What really happened on Sunday....

51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

The Book of Matthew

Since I was little I've heard, acted out, and even colored my way through the tale of Christ's resurrection. Women head to his grave, only to be intercepted by angels exclaiming that He's no longer there. And while that is part of the story, it sounds like such a quiet event, when in reality it was no small ordeal.

Can you imagine for a second that you are in Jerusalem, perhaps as a shop owner. You've heard about this Christ, you've even seen his miracles, and you definitely heard that earthquake the other day. It's early Sunday morning and there is murmering in the streets that Christ's body has been stolen. Probably His radical followers, you think to yourself. Nothing special.

Then, a scream, and more screaming. People start to run past your shop in terror and excitement. New people walk the streets, faces you've never seen, and everyone's hugging and crying. Suddenly you're eyes dart toward the entrace of the gates....is that? No, it couldn't be. You're eyes adjust to the scene and you realize that standing right in front of you, clear as day and alive as ever, is you deceased Father. Other faces start to become familiar....cousins, friends, and family long dead are out of their graves and walking the streets! What is this? And then it all makes sense; the miracles, the thunder and earthquake, the temple veil being torn, and now the dead raised to life? You drop to your knees, It's the Christ!

I can barely imagine the scene! This was no quiet event on a Sunday morning. This was a claticlismic takeover of Life! Life poured through the streets of Jerusalem proclaiming Christ's victory over death! And Life is what He offers now to us. Abundant Life, not just eternal life, but life here and now. He did not come just to save us a place in heaven, He came that we might know what life is really like. True life, free of our sins, our past, our thoughts, our bondage. It always makes me a little sad when I hear people who believe that they are stuck with their lives the way they are. If Christ can make the dead walk through the streets of Jerusalem, If Christ has raised Himself from the grave, If He really is the one true savior, then Christ has the power to breathe new life into any situation, including yours....including mine. It's as simple as asking for it from a Savior who so freely gives...