Thursday, April 28, 2022

51-53 At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. What’s more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised. (After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.)
54 The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, “This has to be the Son of God!”
55-56 There were also quite a few women watching from a distance, women who had followed Jesus from Galilee in order to serve him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the Zebedee brothers.
-Matthew 27:51-56 The Message
Verse 51: And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
Verse 51 study: The courts, the holy place where the priests could enter, and the holy of holies where the high priest could enter, and only once a year, to atone for the nation’s sins (see Leviticus 16:1-35). The veil separating the holy place from the holy of holies was torn into two at Christ’s death, symbolizing the barrier between God and humanity was removed. People are now free to approach God because of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins. (Hebrews 9:1-14; 10:19-22)
Verse 52: The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,
Verse 53: and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Verses 52-53 studies: Christ’s death came with four miracles:
- Darkness
- The tearing of the veil in the temple.
- An earthquake.
- Dead people rising from their tombs.
Jesus’ death did not go unnoticed. Everybody knew something unique had happened.
Verse 54: When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly, this was the Son of God!”
Verse 55: There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him,
Verse 56: among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
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