Matthew 27:46-60; 28:1-3
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most significant aspect of our faith. We live in a day when His resurrection is being denied or spiritualized away by skeptics, cults and liberal theologians.
The writers of the Bible considered the resurrection of Jesus Christ to be absolutely essential!
Paul stated “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life... knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him. For in that He died, He died unto sin once: but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God” (Romans 6).
Peter stated “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,.. but with the precious blood of Christ,..(God) raised Him up from the dead,.. that your faith and hope might be in God…..For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit” (1 Peter).
Jesus said “My Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it up again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again” (John 10).
It is noteworthy that of the 89 chapters in the four Gospels, 28 focus on the last week of our Saviors Death, Burial & Resurrection. That week was spent in and about the city of Jerusalem Purifying the Temple; Debating the diverse sects of Judaism; Proclaiming the Olivet discourse; He wept over the people he knew would cry out for His death.
While examining the last week of the Savior's earthly ministry I noticed seven events of great importance that took place. All of these events can be identified as “OPENINGS.” NOTICE The First...
1. THE GATE OF THE CITY WAS OPENED (Matthew 21:9-11). The arrival of the King! “the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest. 10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.”
2. THE NEW COVENANT WAS OPENED (Matthew 26:26-29). “And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; 28 For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. 29 But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”
3. OUR SAVIOUR'S SIDE WAS OPENED (John 19:32-34). “Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him. 33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs: 34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.”
4. THE HOLY OF HOLIES WAS OPENED (Matthew 27:51). “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;”
5. THE GRAVE WAS OPENED (Matthew 27:52). “And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,”
6. THE TOMB OF JESUS CHRIST WAS OPENED (Matthew 28:1-3). “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
7. THE DOOR OF SALVATION WAS OPENED. John 10:9 “I am the door, by Me if any man enter in, shall be saved.”
Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.”
