Miracles of Calvary: #4 Opened Graves
Matthew 27:50-54 – Victory Fellowship - March 27, 2022
Rev. Roderick Grabski - Healing Service
I. INTRODUCTION: When considering the accounts of all the Gospels, Jesus’ death on the cross was accompanied by six miraculous events that lead to the concluding evidence of His Resurrection:
1) The Miraculous Darkness
2) The Tearing of the Temple Curtain
3) The Miraculous Earthquake
4) The Miracle of Opened Graves
5) Jesus’ Undisturbed Grave Clothes
6) Revivals to Life in the Calvary Graveyard
7) Resurrection Sunday: Evidence of the Resurrection
In my sermons, leading up to and including Easter, I will focus on each of these miracles. Jesus is more than a man and at His death, AND RESURRECTION, all Heaven and Earth proclaimed their witness.
II. THE MIRACULOUS OPENED GRAVES
A. Just the Facts
a. The earthquake opened the graves.
b. The splitting of the rocks was evidence of force, but the opening of the graves was evidence of design.
c. It was an act of preparation.
B. The Opened Graves were an Exhibition:
a. Matthew 27:52-53 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
b. Anticipates the power of the Cross.
C. What the Opened Graves Symbolize:
a. The Removal of all obstructions to Resurrection.
b. The Opening of Hades (Rev. 1:8,17-18) "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." 17 When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, 18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
c. Christians now go to the Lord when they die.
(2 Cor. 5:1, 6-8; Phil. 1:21) For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 6 Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord--7 for we walk by faith, not by sight--8 we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.
Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
d. Christ destroyed the power of death
(1st Corinthians 15:20-26, 55-57) 20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. 21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
55 "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
III. CONCLUSION
Christ’s Atonement is enough. Nothing else can or should be added. We need only accept the gift and receive salvation by God’s grace.
(Ephesians 2:8-9) For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
COME for PRAYER and ANOINTING
SONG: Above All
Matthew 27:50-54
50 ¶ And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54 Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!"
