2. A work of redemption
What does the future of the earth have to do with what happened at the cross? When God shook the earth at the death of Christ, I think He was giving the world a taste of what will happen in the future when the King returns. When Jesus died on the cross, He so perfectly accomplished the Father’s will that He earned the right to be King of the earth. He earned the right to take the title deed to the earth out of the hand of God (Rev. 5:7). One day He will unroll that deed and begin the process of taking over the earth (Rev. 6–19). When Christ finished the work of redemption, the Father said, “Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” Philippians 2:10 says, “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” The shaking of the earth at the death of Christ was God’s way of guaranteeing the promise of a renewed world and universe. Christ has earned it, and it will happen one day.
VI. SUBSEQUENT DELIVERANCE (vv. 52-53)
A. The Resurrection of the Saints (vv. 52-53a)
“The graves were opened; and many bodies [Gk. somata] of the saints that slept were raised, and came out of the graves.”
This was a real resurrection of bodies, not just spirits. Not all bodies were raised, only select Old Testament saints. When Jesus died, their spirits came from the dwelling place of righteous spirits. They were joined with their glorified bodies, which came out of those graves.
B. The Testimony of the Saints (v. 53b)
“After his [Christ's] resurrection, [they] went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.”
You can imagine the kind of testimony they had about Christ’s resurrection. Why didn’t they go into the city to testify until after Christ rose? Because 1 Corinthians 15:20 says, “Now Christ is risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept.” So they didn’t begin to speak until after Christ rose from the dead.
I don’t believe they spoke to anyone except those who already believed. There’s no biblical evidence of Christ ever appearing after His resurrection to anyone other than believers. I’m sure the believers were thrilled to meet them. The risen saints would have testified that Christ was alive, guaranteeing the reality of resurrection for all believers. They became living proof of that guarantee.
The cross is the greatest hope for resurrection because Christ paid your sin. You are free from death and free to live. In His kingdom we will have glorified bodies like His.
Conclusion
What do we see at the cross? The wrath of God is depicted in supernatural darkness. The holiness of God is seen when He turned from Christ, who had become sin. The grace and mercy of God is depicted in Christ’s voluntary act of self-sacrifice to redeem unworthy men. The curtain in the Temple is ripped from top to bottom as God opens the way of access to Himself. The shaking of the earth reminds us that the promised new earth and heaven will come. Jesus will reign as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and we’ll be there to reign with Him. And the resurrection of the saints at the death of Christ guarantees the resurrection of all who believe in Him. That is God’s supernatural testimony of the meaning of His Son’s death.
Focusing on the Facts
1. What does the Old Testament teach about the meaning of the cross (see p. 1)?
2. What does the New Testament teach about the meaning of the cross (see p. 2)?
3. What is associated with the birth, life, and ministry of Jesus Christ? What is associated with His death (see p. 2)?
4. How many times did Jesus break His silence during the first three hours of His crucifixion? What did He say (see p. 3)?
5. What are some examples of occasions when God created a supernatural darkness (see p. 4)?
6. What caused the darkness at the crucifixion (Luke 23:45; see p. 4)?
7. What does darkness typically symbolize in the Old Testament? Give some examples (see p. 5).
8. What did the darkness at the crucifixion mean (see p. 6)?
9. Why did Jesus cry out to God in Matthew 27:46? What did that confirm about the purpose of the cross (see p. 6)?
10. What did Christ do in addition to bearing man’s sin (2 Cor. 5:21; see p. 7)?
11. Describe the essence of Christ’s separation from God (see pp. 7-8).
12. In the midst of bearing the world’s sin, what did Christ long for (see p. 8)?
13. What did the crowd do to Jesus in spite of the darkness in the land (Matt. 27:47, 49)?
14. Why is it significant that Jesus cried loudly before He yielded up His spirit (see p. 10)?
15. How do we know that Christ’s death was voluntary? Explain (see p. 11).
16. Why was Jesus able to die of His own will (see p. 11)?
17. What happened to the veil shielding the Holy of Holies when Christ died (Matt. 27:51)? What did that signify (see p. 13)?
18. Why will the earth shake in the final judgment of God (see p. 14)?
19. What does the shaking of the earth in the future have to do with the earthquake that occurred at the crucifixion of Christ (see p. 15)?
20. Whom did God raise from the dead when Christ died? What did they do after the resurrection of Christ (Matt. 27:52-53; see p. 16)?
Pondering the Principles
1. Look up the seven statements Christ made while dying on the cross for you: Luke 23:34, Luke 23:43, John 19:26-27, Matthew 27:46, John 19:28, John 19:30, and Luke 23:46. What does each statement reveal about the His character? What do you learn about His commitment? Based on Christ’s example, what should your attitude be in the midst of the severest of trials?
2. According to Habakkuk 1:13, God is too pure to look at sin. Christ suffered and died on the cross to remove your sin that God might be able to look at you. At the moment of salvation, every sin you commit is paid for by Christ’s death on the cross. However, what must you do to maintain fellowship with Him (1 John 1:9)? Search your heart. Be faithful to remember what Christ endured for your sake every time you contemplate sin.
3. Hebrews 4:16 says all believers should come before God’s throne of grace. That means we have access to God, something people in the Old Testament never enjoyed. According to Hebrews 4:16, why should you approach God’s throne? In what manner should you approach it? Perhaps you have not been taking advantage of the access you have to God. Examine yourself to see if there are any areas in your life that you fail to depend on God for. Bring them before Him now.
“This article originally appeared here at Bible Bulletin Board.”
