Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

11 November 2024

Reading From Matthew 27, Mark 15

Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. ⁵¹ At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, ⁵² and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. ⁵³ They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

⁵⁴ The Roman officer^[m] and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

⁵⁵ And many women who had come from Galilee with Jesus to care for him were watching from a distance. ⁵⁶ Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

–Matthew 27:50-56

     The death of Jesus shook the world.  His death and resurrection are the most important events of human history.  From Creation until that moment, mankind looked forward with anticipation to His coming and for two thousands years since we back in time with faith and trust in Him.  The blood of the New Covenant that He shed for us destroyed the curtain of separation between us and the Holy of Holies and now by grace through faith we enter the Presence of Almighty God.  Our right standing with the Father was purchased for us that day on the cross and those who reach out to Him in faith and trust will enjoy that life-giving relationship for all eternity in His celestial Kingdom.

     I wonder who the godly men and women were that broke out of those tombs and walked the streets of Jerusalem.  I also wonder who it was they visited.  There are glimpses in history where we see how God really wants things to be.  This is one such scene.  It wasn’t just godly men who were resurrected.  It was godly men and women.  And those who gathered to take care of Jesus were women.  There were more who showed up than the three women listed.  In three days time, the first evangelists of the New Covenant would be the women who ran from the Garden to the cowering disciples to tell them that their Rabbi had risen!

“Lord God, we will never be able to fully express the depth of our gratitude for the monumental sacrifice You made for all of us that day on Calvary.  Thank You, Jesus.  Thank You for the price You paid.  Thank You for taking all of our sins and sickness, sadness and suffering upon Yourself and nailing it to the tree.  Your blood is the most precious substance that we know of.  We honor and praise You for what You have done for us and for who You are.  In the Name of Jesus Christ I pray these things.  Amen.”

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

–I Peter 2:24