Forgotten Resurrection

I’m tempted to write my first novel. Based on a scene that could be right out of a hit movie. People eat up this stuff about the dead returning to life. But, wait, the story is contained in a few short verses of the Bible. “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” (Matthew 27:52-53, NIV).

After Jesus’ Resurrection

Have you ever heard a sermon preached on those verses? I doubt it. A friend and I talked about our shared fascination with this short but amazing story about the aftermath of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Matthew is the only gospel to mention this episode of mass resurrection.

So many questions come to mind. Were these holy people from the past several generations so that they were recognized? Or were they from Old Testament times? Did angels give them an understanding of current events and their missions? (Can you imagine having a former pastor, professor or relative show up at your door?) Where did they stay, and for how long?

One religious commentator believes that these people were part of the promise of eventual resurrection for all Jesus’ believers. It was suggested that these holy people ascended with Jesus when He then left earth to return to heaven. No second deaths for any of them either.

Perhaps someday another historical account will surface to highlight this resurrection. The verse states that Matthew wasn’t the only one who knew about these people. What a story that must have been to tell the grandchildren.

Questions for personal journaling or group discussion:

1. Read John 11:25, 26. What does the promise of resurrection mean to you?

2. With what “holy” person, living or dead, would you like to have a conversation?

If you liked this, you might also like Death and Resurrection | The Two Resurrections and the Second Death

Karen Spruill writes from Florida.

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