And the Graves Were Opened

And the Graves Were Opened

“And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, ‘Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.’ And having said this, He breathed His last.” Luke 23:46.

“But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth . . . .” 2 Thess. 2:13.

This is the salvation that Jesus brought about in the days of His flesh—He who suffered death according to the flesh but was made alive in the spirit. 1 Pet. 3:18. He who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh was tempted as we are, and this is the very point on which He gained an eternal redemption for us by not letting sin penetrate His spirit. We read that He suffered death according to the flesh—sin was condemned in His flesh (Rom. 8:3), and He was made alive in the spirit. Paul praised God that the brethren in Thessalonica had been chosen for this redemption of the spirit from the flesh, and he says further: “For the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The devil took Jesus up on an exceedingly high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory and said: “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.” This was a temptation for Jesus because he had partaken of a flesh that had a sense for the glories of this world—but this is when He suffered death according to the flesh. He did not hesitate before He said, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’” He was made alive in the spirit. This is the point on which we, as natural human beings, fall when we give in to temptation. Thus the flesh is alive and rules, but our spirit is dead to God’s workings. Satan is the god of this world. He has blinded the minds of the unbelievers. 2 Cor. 4:4. People seek after this world and love the things that are in this world. In order to reach their goal they sin. They worship the devil.

Jesus says if we seek the kingdom of God first, the things we need for the sustenance of our body will be added to us. Yet people seek the things their body needs first. If they want to buy something, they think about it for a long time. They don’t think about it so much because they actually need something, but that it has to be fashionable and in style. Consequently they bury their spirit in furniture, houses, money, honor, etc. When they are together with their friends, they speak about the latest fashions; and while they are talking, their spirits sink deeper and deeper into the world and the things that are in the world. The god of this world has power over them. Eph. 2:1. However, Jesus says, “For the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30. That was victory—after He had lived His life as a Man, having been tried in all things. Therefore Jesus could call out before He breathed His last: “Father, into Your hands I commend My spirit.” In His spirit He was free from everything, and the ruler of this world had no part in it. He had suffered death in the flesh and was made alive in the spirit. Now He could commit it into His Father’s hands. While He did that the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom; the earth quaked, the rocks split, and the graves were opened, and many of the bodies of the saints who were asleep were raised. Matt. 27:50-53. This occurred by way of example of the salvation Jesus had obtained. This is what Jesus does for each one who believes. He opens the graves so that our spirit can be set free from the earthly—the veil and the rocks are torn apart. Nothing can hold us back from doing God’s will anymore. This is sanctification by the Spirit. The ruler of this world loses his power; a separation—liberation—takes place. We gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Who were they who were raised up from the graves? They were the bodies of the many saints who had fallen asleep. They all died in faith, not having received the promises and without having obtained this salvation of sanctification by the Spirit. However, they saw them afar off and embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Heb. 11:13. Their mind was in the heavenly things; nevertheless, they sensed that there was something that was lacking. They inquired and searched diligently and prophesied of the grace that would come to us. For the Spirit of Christ who was in them testified beforehand of the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. They knew that they were not ministering to themselves with the things that were revealed to them, but to us. 1 Pet. 1:10-12. However, now the work was finished. They experienced what they had greeted from afar; they arose from their graves.

Even in our days there are people who are buried in all kinds of things, yet they have a mind for God. They just don’t know how they can be liberated from it all. But then one day they hear the gospel. They hear about the finished work of Jesus, about salvation through sanctification by the Spirit. They believe, and they experience that the veil and the rocks tear apart, and that the graves are opening up. God be praised that we in our days can be witnesses of them arising from their graves, one after another. They are redeemed from the world and from among men to be a kind of firstfruits for God and the Lamb.

However, none of this happened without an earthquake. What was it that was shaken? Everything that was created. We read, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us be thankful and thus serve God with reverence and godly fear.” Heb. 12:25-29. In our days everything is being shaken, and people whose lives are wrapped up in that which is created are in despair and are terrified of the things that will yet come over the earth. But Jesus says that we shall lift up our heads because our redemption is drawing near. Luke 21:28. It is good to know that. When God intervenes and shakes the things in which our life is wrapped up, it is not so that we should become fearful, but that we should be saved. Then the graves open up so that our spirit can be redeemed from that which is created, and we can receive a life in that which is incorruptible. Therefore: Away with all murmuring and complaining by keeping this salvation of sanctification by the Spirit before you! Then you will receive a kingdom that cannot be shaken. “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Soon He will come who will come, and He will not delay.