Kerry Hasenbalg: He is Risen! And so were many others indeed!

He is Risen! And so were many others indeed!

"And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. And at once the curtain of the sanctuary of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split. And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." Matthew 27:50-53

Wow, look at that super cool scripture found in Matthew 27:52 - 53. "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. And [these saints] came

out of the graves after His [Jesus'] resurrection, and went into the holy city,

and appeared unto many!" His death began affecting those in the grave as soon as

He gave up His Spirit. He began setting the captives free immediately.

It is amazing to me how rarely this scripture is pointed out during the holiday season. I'm not sure I have ever even heard a single sermon on these two verses - about how the graves were opened after the earthquake as Jesus gave up His Spirit and that bodies of other saints arose - and that later after Jesus resurrection these risen saints went into Jerusalem and appeared

to many other people...amazing!

After reading this today in my own study I spent a good bit of time reading commentaries about these verses online. I posted a relatively short one below for anyone interested in reading more. Anyhow, just felt like pointing out some of those things which can often remain hidden to us unless we are wiling to study the Word on our own outside of the "typical" holiday sermons.

And as for me - I just love, love, love that Jesus' resurrection from the dead and his ascension into heaven means that mankind now has a way to do the same - that through His blood will come the resurrection from the dead for all who are His! Praise the LORD!

(a bit of commentary for those needing a bit more on this interesting scripture)

Matthew 27:52 specifically states that thebodiesof these saints were resurrected: "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised." Notice that Matthew does not describe them as having any outstanding or remarkable appearance, as the spirit bodies of Jesus and various others are highlighted as having (Daniel 12:3;Matthew 13:43;Mark 9:2-3; see also Matthew 17:1-2;Revelation 1:13-16).

Moreover, when these resurrected saints of ad 31 went into Jerusalem, they did not restrict their appearance to a comparative few as Jesus did after His spiritual resurrection. Rather, "they appeared to many."

Like Lazarus, and all the others who had been brought up in physical resurrections, these saints lived for a while longer—no one knows for how long—served the purpose for which they were raised, and then died a physical death once again. There is no record of them living eternally after this resurrection.

On a personal note, the Hasenbalgs are doing well and super happy to be together this holiday season. All seems to be going well with the baby girl in my womb (I'm 25 weeks and 2 days pregnant today).

Cole prayed at lunch today telling the Lord that if He (God) chose to take this baby to heaven before she got to live with us we would still trust Him and love Him, but that we would very much like it if He (God) would allow a new baby sister to come into our family and grow up with us. Cole is continually saying things like, "Mommy, it would be great if God gave us another child in our family. Babies really are miracles aren't they mom. Can you believe God is giving us another child?" I really find his perspective so beautiful - God has used all the past loss to really teach our family that life really is a miracle not to be taken for granted!

After lunch we went swimming and then played a round of minigolf with my nephew TR and wow were my kids thrilled, as their older cousin TR, along with their daddy, are two of their great heroes.

self-portrait...maya and mommy

Posted at 08:54 PM | Permalink

Comments

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Your blog has confirmed a message that I am going to prach tomarrow. Thanks!

Posted by: Aaron Witmer | April 04, 2010 at 01:38 AM

I guess I should have added my original thought I felt from God out of courtesy, His resurrection is His invitation to us all to arise. Arise from defeat, arise from complacency and inactivity, arise from depression, ARISE! The Easter story includes you and me. We die out to the flesh to live in the spirit in the here and now, not just in the afterlife! I didn’t think about the veil ripping so I am going to use that. Thanks. Buy the way I just came across your blog in a Google search, searching “He is risen, he is risen indeed. You were like the third of fourth one down.

Posted by: Aaron Witmer | April 04, 2010 at 01:47 AM

Happy Resurrection Day, Kerry.

Thanks for the spiritual 'Food for Thought.'

Love the pics. The expression on Maya's face as she looks at TR is adorable. Wonder what they were talking about?

Posted by: cindim | April 04, 2010 at 07:04 PM

He is risen, indeed!!!

I smiled reading your post this Easter evening!! We read the Easter story, yesterday evening with our youngest three daughters....I have heard this story told over and over and read Biblically for many years now, what moved me most was the many Saints who were sleeping arose, so, reading your blog post this evening, I understand and agree with you when you say a "super cool scripture":) Amen!!! I believe!!

Happy Easter to you and your beautiful family, He is risen, indeed!!!

Posted by: Diane | April 04, 2010 at 10:25 PM