, and most commentators don't speculate on their identity. Ellen White makes the plausible suggestion that "they were those who had been co-laborers with God, and who at the cost of their lives had borne testimony to the truth" (The Desire of Ages, p. 786). Paul alludes to the fact that when the risen Jesus Himself later ascended to heaven He took the raised ones with Him (see Eph. 4:8).
We should not confuse this special resurrection with the general resurrection that occurs at the Second Advent. A limited number of faithful arose with Christ, but the bulk of God's people will sleep in their graves until His appearing at the end of time (1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-53).
What we do find in the event reported by Matthew is a clear teaching on the power of Christ to resurrect His followers. Because He lives, we shall also.
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