 | Rev. Patrick Notley is the Associate Pastor of First Presbyterian Church located at 525 N. Broadway in downtown Wichita. Reverend Notley received an MA in Divinity at San Francisco Theological Seminary and a Master of Arts in Christian Education from Presbyterian School of Christian Education in Richmond, VA. Born in Denver, CO and raised on the East Coast, Reverend Notley along with his wife, relocated to Wichita in 1997 to join the church, where he is responsible for Evangelism Educational programs. You can reach Reverend Notley at (316) 263-0248 ext. 22 or by email at pwnotley@firstpresbywichita.org |
***image1:left***QUESTION: Matthew 27:52-53 says, "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many." What happened to them? Are they the only ones in heaven presently with a soul reunited to their body?
ANSWER: The short answer is: "Nobody knows"! This is the only mention in the Bible of this event. There are several happenings associated with the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ that were mentioned by the authors of the New Testament that are like this one. We anxiously read and want to say: "Really? Tell me more about that." Was the darkness (Matt.27:45, Mark 15:33, Luke 23:44) and the earthquake (Matt. 27:51 & 54) which occurred while He was on the cross local events only? After the thick curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom by the hand of God (Matt.27:51, Luke 23:45). Did the priests sew it up and go back into the sacrifice business? Paul tells us that Jesus appeared to 500 at once during the 40 days between His resurrection and ascension (I Cor. 15:6); Where? Why? Did He ever appear to His mother Mary after His resurrection?
The authors wrote under the influence of the Holy Spirit, so I suppose we have no need to know these things....but I intend to ask a lot of questions when I get to Heaven. Perhaps you can ask this one.