Raised up with Christ
“And the graves were opened; and the bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” Matthew 27:52-53
This passage is often overlooked when reading about Jesus’ resurrection. However, the Lord recently showed me something personal in this scripture that I believe belongs to all of us who are in Christ Jesus!
This verse tells us that when Jesus rose from the dead after three days in the tomb, the Old Testament saints were also raised and came out of their graves. This is an amazing truth, yet I had simply read over it many times without fully grasping its significance. But last week, the Lord randomly reminded me of this happening and then He showed me why it happened.
When God raised Jesus from the dead, He also raised the Old Testament saints with Him. And then it hit me: This is a powerful picture of what happens to us spiritually when we receive Christ.
As I thought about this, I was reminded of Ephesians 2:5-6, which says:
“Even when we were dead in trespasses, He made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”
The Lord gave me a vivid picture as I was meditating on this scripture. It was Jesus taking my hand and walking out of that tomb together. Just as the Old Testament saints were raised to new life, I was also raised with Christ! Even though I wasn’t physically on the earth when the stone was rolled away, when I gave my life to Jesus, it was as if I ran out of that grave with Him! Hallelujah! His resurrection wasn’t just a moment in history, it was a victory that spans past, present, and future!
- The past resurrection included the Old Testament saints.
- The present covered the disciples and those who believed in Jesus during His earthly ministry.
- The future includes those of us who have put their faith in Christ Jesus as Savior today!
Hebrews 10:10 confirms this truth:
“By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all (people, sin, and time).”
Now, when I hear that I have been raised up with Christ, I don’t just see it as a theological idea, I picture myself walking out of the tomb with Jesus, forgiven and free from the bondage of sin. His blood has washed me clean, and now I walk daily in His power and victory!
Today, I encourage you to see yourself as raised up with Him. Walk out of the grave of your past life and into the power of God’s grace. That is the same grace that raised Jesus from the dead! Take hold of your position in Christ and the strength and authority He has given you. You are not bound by sin, shame, or fear. Instead, you are alive in Him!
As you walk in this truth, begin to thank God for His supernatural provision through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. This revelation will bring you fullness of joy!
Today’s scripture reading: Matthew 27:45-56
45 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
47 Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!”
48 Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.
49 The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.”
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.
51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,
52 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.
54 So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
55 And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar,
56 among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
The Daily Dose 