Strange Days in Jerusalem
The Six Miracles of Calvary
Using the theme based on the book, The Six Miracles of Calvary, by William R. Nicholson
Series Begins 2/28/2010
SERIES INTRODUCTION:
17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?
Sermon 3: The Earthquake, Rocks Split, Graves Opened
NOTE: The Earthquake is miracle 3, the Opening of the Graves is Miracle 4.
April 4, 2010
Matthew 27:50-54 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God.
I. The Shaking of the Earth
EXPLANATION OF WHAT CONSTITUTES AND EARTHQUAKE
An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s crust that creates seismic waves (waves of force that travel through the earth). This event is normally caused by the shifting of the earth’s tectonic plates. There are three types of this shifting: 1) a strike-slip, where the plates move into one another and then shift to one side, 2) the normal slip, where one plate slides down away from the other, and 3) the thrust, where one plate climbs up the other. The initial place of the earth’s rupture during such slides is called the hypocenter. The point at the surface of the earth above the hypocenter is called the epicenter.
While most earthquakes occur as the result of the moving of the earth’s plates, some have been directly attributed to human activity. HUMOR: If our founding fathers could see what Obama is doing to our once great nation, they would collectively roll in their graves and this would suffice to cause an earthquake! The 2008 Sichuan earthquake in China was the result of the construction of the Zipingpu Dam nearby. 69, 277 people died as a result. The 1989 Newcastle, Australia earthquake is believed to be the result of large amounts of rock being removed during coal mining. I would add one other thing. Let us never forget that, while God is not directly acting in each earthquake, God is able to shake the earth!
For what it is worth, Jerusalem is located at the where several fault lines converge. The eastern Mediterranean area is prone to earthquakes. These events, which have caused devastation and loss of life throughout history, are caused by episodic movement of the earth’s crust along a complex network of faults as the African and Arabian tectonic plates progressively collide with the Eurasian plate. Dictionary of Biblical Imagery.
A. The Scriptural References to Earthquakes
1. Some are reported as factual reference to an historical event. (Amos 1:1)
Amos 1:1 The words of Amos, who was among the herdmen of Tekoa, which he saw concerning Israel in the days of Uzziah king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash king of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2. Many are reported in contexts that imply a supernatural cause. (Acts 16:26)
Acts 16:26 [Story of Paul and Silas in Philippi] And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
3. Some are reported with commentary. (Ps. 68:8)
Psalm 68:8 The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel.
B. The Symbolism
1. God’s Anger (Nahum 1:5-6)
Nahum 1:5-6 The mountains quake at him, and the hills melt, and the earth is burned at his presence, yea, the world, and all that dwell therein. 6 Who can stand before his indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by him.
2. God’s Power and Majesty (Sinai) (Ps. 99:1)
Psalm 99:1 The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved.
3. God Marching Out to Battle (Judges 5:4)
Judges 5:4 LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
4. Judgment (Ez. 38:18-20)
• Often accompanied by wind and fire.
Ezekiel 38:18-20 And it shall come to pass at the same time when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, saith the Lord GOD, that my fury shall come up in my face. 19 For in my jealousy and in the fire of my wrath have I spoken, Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel; 20 So that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field, and all creeping things that creep upon the earth, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at my presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.
C. The Statement of Calvary
1. Confirmation (Mt. 3:17; 17:4-6)
• Yet another confirmation of just Who it was on that cross and of what God was doing!
• As the Lord spoke from above the Lord’s baptism:
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
• As the Lord spoke from Heaven at the Mount of Transfiguration:
Matthew 17:4-6 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him. 6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
• So now He shakes the earth to tell the Jews, the Romans, His followers, and all mankind “This is my Son, this is my work.”
2. Condemnation (Ps. 18:7; Ps. 7:11; Heb. 10:28-29)
• God’s anger at the sin that would cause the death of His Son!
• God may be saying, “I loved mankind enough to make provision for his sin.”
• “I did this at great cost to me and to my Son.”
• “But make no mistake, I am hate sin.”
• “I despise that which would cost my Son His life.”
• “And you had better pay close attention today, and accept the sacrifice.”
Psalm 18:7 Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, And God is angry with the wicked every day.
Hebrews 10:28–29 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?
3. Contemplation
1. A look back to Sinai (Ex. 19:18)
• Jewish minds would instantly think of the events on Mt. Sinai!
• This was the end of the law!
Exodus 19:18 And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the LORD descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.
2. A Look Forward
a. To the Judgment of this World (Heb. 12:26-27)
Hebrews 12:26-27 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
b. His Return to Rule and Reign (Zech. 14:4-5)
Zechariah 14:4-5 And his feet shall stand in that day upon the mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very great valley; and half of the mountain shall remove toward the north, and half of it toward the south. 5 And ye shall flee to the valley of the mountains; for the valley of the mountains shall reach unto Azal: yea, ye shall flee, like as ye fled from before the earthquake in the days of Uzziah king of Judah: and the LORD my God shall come, and all the saints with thee.
II. The Splitting of Rocks (Mt. 27:51)
“and the rocks rent”
• If we have seen above the meaning of the earthquake, we now see the magnitude of it!
A. The Description
• An earthquake powerful enough to split rocks would be a significant tremor.
• (The crowd in the temple probably assumed the earthquake was the cause of the tearing of the veil.)
• Such a powerful quake would be a frightening experience for everyone in the region of Judea.
• Although earthquakes were a fairly common phenomenon, an earthquake with enough force to split rocks would have instantly brought the entire city of Jerusalem to a halt for several minutes. The Murder of Jesus, MacArthur
B. The Declaration
1. Creation Reacting to the Death of the Creator (Rom. 8:22)
Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.
2. Fulfillment of the Prophecy at the Triumphal Entry (Luke 19:35-40)
Luke 19:35–40 And they brought him to Jesus: and they cast their garments upon the colt, and they set Jesus thereon. 36 And as he went, they spread their clothes in the way. 37 And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen; 38 Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest. 39 And some of the Pharisees from among the multitude said unto him, Master, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.
III. The Sepulchers Opened (Mt. 27:52-53)
A. The Statement
Mt. 27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
QUOTE: Many of the tombs in and around Jerusalem to this day are hollow stone sepulchers, resting at ground level or just above. The earthquake was evidently powerful enough to split sepulchers like these. That was not the miracle; that might have occurred in any earthquake. The great miracle is that those who emerged from the broken sepulchers were raised from the dead. The Murder of Jesus
• We will save for another sermon this great miracle of the resurrected saints.
• That is, in fact, the last of the six miracles of Calvary.
• There are many questions to be considered concerning this strange event.
• For example, we are not told if the number of graves opened equaled the number of those resurrected.
• Those resurrected did not make an appearance in Jerusalem until after Jesus’ resurrection.
• If their resurrection occurred at the same time, what did they do in the meantime and where did they stay?
QUOTE: These sleeping saints (see on 1Th 4:14) were Old Testament believers, who -- according to the usual punctuation in our version -- were quickened into resurrection life at the moment of their Lord's death, but lay in their graves till His resurrection, when they came forth. But it is far more natural, as we think, and consonant with other Scriptures, to understand that only the graves were opened, probably by the earthquake, at our Lord's death, and this only in preparation for the subsequent exit of those who slept in them, when the Spirit of life should enter into them from their risen Lord, and along with Him they should come forth, trophies of His victory over the grave. Thus, in the opening of the graves at the moment of the Redeemer's expiring, there was a glorious symbolical proclamation that the death which had just taken place had "swallowed up death in victory"; and whereas the saints that slept in them were awakened only by their risen Lord, to accompany Him out of the tomb, it was fitting that "the Prince of Life . . . should be the First that should rise from the dead" (Ac 26:23 1Co 15:20, 23 Col 1:18 Rev. 1:5). JFB
• At that time, perhaps all that people saw was that some graves were opened as would be expected in any earthquake.
B. The Significance
QUOTE: This is an event that is mentioned only by Matthew. We wish more had been told. I can only say that I believe it happened just the way Matthew tells it. Thru The Bible with J. Vernon McGee
1. Christ’s Victory Over Death (1 Cor. 15:25-26; Heb. 2:14)
• Jesus has conquered death!
1 Corinthians 15:25-26 For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
QUOTE: The bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion. If it did take place, then Christ is God and the Christian faith is absolute truth.—Henry Morris
2. Our Assurance of Resurrection (John 11:25; 14:6; 14:19; 2 Cor. 4:14)
• This is to establish the fact that our resurrection, our life, is based on the cross, the death of Christ.
• Jesus is our Resurrection and our Life!
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
2 Corinthians 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
QUOTE: The symbolism of this is that Jesus conquered death. In dying and in rising again he destroyed the power of the grave. Because of his life, his death and his resurrection, the tomb has lost its power, and the grave has lost its terror, and death has lost its tragedy. For we are certain that because he lives we shall live also. Barclay's Daily Study Bible
• So today, Jesus is lifting the lid off the graves of sin, addictions, and lusts where men lie!
Facing Death
One of the penetrating churchmen of the past generation was Reverend James Gordon Gilkey. While living in Portland, Oregon, he was told by his physician that he had an incurable disease. Death could not be averted, nor long delayed. What did he do? Here is his own story:
I walked out to my home five miles from the center of the city. There I looked at the river and the mountain which I love, and then—as the twilight deepened—at the stars glimmering in the sky. Then I said to them, "I may not see you many times more. But River, I shall be alive when you have ceased running to the sea. Mountain, I shall be alive when you have sunk down into the plain. Stars, I shall be alive when you have fallen in the ultimate disintegration of the universe." 1000 Illustrations for Preaching and Teaching.
CONCLUSION:
Are you a candidate for resurrection?
John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
Are you walking in newness of life now?
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
• Jesus did not only come to be your Savior!
• He came to be your life!
ILLUS: How Terrible
William Sangster, the great Methodist leader who helped guide Londoners through the horrors of the World War II bombings, fell ill to a disease that progressively paralyzed his body, and eventually his vocal cords. On the Easter just before he died, he managed to scribble this short note to his daughter: How terrible to wake up on Easter and have no voice to shout, “He is Risen!” Far worse, to have a voice and not want to shout. Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations and Quotes
ILLUSTRATIONS: SELECT AS NEEDED
It is fitting that a supernatural person should enter and leave the earth in a supernatural way. This is in fact what the New Testament teaches and the Church believes. His birth was natural, but His conception was supernatural. His death was natural, but His resurrection was supernatural.—John Stott Nelson’s Complete Book of Stories, Illustrations and Quotes
Dr. Gordon one Easter brought an old beat-up rusty bird cage and sat it next to the pulpit. As he gave his sermon that Easter morning he held up the cage and said, “You might be wondering why this is here. As a matter of fact, that’s not the normal part of an Easter service, having a bird cage here.”
He said, “Let me tell you the story of it. Several days ago I was noticing a little boy in tattered and torn blue jeans and a dirty T-shirt, cap off to the side, whistling, walking down an alley, swinging this bird cage. Clinging to the bottom of the cage were little field sparrows he had caught. So I stopped him and asked, ‘Say, sonny, what do you have there?’ He said, ‘Oh, I’ve got some birds.’ ‘What are you gonna do with ’em?’ I asked. ‘Oh, mess around with them, tease ’em, something like that.’ ‘Well,’ I asked, ‘when you get tired of ’em, what are you gonna do?’ He thought a moment and said, ‘Well, I got a couple of cats at home and they like birds. I think I’ll just let them have at ’em.’”
Dr. Gordon said his heart went out to the little birds so he made the little lad an offer. “How much do you want for the birds?” Surprised, the boy, said, “Mister, these birds ain’t no good.” “Well,” Dr. Gordon said, “regardless, how much would you like for ’em?” The little fellow said, “How about two bucks?” He said, “Sold.” So he reached in his pocket and peeled off two dollar bills. The little boy shoved the bird cage forward pleased with his stroke of good fortune.
When the boy left, the pastor walked a good distance away, lifted open the little cage door and said, “Shoo, shoo.” And he shoved them out of the door and they flew free.
The empty bird cage was the perfect illustration of how Satan had the human race trapped and frightened. Jesus Christ not only paid the price for our freedom; He has set us free. Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations
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If I were to ask you to describe Easter without using any words, you could only use punctuation marks, which punctuation mark would you choose to describe this Easter for yourself? Maybe this Easter is a comma for you. It makes you stop, pause, think, and listen, but that’s about it. Perhaps today is a downer—a big bold period. You thought you’d feel excited, but instead it seems to be more like empty ritual. You feel like you’re not on the inside, but on the outside … an onlooker.
It was a day when life felt like a period for Jesus’ disciples. He was dead. He was buried. An end to expectations. But wait—news of an empty tomb … the period is no longer a period, it’s a question mark. That’s worse than a period. Now they’re beginning to doubt. Where is He? They’re perplexed. The guards are gone, the stone is rolled away. He is not there. And if not there, where?
An angel speaks, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and how He must be crucified, and the third day He must rise again.” Of course they remembered! The periods are gone. The question marks are removed. There is one massive exclamation point!
That’s what Easter is all about … an exclamation of gratitude and of praise for the resurrection of Jesus Christ and for the salvation His victory over death brought to us. —Joe LoMusio, If I Should Die Before I Live
NOTE TO ME: The sequence of events related to 1) the opening of the graves, 2) the saints raised, 3) the coming out of the graves, and 4) the appearances in Jerusalem is an issue of much discussion. It could be a matter of punctuation. The KJV and NASB and with which BKC agrees has the graves opened, but the saints arising after the resurrection. The NIV, with which the BEC agrees, has them coming out of the graves at the time of the graves being opened, but not appearing until after Jesus’ resurrection. So, the options are …
NOTE: Raised means raised, not just revived! So if they stayed in the graves, they were standing up.
1) Graves opened at the death of Christ, the saints’ bodies arose at the same time, but they stayed in the grave until after Jesus’ resurrection and then they came out and then appeared in Jerusalem. (KJV and NASB)
Matthew 27:52-53 (KJV) 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
Matthew 27:52-53 (NASB) 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
• The KJV has five statements, with a semi-colon after the first, and commas after all the rest.
• NOTE: A semi-colon separates two INDEPENDENT clauses, but indicates a closer connection between the two than would a period.
• The NASB has five statements, with a comma after the first, a colon after the second, and no further punctuation.
2) Graves opened at the death of Christ, the saints’ bodies arose at the same time, they came out of the tombs at this time, they went somewhere in the countryside for a while, then they came into Jerusalem after the resurrection of Christ. (NIV)
Matthew 27:52-53 (NIV) 52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
• The NIV puts no punctuation at all between the first two statements, and then puts a full stop after the second statement.
3) Graves opened at the death of Christ, the saints’ bodies are raised sometime later, perhaps after the resurrection of Christ, when they are raised they come out of the graves and walk into the Holy City after Jesus’ resurrection. (ESV)
Matthew 27:52-53 (ESV) 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
• The ESV puts a full stop between the first two phrases, thus indicating a less direct connection than the semi-colon of the KJV or the comma of the NASB.
52. And graves were opened. This was also a striking miracle, by which God declared that his Son entered into the prison of death, not to continue to be shut up there, but to bring out all who were held captive. For at the very time when the despicable weakness of the flesh was beheld in the person of Christ, the magnificent and divine energy of his death penetrated even to hell. This is the reason why, when he was about to be shut up in a sepulcher, other sepulchers were opened by him. Yet it is doubtful if this opening of the graves took place before his resurrection; for, in my opinion, the resurrection of the saints, which is mentioned immediately afterwards, was subsequent to the resurrection of Christ. There is no probability in the conjecture of some commentators that, after having received life and breath, they remained three days concealed in their graves. I think it more probable that, when Christ died, the graves were immediately opened: and that, when he rose, some of the godly, having received life, went out of their graves, and were seen in the city. For Christ is called the first-born from the dead, (Col 1:18,) and the first-fruits of those who rise, (1 Cor 15:20,) because by his death he commenced, and by his resurrection he completed, a new life; not that, when he died, the dead were immediately raised, but because his death was the source and commencement of life. This reason, therefore, is fully applicable, since the opening of the graves was the presage of a new life, that the fruit or result appeared three days afterwards, because Christ, in rising from the dead, brought others along with him out of their graves as his companions. Now by this sign it was made evident, that he neither died nor rose again in a private capacity, but in order to shed the odor of life on all believers. (from Calvin's Commentaries, PC Study Bible formatted electronic database Copyright © 2005-2006 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)
