Even death succumbs
"The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus' resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.”(NIV) Matthew 27:52-53
A rare (and seemingly less discussed) occurrence during Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, shook the very foundations of death itself: numerous holy people who had died were raised to life, emerged from their tombs, and appeared to many in the holy city.
This miraculous occurrence serves as a powerful reminder that death, the last enemy of humankind, has been conquered by the victorious resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this moment, the boundaries between life and death were shattered, and the promise of new life in Christ was boldly proclaimed. God is truly in control, Hallelujah!
Let us pause for a moment: graves burst open, and those once bound by death emerged, restored to life. Here further details will be spared, but it's a picture of the triumph of hope over despair, of light piercing through the darkness of the tomb. This event foreshadows the ultimate victory that Jesus would achieve through His resurrection, offering eternal life to all who believe in Him.
For Christians, this passage brings profound reassurance and hope. It reminds us that death is not the end but a doorway to new life in Christ. As it is written, "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 1 Corinthians 15:55. In Christ, we have the assurance of victory over death and the promise of resurrection to eternal life.
Even for those who may not yet believe, this passage offers a compelling invitation to consider the truth of the Gospel. It beckons us to contemplate the significance of Jesus's resurrection and its implications for our lives, since "We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life." Romans 6:4
Death has been defeated through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. God is the Master of both Life and death and he is fully in control. It is an invitation to all to embrace such hope of new life found only in Him. May this truth resonate in our entire being, filling us with confidence and assurance, both now and for eternity. Amen.