Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many … Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. (Matthew 27:51-53; 28:1-2)
The death of
Jesus was remarkable in many ways apart from the death of the Son of God.
Darkness enveloped the sky from noon to around 3:00pm. Upon His death, the veil
of the temple was rent in two from top to bottom. The earth shuttered and moved
in response to the death of the Creator. After the resurrection of Jesus many
bodies of the saints arose from the dead appearing to many in Jerusalem. But
the events of surrounding the death of Jesus did not end on that day. On the
first day of the week there was another earthquake as the angel of the Lord
descended from heaven rolling back the huge stone sealing the tomb of Jesus. “He
is not here; for He is risen” said the messenger of God.
The first
earthquake was the living earth responding to the death of its Maker.
Throughout the ministry of Jesus He showed His power over nature but also
showed His relationship to the world. He could walk on water because He had
power of the forces of nature. Turning water to wine illustrated His working
within the schemes of natural law to show forth His own power. Jesus and nature
were one. When His body died the earth could do nothing but react in shock. The
first earthquake shows the Jesus is Creator.
The second
earthquake came when Jesus rose from the dead. Two earthquakes in three days
had to rattle the nerves of everyone in the area. Did anyone connect the events
of the first earthquake with the early morning quake on the first day of the
week? It did not seem to sink in to the minds of the disciples as they were
still hiding in fear. The Sunday morning quake was the greatest victory for
mankind. Jesus rose from the dead and His power over Hades and sin was assured.
Satan’s fate was sealed with that earthquake. The message of the gospel is
powerful (Romans 1:16) and when allowed to touch the heart will move it like an
earthquake.
But what of
the third earthquake? This one has not happened yet but it will be the largest
and most powerful quake since creation. “But the day of the Lord will come as a
thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and
the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are
in it will be burned up … the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the
elements will melt with fervent heat” (2 Peter 3:10-12). Jesus will come back
when this quake happens (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10) and everyone will hear His
voice (John 5:28-29).
The first
earthquake honored Jesus as Creator. The second earthquake announced Jesus as
Lord and Savior. The third earthquake will be when Jesus returns as Judge.
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