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There is a section of God's Word that takes up so little space that it gives the impression of almost being an afterthought. Of course, there is no such thing as an "afterthought" in words that are God breathed. EVERY word is inspired - even the smallest Hebrew or Greek character is so, and Jesus Himself affirms it (Matthew 5:18; Luke 21:33}! But so it seems, with these few words:

"And crying again with a loud voice, Jesus released His spirit. And, behold! The veil of the temple was torn into two from above as far as below. And the earth quaked, and the rocks were sheared! And the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered into the holy city and were revealed to many". (Matthew 27:50-53) There is much spiritual fulfillment of prophecy, and symbolism in all of these events, but I will address the last one for this article.

Picture for a moment the setting of this occurrence. There had been six hours of darkness - a darkness I believe, that was a darkness like none before then or since, or ever shall be again. Then there is Jesus' cry recorded in verse 46. John's gospel records that He also cried out with a loud voice, "It is finished!... Then, the veil in the temple was split from top to bottom, opening up the holy of holies that only the high priest could enter once a year. Consider the horror that must gripped the Jewish leaders! Next there was a great earthquake that tumbled boulders and split rock and shook the earth.

All this was astounding enough, but then occurs another unbelievable event. True believers in Jesus Christ who had previously died and were in their graves came forth, walked into Jerusalem and talked to those still alive! We can only try to imagine the "shock and awe" this event struck in the hearts and minds of those involved - HUMAN BEINGS WERE RESURRECTED! And not a few - MANY! We do not know how many. We are not told who they were, whether rich or poor, young or old when they died. We only know they had DIED - now THEY ARE ALIVE! Try to imagine not only the reactions of those who were spoken TO, but also those who WERE RESURRECTED! What must they have thought and felt?

Again, we can only imagine...!

The other events surrounding our Lord and Savior and His death, as mentioned above, are filled with meaning, the greatest being that with His sacrificial death, we all can all be forgiven - He has died in our place. This being so, the resurrection of the saints after it was "finished" is also filled with meaning - for you, for me, and for THE WHOLE WORLD! We have seen from verse 52 above that "many bodies of the saints...were raised", and came "out of the graves after His (Jesus) resurrection". There is an important distinction here between the dead being "raised" and His resurrection. These saints were not "raised" (resurrected) to eternal life, but to physical life, to live again in the flesh. This in effect is a PHYSICAL "resurrection", not a spiritual one for these saints. This event pictures ENORMOUS and wonderful things, because when Jesus said "it is FINISHED", this raising of the dead was a sign of what then had become possible - the dead WILL LIVE AGAIN! It also, along with the other events, confirmed that Jesus was the Son of God, which even the soldiers who crucified Him affirmed (Mark 15:37-39) One of the first thoughts that come to mind regarding this particular event is that it also pictures the burial and resurrection to eternal life of Christians when Jesus returns. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17) It also can remind us of the beautiful ceremony picturing symbolically our death, burial and "resurrection" spiritually to a "new" life in Christ - the ordinance of Baptism! (Romans 6:3) There is however, another incredibly great and profound event pictured by these saints who were raised to physical life again. It is the TYPE of another resurrection (raising):

"Truly, truly, I say to you, The one who hears My Word, and believes the One who has sent Me, has everlasting life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. Truly, truly, I say to you that an hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and the ones hearing will live. For even as the Father has life in Himself, so He gave also to the Son to have life in Himself. And He also gave authority to Him to execute judgment, for He is the Son of Man. Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming in which all those in the tombs will hear His voice. And they will come out, the ones having done good into a resurrection of life; and the ones having practiced evil into a resurrection of judgment." - John5:24-29

If we look closely, there are two categories of people that Jesus refers to. The first are those who hear (present) His Word and "believes" in God the Father who sent Him, AND "the dead" (spiritually dead)who hear the voice of the Son of God, and LIVE. Jesus includes the words "and now is" in verse 25, when the SPIRITUALLY dead will hear and live. In verse 28 Jesus says that the "hour IS COMING" rather than "now is", when those WHO ARE IN THEIR GRAVES WILL HEAR HIS VOICE, and "COME FORTH" - some to a resurrection into life (eternal), with new and perfect immortal bodies that can never die again, and others who have done evil to a resurrection for JUDGMENT (NASV, and others). Again - try to visualize this. Billions upon billions of people who have lived and died since Adam and Eve were created in the Garden of Eden - now standing again upon the earth - all at one time! Jesus the Christ, the Savior of THE WORLD has called them forth! Some of them have done "good", others (probably most) have done "evil".

Surely this which is coming - which is more certain than the rising of this morning's sun - must be the world's most momentous event, second only to the return of Jesus Himself! Ponder for a moment the ramifications of all these things. Many questions must logically enter our minds, especially regarding the fate of all the billions who have never heard the name of Jesus Christ, or had the opportunity to believe in Him so that they could be counted in the other group who inherit eternal life. Does the "judgment" Jesus refers to imply CONDEMNATION for all eternity? Have they had all the witness necessary to be so condemned? (Romans 1:18-21). A judgment does not necessarily include sentencing. Judgment is often an examination to ascertain the real conditions extant in a set of circumstances. Could Revelation 20:11-15 refer to another day of salvation when the majority of the multiple billions of humanity will live again in the flesh - not for a second chance, but for a real first chance? Does being "without excuse" warrant condemnation (Romans 1:20)? Traditionally the answer has been - yes. Could there be a time of testing and trial of extended duration implied in Revelation 20:11-15? Others say - yes.

There are some things we may never know with absolutely certainty in this life, that must wait until the time when we shall know even as we are known. (1 Corinthians 13:9-12) God the Father has kept some things within His own power, to be revealed at the proper time (Acts 1:7). However, until then, we must all keep in mind these things - it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God! (Romans 10:31) He remembers that we are all dust. (Psalm 103:14) God is perfect in judgment and mercy - in all judgment, He remembers mercy. And mercy rejoices against judgment (James 2:13)

You and I, if we belong to Jesus Christ, are being JUDGED now, and in our resurrection will be accounted among those who do "good", all made possible by the sacrafice of Christ. (1 Peter 4:17) If you do not belong to Jesus Christ, you will still be resurrected to physical life again. We shall all be in some resurrection, in some catagory. Now, during this season of grace, you still have a choice to make...by not making a choice, you have made a choice by default. I pray you will consider your times, and make the right choice. Until you do, the resurrection for you is still marked: "UNKNOWN"...

What resurrection do you want to be in...?

"I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live." - Deuteronomy 30:19 (Amplified Bible)

"Today's Little Lift" from Jim Bullington

Mercy and not Sacrifice (Sept. 29, 2010)