WHAT HAPPENED AFTER RESURRECTION?

1. Matt. 27:51-53 - Grave opened, many saints raised & appeared to many.
2. How did their resurrection occur? Why did it happen? What became of them after they were resurrected?
3. What we know for sure:
  a. Tombs were opened by earthquake when Jesus died.
  b. Many bodies of dead saints were raised from the dead.
  c. They came out of their graves after Christ was resurrected.
  d. They went into Jerusalem & appeared to many.
  e. THEY WERE ALIVE -- Not zombies ("a will-less and speechless human in the West Indies capable only of automatic movement who is held to have died and been supernaturally reanimated…a person held to resemble the so-called walking dead." (according to voodoo belief, jrp ) -Merriam Dictionary
4. Some have speculated they ascended into heaven (McGarvey).
-Little doubt "these resurrected are symbolic, showing that the resurrection of Christ is the resurrection of the race" (The Fourfold Gospel, 732).
5. Take a look at bodily resurrection to strengthen understanding & faith.

I. WHAT IS BODILY RESURRECTION?
  A. The Life Force Is Restored To The Flesh.
    1. cf. Death - Jas. 2:26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead.     

    2. cf. Resurrections from the dead:
      a. 1 Kgs. 17:17-23 - Soul (nephesh, life) comes back to the body.  

Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. So she said to Elijah,"What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?" And he said to her, "Give me your son." So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. Then he cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?" And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, I pray, let this child's soul come back to him." Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived. And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, "See, your son lives!" Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now by this I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is the truth."

      b. 2 Kgs. 4:32-35 - Flesh is warm (functioning, alive) once more.      

And he went up and lay on the child, and put his mouth on his mouth, his eyes on his eyes, and his hands on his hands; and he stretched himself out on the child, and the flesh of the child became warm. 35 He returned and walked back and forth in the house, and again went up and stretched himself out on him; then the child sneezed seven times, and the child opened his eyes.

      c. Lk. 7:15-17 - Resurrected could speak. 

And touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, "Young man, I say to you, arise."  So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.  Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying,"A great prophet has risen up among us"; and,"God has visited His people." And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.

      d. Lk. 8:54-56 - Normal bodily functions resumed.

took her by the hand and called, saying, "Little girl, arise."  Then her spirit returned, and she arose immediately. And He commanded that she be given something to eat.

      e. Jno. 11:14, 17, 43-44 - Another example of full bodily function. John 11:43-44

He cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth!"  44 And he who had died came out bound hand and foot with graveclothes,

      f. Acts 9: 40-42 - Cognitive responses.  

And turning to the body he said, "Tabitha, arise." And she opened her eyes, and when she saw Peter she sat up. Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

  B. Summary Of Characteristics Of Those Raised From The Dead:
   

    1.  They were living - Lk. 24:5. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

    2.  They had bodies - Lk. 24:36-43. (Not spirits or ghosts)   Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you."  But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts?  Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."  When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.   But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, "Have you any food here?"  So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.   And He took it and ate in their presence.

   3.  They were conscious & cognitive with physical activity - John 12:1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.

II. WHY WERE PEOPLE RAISED FROM THE DEAD?
   A. As An Act Of Divine Mercy - cf. Luke 7:13-14  When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, "Do not weep."  Then He came and touched the open coffin,

  B. To Give Confirming Evidence Of God's Power, Presence & Approval.
    1. 1 Kgs. 17:24 - By this she knew Elijah was a prophet.          (The widow with whom Elijah was staying)    

    2. Lk. 7:16-17 - Evidence of God's approval & presence.

So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother.  Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying,"A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people." And this report about Him went throughout all Judea and all the surrounding region.              3.

Matt. 27:52-53 - Though not stated, we conclude the same purpose was behind these resurrections

and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

  C. What Was Accomplished By These Resurrections? Faith In Those Who Considered & Accepted The Evidence.
    1. Many believed - Jno. 11:45; (Lazarus) 12:10-11,  

But the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, 11 because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus.                            

Acts 9:42. and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 42 And it became known throughout all Joppa, and many believed on the Lord.

    2. If true in the case of Lazarus & Dorcas, why not also Matt. 27:52-53?
   -(Not a deterrent or distraction to faith, but an opportunity to glorify God - cf. Lk. 7:16).

Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying," A great prophet has risen up among us"; and, "God has visited His people."

III. WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE WHO WERE RESURRECTED?
 

A. They Continued To Live Out Their Lives Until Death Came - cf. 1 Cor. 15:22  For as in Adam all die           1. 1 Kgs. 17:22 - "See, your son lives!"                     Elijah said this, now the son is totally alive again
    2. Lk. 7:15 - "And He presented him to his mother."
    3. Jno. 12:1-2 - Lazarus resumed his normal activities of life.                                                                                                                                                                           Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead  

    4. To do otherwise would defeat the purpose & lesson of resurrection!  

 B. What About the Saints In Matthew 27:52-53?
    1. First, no direct statement of them after they "appeared to many." (So, we would do well to not conjecture.")

No reason to believe this was any different from any other resurrection   

      a. If they lived out their physical lives & died, it would be as others who had been raised from the dead. (Exception: Jesus - Acts 2:24; Col. 1:18; Rev. 1:18 - He will resurrect our bodies - 1 Cor. 15:20- 22).      

b. If they appeared & then ascended to God's presence (paradise), they may be viewed as demonstrating "that the sting was now taken from death, that the power of the grave was broken, that men shall rise again with their bodies and be known and recognized…" (Pulpit Comm., XV:595). - cf. 1 Cor. 15:20, 22

-Lessons for us:
1. Christ has power over physical & spiritual death -. John 11:25

 Jesus said to her, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

2. We must have faith in Him & His power over death (Rev. 1:18)

I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore

3. We will experience bodily resurrection - Jno. 5:28-29

Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice  29 and come forth — those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation

4. We must experience a spiritual resurrection to have the resurrection of life -. Col 2:12-13

buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him,

1. The resurrection of people in the past assures us of God's power over death. It proves Jesus is the Christ. And, as a Christian there is comfort in knowing death is not the end of our existence.

2. Are you ready for death & your resurrection?