by Elizabeth Haarberg

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have shaken the world.

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Jesus rocked the world when He ministered to the Jews, and Gentiles, while He was walking the Earth. The man that only lived 33 years is still the most controversial person ever to live. How can a person who died 2,000 years ago still have so much influence?

When Jesus took His last breath this was the scene immediately after his last exhale:

“And [at once] the veil [of the Holy of Holies] of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; the earth shook and the rocks were split apart. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints (God’s people) who had fallen asleep [in death] were raised [to life]; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection, they entered the holy city (Jerusalem) and appeared to many people. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, they were terribly frightened and filled with awe, and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Matthew 27: 51-54

The miracles that accompanied Jesus’ life, and death, was not for his sake. It is for ours. The way He lived, and died, is still important today. It gives us a road map for what is possible, and how to maneuver in the world that hasn’t turned to heaven yet.

Jesus died for our sins. Salvation was released for all. These are the common, and extremely important, conversation points concerning the death of Jesus. The less discussed elements of how the world was impacted, at the moment of death, are also major talking points. The Earth moved with the earthquake, and the dead rose from their final resting place. Those miraculous events are evidence for us that Jesus is who He says He is.

Jesus was not just a man. He was, and is, God. His death is not just another sad event. The world was forever changed at that moment. The supernatural events are evidence of the shift that took place in heaven that day.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado