raised

 

“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.” Matthew 27:52, 53

“Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54

I confess that I’m perplexed and intrigued by the dead people whose tombs are broken open and are awakened to life as Jesus dies. We are told that after Jesus’ resurrection, these same people leave their tombs, enter Jerusalem and proceed to mix and mingle with the inhabitants of that city. How fascinating and downright curious! If they are brought back to life as their tombs are broken open around 3:00pm on Friday afternoon, what did they do or experience in the meantime as they awaited their tomb exit and entrance into the city on Sunday morning? As they lay in their grave—alive—from Friday to Sunday, did they have any idea of the events on Friday? Were they aware of what was happening around them? Did angels minister to them? I’m guessing that no human, other than possibly Romans, would even have the chance to be aware of “live people in graves” at that time because the Jews in the city would all be engaged in celebrating the Passover and participating in the activities of that day (and definitely no where near a cemetery!). Trying to imagine this entire scenario fills me with amazement and wonder, not to mention that it creeps me out a bit. All I can say is it’s a good thing the tombs were broken open so they could have fresh air to breath while they waited!

On a more serious note, when the Roman captain and his soldiers experienced all that happened (three hours of darkness in the middle of the day, earthquakes, etc.), they were “scared to death” and proclaimed that Jesus must have been the Son of God! How often it is that those on the outside of something can readily perceive what those on the inside are oblivious to.

So . . . what am I missing that others can readily see in my life and being? What am I oblivious to? God has given me a “raised” form of life also—am I still laying quiet and still in my old grave, waiting for something else to happen or another time to come? If so, is my waiting in line with God’s plan for me, or the result of my own reluctance and resistance? Am I being told that the time has come for me to leave my unnecessary grave, enter the city of the living and joyously engage with those that I meet along the way? What a miraculous occurrence—for the “raised” in this story, for myself and for all who are alive on planet earth! New possibilities abound, boggling my mind and imagination!