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28. The Strange Events at the Death of Jesus (Matthew 27:51-53)
MATTHEW 27:51-53
51 Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many. (Exodus 26:31-33, 2 Chronicles 3:14)
The consequences of Christ’s death soon appeared. The veil of the temple, which stood in front of the most holy place, was torn in two. This has great significance. The Old Testament has been finished, and the New one began. The way to a Holy God has been opened wide by Christ’s death for those who believe in Him, because God has become their Father.
The veil of the temple was for concealment. It was forbidden for any person except the High Priest to see the inside of the most holy place, and he but once a year. The accompanying ceremony and a cloud of incense smoke signified the darkness of that dispensation (2 Corinthians 3:13). Now, at the death of Christ, all was opened. The mysteries were unveiled so that anyone could read their meaning.
When Christ yielded up His Spirit, immediately God’s life entered into some godly believers of the Old Testament. Those who are justified by the blood of Christ shall not die forever. The death of Christ has brought the greatest change to the whole world. The Spirit of God dwells within us forever because of the atonement wrought by Christ, and we shall live in an everlasting communion with Him.
By dying on the cross, Jesus Christ has conquered, disarmed, and disabled death. The saints that arose were the first trophies of the victory of Christ’s cross over the powers of death. Having destroyed him that had the power of death, He fulfilled the scripture, “I will ransom them from the power of the grave” (Hosea 13:14).
Faith began to grow in the Gentiles so that they testified to the divinity of the Crucified One. Since the time that the Jews first rejected God’s incarnate love, millions of people have turned to the Lord Jesus and have been saved. Has this wave of divine grace reached you and touched your house and town?
The power of sin has ended. The law cannot raise a complaint against us for we have died with Christ by faith. We have been delivered from God’s wrath, the penalty of sin, and the fear of death. Christ is the victor! He has made us partners in His triumph. He died as a substitute for us and loved us to the end, even to death. Where is our thankfulness? How do we serve the Savior? When will we tell others about the most important event in the history of mankind; that is, the day of our reconciliation with God?
Some people say that Christ could not serve as a substitute for us, because no one who is burdened by his own sin can bear the burden of another. It is true that one who is filled with sins cannot bear the sins of another. Yet Christ, who knew no sin, was able to be the substitute for all sinners, because He is sinless. Therefore, Christ had the right to bear the burden of others. We praise Him, thank Him, and receive from Him our resurrection from the dead, for He has justified and sanctified us completely by His grace.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, We glorify You, for Your death has opened to all the way to God. We now have the right to come near to the Holy One for our justification through Your atonement, and to see that the Holy One has become our loving Father for the sake of Your substitutionary death for us. We thank You because some of the righteous dead of the Old Testament came out of their graves when You died. They appeared to many as evidence of Your triumph over death, sin, Satan, and even God’s wrath. You are our life and the only Savior. We ask Your guidance to advise those who are still dead in their sins and do not see the mystery of justification so that they shall live, too. We thank You because You opened to them, as well, the way to the holy God, for the sake of Your precious blood. Amen.
QUESTION:
- Why cannot a sinner bear the sins of others?