Walking Dead

In Matthew’s account of the resurrection of Jesus, he records that “at the moment (of Jesus’ death) the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.” (NIV)

What a lot of activity. Big, noisy, highly visible activity. Most of the attention around these events, at least in my years of hearing this passage, has centered around the significance of the curtain of the temple being torn from top to bottom. The sign that God was now directly accessible to man, rather than through a priest, that our sinful nature had been covered.

I’m curious, however, about the holy people who were raised to life at the moment of Jesus’ death (Friday) and came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection (Sunday). What exactly were they doing in the tombs between Friday afternoon and Sunday morning? Observing the Sabbath? Piecing together new clothes from their shrouds? Were their stones rolled back and if so when?

When they went into the city and appeared to many people, what happened? It would be just a bit disconcerting to have my great-grandmother show up at the door for breakfast some Sunday morning.

Finally, and then what happened to them? Were they caught up in an instance? Did they experience physical death again? Were they given a second chance to fix regrets? And did they?

Theologically, I’m sure there is a significance to this part of the resurrection that I’ve not heard. I’ll keep looking for that. Practically, I’ve got questions. I can’t wait to hear the answers some day. Maybe even from one of them.