The Graves
Were Opened
Introduction:
Every
event that occurred the day Jesus died was in support of God’s plan to save
sinners from eternal destruction. This was the
day appointed from eternity that would manifest relief from guilt of sin
for all of humanity. (Eph. 3:9-11) Each event that transpired was orchestrated
as the Son, totally and completely submissive to the Father’s will, fulfilled
His assigned portion among men. One of the events of that day was that the
graves were opened.
I. Graves of the past:
A.
Graves
were generally grottoes or caves; natural or hewn out in rocks. (Isa. 22:16;
Mt. 27:60).
B.
Contents...
1.
Obviously,
bodies were entombed in such graves.
2.
Mt.
27:52 – graves in our text contained bodies of saints.
II. The gravity of the moment.
A.
Mt. 27:45
– darkness descended over the land from 12-3PM.
B.
Mt.
27:46 – Jesus cries out w/a loud voice, My
God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?
C.
Mt.
27:50 – Jesus cries out again w/a loud voice and yields His spirit.
D.
In that
moment, simultaneously,
1.
Mt.
27:51 – the veil of the temple tears from top to bottom.
2.
Mt.
27:51 – the earth quaked and rocks were split which opened the graves.
E.
Mt.
27:57-60 – Jesus’ body taken off the cross & placed in the tomb of
Joseph.
F.
Mt.
28:1-4 – Jesus is resurrected triumphantly. He was the firstborn from the
dead.
G.
Mt.
27:52-53 – the resurrected saints leave their tombs, enter Jerusalem, and
appear to many. We are not told who they were nor in what era they lived.
III. These events had a great
effect on the people of that day.
A.
Mt.
27:54; Mk. 15:39 – Truly this was
the Son of God.
B.
Lk.
23:47 – The centurion glorified
God, saying, certainly this was a righteous man.
1.
23:48-49 - These events had a deep effect on all around.
C.
Acts 2:2-24, 32-33, 36-37 – on
Pentecost, Peter pointed back to this moment in time and put the blame and
responsibility where it belonged.
IV. The significance of this
event…
A.
The
resurrection proved that:
1.
Jesus
conquered death. He overcame His captor…death itself!
2.
Eph.
4:8-10
3.
Heb.
2:14-15 – through His resurrection, He handed defeat to Satan!
B.
Because
of Jesus’ resurrection believers can have:
1.
Confidence.
2 Cor. 4:13-14 – God Himself will raise us up.
2.
Victory.
1 Cor. 15:51-57
3.
Comfort.
1 Thess. 4:15-18
Conclusion:
A.
John
5:28-29 - Are you living in such a way that you can anticipate life after
death?
B.
2 Cor.
5:8-11 - Have you come to Jesus for salvation?
C.
I N V I
T A T I O N