50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. – Matthew 27:50-53
Sunday Surprise
History revolves around the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Every Easter season we recount the events surrounding the empty tomb where Christ’s body was laid to rest. As we read the Gospel accounts, much discussion is made of the surprise reaction of those that found the stone rolled away early that first Resurrection Sunday.
Despite Old Testament prophecies and the foretelling words of Christ Himself, His followers were stunned to find His body missing. Even the raising of Lazarus did not adequately prepare them for the surprise of that historic day. And why should it?
Death and the grave don’t easily give up the dead. Since the bite of the forbidden fruit in Eden death has been such a certainty. So much so that every generation fears and respects its presence. Despite our efforts to push it from our thoughts, death has a way of too often interrupting our lives. From our perspective death doesn’t usually “play” fair, but it does “play” for keeps.
Headstones
A few weeks ago, my family picked out my mother’s headstone. Soon the stone will be placed at her grave site. It will be just another reminder of the reality of her death. Earthly speaking, what is more enduring than the granite stone that will mark her final resting place?
Such is the earthly plight of man. We began as dust and will return to dust and then a stone will mark where we are laid to rest. A permanent monument attempting to keep alive a fading legacy.
Our American landscape is full of them.
It is only natural to want to honor the lives and legacies of the deceased. For many, the fitting way to do so is with a respectful burial and monument. A tradition that has been carried on for years.
Historically the Greeks and Romans used stone monuments to honor the dead and prevent the graves from being disturbed. We want the same for our deceased loved ones today.
Cemeteries
When he gave his famous speech dedicating the cemetery in Gettysburg, President Lincoln stated that those who fought there had already consecrated the ground. Many gave their lives so that the nation might live. Too many.
When you go to Arlington national cemetery, you are overwhelmed by endless rows of monuments paying tribute to thousands of others who also have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country. I believe visiting each of these cemeteries is a beneficial exercise in may respects.
However, as intriguing as Arlington and Gettysburg are, we don’t have to drive to Pennsylvania or Virginia to pay our respects to the deceased. As stated above, cemeteries make up a prominent part of the American landscape.
Today’s cemeteries were preceded by yesterday’s graveyards. Churchyards that doubled as burial grounds, until they eventually ran out of sufficient space to bury their deceased.
The grave is never satisfied (Proverbs 27:20). Every day we are one step closer to death. Because of it’s certainty I already have the deed to my plot. As sobering as it is to think about, one of these days I will be the one whose grave site is being visited. Until then, I will continue to make my way to Gettysburg and Arlington in addition to visiting the grave sites of my loved ones.
Unexpected Visitors
There is nothing unusual about going to a cemetery and seeing the living paying their respects to the deceased. Happens every day. But what about the deceased coming out of their graves and coming to town to visit the living?
That is what happened the day of Jesus’ death. As we celebrate Passion Week we seldom talk about one of the most intriguing surprises of Good Friday.
According to Matthew’s account, just after Jesus yielded up His spirit, the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. Obviously, this represents the barrier between God and men being removed by the death of Christ.
But in addition to the curtain being torn, there was an earthquake. One which shook the earth and split the rocks, thus opening the tombs of the saints and enabling their bodies to take a walk into Jerusalem and do some visiting of their own.
Dead Men Walking
As I stated at the beginning, we often talk about the surprise of the followers of Christ at the discovery of the His empty tomb. But have you ever contemplated the surprise of those in Jerusalem that witnessed the visitation of the saints immediately following the death of Christ?
Imagine the chaos if you can. How did the bodies of the deceased saints look? What or whom did they visit? Did they walk to the Temple to observe the now torn curtain?
More importantly, what can it mean for us?
Everything.
That granite headstone may not be as enduring as it seems. That deed to my cemetery plot may not be worth the paper it is written on. That do not disturb sign? Doesn’t apply to Jesus.
What in heaven or on earth can withstand the loud voice of Christ? Certainly, death and the tomb are no match for it!
When Jesus went to the cross, He did so meekly, like a sheep being led to the slaughter (Isaiah 53:7). But when He yielded His spirit, Jesus did so with a loud voice. He wasn’t a helpless victim hanging on a cruel Roman cross, He was a victorious King setting His saints free.
When this King shouted, “It is finished“, death and the tomb were forever changed. The Sunday surprise was Christ’s exclamation point to God’s perfect plan of redemption.
A Loud Voice
Chances are, someday, like me, you too will have your remains laid to rest in a cemetery. In the tradition of the Greeks and Romans, your site will probably be marked with a stone to honor you and prevent your grave from being disturbed.
At least until Jesus comes.
When Jesus stood outside the tomb of Lazarus, He commanded Lazarus to come forth, and he did. Despite the fact that he had been dead for three days, the grave could not contain Lazarus after the voice of Christ called him out. It had to surrender to the Savior.
Similarly, as Christ cried out on the cross, the earth shook and the saints arose from their graves and walked into Jerusalem. Whether they were in the tomb for three days or three hundred years, the saints could not remain in their graves once Christ lifted up His voice. Like the grave of Lazarus, the graves of the Saints had to surrender to the voice of the Savior.
And someday, Child of God, your grave will to. Christ is coming back, and His voice will be heard on earth once again.
Looking Up
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.18 Therefore encourage one another with these words. – 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Child of God, that cemetery is not your final resting place. Some day, maybe soon, Christ is coming back. He will give a cry of command. When He does so His saints that have died in the Faith will raise from their graves and join those who are alive as they meet Christ in the air.
How can we be so certain of this meeting?
As Christians we not only have the witness of Christ’s empty tomb, but we also have the testimony of dead men walking. May this fact leave a lasting impression on us much like it would have for those in Jerusalem who witnessed it so many years ago.
As Paul reminded the Thessalonians, “encourage one another with these words“.
Christ has risen.
He has risen indeed.
And in the words of Lincoln, He has given His life so others may live.
Happy Easter.