Easter reminds us that Christ’s resurrection precipitates and guarantees that all of His followers who have died will be resurrected as well. Because Jesus rose, we too will rise. He promised us” Because I live, you also will live” (John 14:18–19 NIV).
God gave us a preview of coming attractions on the day that Jesus died. In Matthew 27, we have a description of a very unusual event: At that moment [when Christ was crucified] the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. (vv. 51–53 NIV)
We often overlook that passage, but here were people out of their graves! Didn’t we just bury Uncle Harry? What is he doing in town? Scripture doesn’t say that everyone rose, but God selected certain godly men and women to be alive again so people could be reminded that death is not the end.
If you have put your faith in the risen Lord, then you will live again. You no longer need to fear death. Because He came back in a resurrected body, He has given us the assurance that God will give each of us a glorified body one day. It means that we will live for all eternity in the presence of God. That is a wonderful hope. It’s the hope of life beyond the grave.
Rev Ran 🙂