THE POWER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Sakkie Parsons
Translated from Afrikaans: “DIE KRAG VAN ONS HERE JESUS CHRISTUS”
Someone wrote to me as follows:
“In Matthew 27:52 it says that the graves were opened, and the believers were raised and appeared to many.
My question is: … Was this a onetime event or how do you explain it?”
Here then is how I look at this matter:
First, we read the passage from the Word:
MattHEW 27:50-53
50And Jesus cried out again with a loud [agonized] voice, and gave up His spirit [voluntarily, sovereignly dismissing and releasing His spirit from His body in submission to His Father’s plan].
51And [at once] the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split apart.
52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints (God’s people) who had fallen asleep [in death] were raised [to life]; 53and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city (Jerusalem) and appeared to many people.
This was of course, to put it this way, a one-off event of its kind and I’ll say more about it soon – but of course it was not the only exceptional and one-off event of great miraculous magnitude in Jesus ‘ life on earth, speaking of people who came from the other side of the grave, to put it this way – to truly testify to the omnipotence and glory of our Lord and Savior. I will just briefly share with you another case which, in my opinion, in to a certain extent connect with the event above.
I am sharing with you the event as we find it in Luke, but I am only quoting Luke 9:28-31. You can read the entire event in your own time. The same event is also described in the Books of Matthew and Mark.
Luke 9:28-31 The Transfiguration
28Now about eight days after these teachings, He (Jesus) took along Peter and John and James and went up on the mountain to pray.
29As He (Jesus) was praying, the appearance of His face became different [actually transformed], and His clothing became white and flashing with the brilliance of lightning.
30And behold, two men were talking with Him; and they were Moses and Elijah, 31who appeared in glory, and were speaking of His departure [from earthly life], which He was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
Personally, I see this event on the mountain of glorification like this – (and others may see even more in this) but I share with you as I see it, and how it connects to the question and the events above.
Now remember that Jesus is busy training His disciples for the great task ahead of them, and of course to prepare them for His crucifixion.
Just a while before, you can read it from Luke 9:18, He revealed to them that He is the Christ and not too far from now, they are going to see the Christ hanging on a cross and keep in mind – they are just ordinary people.
So, here in the event on the mountain of glorification, God Almighty show that this Jesus is not only a prophet who can make the blind see, the deaf hear, feed thousands of people etc. but that He also is God Almighty Himself.
Therefore, John – one of them who were with Jesus on the mountain – could also testify later in his writing:
JOHN 1:1 1In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.
JOHN 1:14 14And the Word (Christ) became flesh, and lived among us; and we [actually] saw His glory, glory as belongs to the [One and] only begotten Son of the Father, [the Son who is truly unique, the only One of His kind, who is] full of grace and truth (absolutely free of deception).
As a result of this same event, Peter – who were there with Jesus on the mountain – could also on later occasion, not long before his martyrdom, write the following:
2PETER 1:14-19
13I think it right, as long as I am in this earthly tent, to inspire you by reminding you, 14knowing that the laying aside of this earthly tent of mine is imminent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
15Moreover, I will diligently endeavor [to see to it] that even after my departure you will be able, at all times, to call these things to mind.
Eyewitnesses
16For we did not follow cleverly devised stories or myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty [His grandeur, His authority, His sovereignty].
17For when He was invested with honor and [the radiance of the Shekinah] glory from God the Father, such a voice as this came to Him from the [splendid] Majestic Glory [in the bright cloud that overshadowed Him, saying], “This is My Son, My Beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased and delighted”— 18and we [actually] heard this voice made from heaven when we were together with Him on the holy mountain.
19So we have the prophetic word made more certain. You do well to pay [close] attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and light breaks through the gloom and the morning star arises in your hearts.
Therefore, when they saw Christ’s body hanging on the cross –
Matt 27:50 50And Jesus cried out again with a loud [agonized] voice, and gave up His spirit [voluntarily, sovereignly dismissing and releasing His spirit from His body in submission to His Father’s plan].
They could remember that they saw the Christ in His majesty and when the veil was tore from top to bottom –
Mat 27:51 And [at once] the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split apart.
They could, with what they experienced on the mountain, remember that they personally have access to God and that they can now proclaim to the world, that man no longerneed a priest to speak for them behind a curtain to get access to God – but that, praise the Name of our Lord!!! The risen Christ is now our High Priest.
Hebrews 4:14 14Inasmuch then as we [believers] have a great High Priest who has [already ascended and] passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith and cling tenaciously to our absolute trust in Him as Savior].
Now because Jesus lives in us, through Him we have direct contact with our Almighty GOD and Father:
ROM 8:14-15 14For all who are allowing themselves to be led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading again to fear [of God’s judgment], but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons [the Spirit producing sonship] by which we [joyfully] cry, “Abba! Father!”
Then later, they – who at that moment couldn’t think rationally due to the trauma of the event – could remember and realize that a dead cannot raise a dead after all.
Mat 27:52 52The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints (God’s people) who had fallen asleep [in death] were raised [to life];
When, after Jesus ‘ resurrection, the same thing happened again:
Mat 27:53 53and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city (Jerusalem) and appeared to many people.
Yes, then, with all that Jesus taught them, and all that they saw and experienced all the time they were with Him, plus what I shared with you above, together with the wisdom and insight, with which the Holy Spirit equipped them on the day of Pentecost – nothing, not even the angel of death could stop them anymore – and, as far as our knowledge goes, all of them, apart from John, fearlessly and bravely encountered their martyrdom. To keep silent about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, was not even an option for them.
So, my friend, knowing all these things now, let us not look to the future with fear, but with courage and expectation.
Heb 12:1-2
Jesus, The Example
1Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us, 2[looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
Sakkie
Email: bediening@sakkieparsons.co.za
Website: www.sakkieparsons.co.za
Cell: 083 457 6669
Jude 1:24-25 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
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