Matthew 27:51-53

In Matthew 27:51-53

Did God raise dead Saints from their graves at the time of Jesus Christ's crucifixion? As a matter of fact: YES, HE did ! !

Matthew 27:51-53 tells us what happened right after Jesus Christ died: “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; 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.”

This resurrection of several believers was one of the phenomena accompanying the resurrection of Jesus Christ to underscore that monumental event. These saints came back to physical life. (In the Bible, the word saints means those who are sanctified or set apart as holy, meaning all of God’s true followers.) We know from such scriptures as 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17and 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 that God has resurrected no one to eternal life as an immortal spirit yet—except Christ.

For example, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 says: “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

These references teach us that God will change the righteous dead along with living Christians to immortal beings when Jesus Christ returns.

After God brought the people mentioned in Matthew 27:52-53 back to life, they undoubtedly went back to their homes, where many acquaintances saw them. It’s hard to imagine how utterly startling such an experience would be for their relatives and friends!

The Bible says nothing further about these people God resurrected at Christ’s death, leaving us to conclude that they eventually died (again) and their families buried them (again). Along with all other saints who died, they await in their graves their resurrection to spirit life. Here are some facts about the Temple veil…

What does the temple curtain being torn have to do with Jesus’ death on the cross? Everything!

“Josephus reported that the veil was 4 inches thick, was renewed every year, and that horses tied to each side could not pull it apart. It barred all but the High Priest from the presence of God, but when it was torn in two at the death of Jesus of Nazareth (see Mark 15:38), access to God was made available to all who come through him.”

The Veil and the Separation

God put the temple curtain there for the safety of His people for no one can enter into the Holy of Holies and live. Only the high priest could do this and then only once a year but they tied a rope around his waist in the event he did something wrong and if he died as a result, they could drag him out from behind the curtain since they couldn’t go in and get him and they too would perish. The veil represents the separation of a Holy God from sinful mankind because our sins have separated us from God (Isaiah 59:2).

The veil was so massive and heavy that it took 300 priests to manipulate it so there was no way that someone could inadvertently trip and stumble into the Holy of Holies and subsequently die as a result.

The Tearing of the Curtain

At the very moment that “Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit” (Matt 27:50) “the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split” (Matt 27:51). The curtain was torn at the exact moment of Jesus’ death because our separation from God by our sins had been paid for by Jesus on the cross. Notice that the temple curtain was torn from the top down to the bottom indicating that it was torn from the top by God Himself. What no human could possible tear by human strength, God did by the death of the Son of God. Now we can go behind the curtain and have access into the Holy of Holies. It wasn’t Jesus’ torn flesh that ended our separation from God but His sinless life, death, and resurrection. Now “we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus” (Heb 10:19).

The Tearing of His Body ( this part is disturbing.)

I hate this part.

But remember, JESUS was in control here, (as always) and HE did this for ALL OF MANKIND. Past, Present, and Future. CHRIST JESUS bore it ALL. NO ONE ELSE -

But Our KINSMAN REDEEMER could do this. HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE SO THAT WE MAY ALL HAVE A CHANCE AT ETERNAL LIFE. -- Remember that.

Jesus’ own body was given as atonement for our sins and His death satisfied the wrath of God. What was due to us, He took because He paid a debt He did not owe for a debt we could never pay. The flesh of Jesus’ body was literally torn and as Isaiah write “many were astonished at you— his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance, and his form beyond that of the children of mankind” (Isaiah 52:14).

The Romans were experts at scourging. They used a wooden rod that had several 18-24 inch long straps of leather attached to it and at the end of it were sharp, rugged pieces of metal, wire, glass, and jagged fragments of bone and cut deeply through the victim’s skin and into his flesh, shredding his muscles and sinews. This was so effective that much of the tissue was removed and often the spine itself was visible by the time they were finished. Jesus’ literal flesh was torn to shreds and the skin which protects the internal organs and bones was torn and fell away by the scourging so Jesus’ own body was torn.

What a price God paid to redeem us from an eternal separation from Himself. Thank you GOD. Bless YOU, GOD. JESUS CHRIST Laid down HIS Life for all people. People that love HIM, people that hate HIM. People that disrespect HIM. And for those who Honor, LOVE, and Obey HIM. Remember that, the next time were all caught up in situations we believe to be

‘’ Important ‘’ at the time. When were running our mouths, or any number of senseless activities… REMEMBER what HE did for ALL OF US. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US. HONOR, REVERENCE, & RESPECT. GOD be with you all.