Graves burst open… dead came forth

During the mid-1940s, a group of young teenagers decided to enliven a dull downtown Perry on New Year’s Eve. To celebrate, they set off a package of firecrackers near the confederate monument. Within moments, policeman ‘Cap’ Arnold came roaring down Carroll Street with his sirens blasting and spotlight scanning. (Perry only had two permanent police officers: Captain Arnold and Police Chief J. B. Hawkins). 

The teens hid in the shrubbery at the old county courthouse until Cap passed through town. Then, they made a mad dash toward Evergreen Cemetery where they hid among the darkened tombstones until Cap returned to the police station. 

I wondered how frightened the boys would have been, after entering the cemetery, if one particular Biblical event had taken place. I refer to Saint Matthew’s account of Jesus’ death on the cross in chapter 27: 50-54. 

After Jesus expired at 3 p.m. Friday, it reads: “The tombs broke open, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised to life; they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.” 

The graves burst open, because an earthquake shook the landscape after Jesus expired. Some commentators believe the saints immediately went into Jerusalem. Others contend the saints did not enter the Holy City until Jesus arose 30 to 36 hours later. (Note: Jesus was buried just before 6 P.M. Friday and arose Sunday morning before daybreak. The Jewish day started at 6 A.M. and ended at 6 P.M.).

The residents of Jerusalem were terror stricken. They may have thought the resurrected individuals were the initial residents of the “Kingdom of God,” to which Jesus spoke of many times. 

You will recall the mother of James and John came to Jesus and requested He appoint her two sons as co-leaders of His coming kingdom (Matt 20: 20-28). The citizens of Jerusalem could have regarded this bodily resurrection as a signal the earthly kingdom was about to be created. 

It goes without saying that those who saw the formerly dead individuals were scared beyond measure—as if they had seen a ghost. 

If this had occurred in the Perry cemetery, the young boys would have dropped dead of fright. Did these saints eventually die again? Well, Lazarus did, Jairus’ daughter did, and the son of the Nain widow did, so these saints of Jerusalem probably died again too. 

I close with this prayer for you and for me: “Dear God, it is our most fervent hope that someday we might share in the glorious resurrection of Jesus, that we too might have eternal life and dwell forever with You.”