Three things that happened
when Jesus died
When Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed His
last, three events occurred: (1) the temple curtain was torn in two from top to
bottom, (2) the earth shook and rocks split, and (3) the tombs broke open and
many of the dead saints were raised to life and came out of the tombs after
Jesus' resurrection (Matthew 27:50-53, Korean Modern Bible).
(1)
The tearing
of the temple curtain from top to bottom symbolizes that, through the torn body
of Jesus, the great sacrifice, a new and living way was opened for us to
approach God (Hebrews 10:19-20). This
means that any sinner, relying on Jesus' atoning death, can boldly come
directly to God (Hokma).
(2)
The
simultaneous events of the tearing of the temple curtain and the shaking of the
earth with splitting rocks signify the presence of God as the righteous Judge,
as a result of the death of Jesus, His only Son (Psalms 18:7; Isaiah 5:25; Joel
2:10). For those who accept Jesus' death
by faith, it symbolizes the presence of God as the New Covenant and Creator;
for those who continue in unbelief, it suggests the presence of God as the Lord
of wrath and eternal judgment (Hokma).
(3)
As a result
of the earthquake, the large stone blocking the entrance of the tombs was
rolled away, and many bodies of saints who had died were raised. This is a fulfillment of the belief that there
would be a resurrection of the dead when the Messiah (Christ) came (Matthew
9:25; 22:23). It also serves as a sign
of the resurrection of all the saints at the second coming of Jesus.
Their
resurrection should be seen not as a restoration of life on earth, but as a
demonstration of the power of Jesus' resurrection. Therefore, it is likely that they were
resurrected in glorified bodies. In any
case, the bodies of the dead rising from their graves and coming out after
Jesus' resurrection symbolize (1) the victory of Jesus Christ over death and
the life-giving influence that victory brings to the saints (1 Corinthians
15:55-57), (2) the vivid testimony that Jesus is the firstfruits of the
resurrection of the saints (verse 23), and (3) the liberation of the saints
from the power of the grave through Jesus' death and resurrection, allowing
them to enjoy the joy of life (Ephesians 4:8-9) (Hokma, Internet).
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