What Happened After They Were Raised Matthew 27

What Happened After They Were Raised? Matthew 27: 51 -53

Matthew 27: 51 -53 When Jesus Died • Temple veil was torn • Rocks split, earthquake, tombs opened • Many dead saints were raised from the dead • They came out of graves after Christ was raised • They went into Jerusalem and appeared to many people • They were alive again 2

Matthew 27: 51 -53 The Raised Saints • They were alive (not “zombies”) • Some speculate they ascended to heaven after appearances • No doubt they symbolized and illustrated Christ’s victory over death 3

What is Bodily Resurrection? • Life force restored to flesh, Jas 2: 26 • Resurrections in the Bible: – Soul back in the body, 1 Kgs 17: 17 -23 – Flesh is warm again, 2 Kgs 4: 32 -35 – Resurrected could speak, Luke 7: 15 – Bodily functions resume, Luke 8: 55; John 11: 14, 17, 43 -44 – Consciousness, Acts 9: 37, 40 -41 4

• Living, Luke 24: 5 Summary • Bodies, Lk 24: 36 -43 Traits of – Not spirits those – Not ghosts raised • Conscious, with from cognitive and physical activity, the dead Jno 12: 1 -2 5

Why Were People Raised from the Dead? • An act of God’s mercy, Luke 7: 12 -13 • Provide confirming evidence of God’s power, presence and approval – Elijah as a prophet, 1 Kgs 17: 24 – God’s approval / presence, Lk 7: 16 -17 • Similar reason in Matthew 27: 52 -53 6

What Did These Resurrections Accomplish? • Many believed, Jno 11: 45; 12: 10 -11, 17 -18; Acts 9: 42 • If true of Lazarus and Dorcas, why not also the saints of Matt 27: 52 -53? • Opportunity to glorify God, Luke 7: 15 -16 7

What Happened To Those Who Were Resurrected? • They continued to live until eventually they died, 1 Cor 15: 22 – “See, your son lives!” 1 Kings 17: 22 – “He presented him to his mother” Luke 7: 15 – Lazarus resumed his normal activities, John 12: 1 -2 8

What Happened To Those Who Were Resurrected? • Possibilities in Matthew 27: 53: – Appeared and then ascended into God’s presence (paradise), showing the sting of death had been taken away – Lived out their physical lives and died as did all others who were raised • Jesus is the exception, Acts 2: 24; Col 1: 18; Rev 1: 18 • He will resurrect our bodies, 1 Cor 15: 22 9

Lessons for Us • Christ has power over physical and spiritual death, John 11: 25 -26 • We must put our faith in Him and His power over death, Rev 1: 18 • We will experience bodily resurrection, John 5: 28 -29 • We must experience resurrection from the death of sin to be raised to eternal life, Col 2: 12 -13 (Rom 6: 4 -6) 10