“The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” —Matthew 27:52–53
The crucifixion of Jesus was no ordinary death—it was a cosmic event. As He breathed His last, the earth quaked, the temple veil tore, and the tombs opened.
But the detail that catches us off guard is this: “Many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.” What does this mean? Who were they? Why does Matthew include this strange and powerful moment?
The answer lies in the significance of what had just occurred: Jesus had died. And in His death, the powers of death itself were beginning to unravel. This brief and mysterious resurrection scene is like an early thunderclap before the downpour of Easter morning. It is a sign that death is losing its grip—that resurrection is not a future hope only, but a present reality beginning to break in.
These saints, who were raised and appeared in the holy city, are a testimony to a larger truth: Jesus’ death is already starting to bring life.
This moment anticipates what Paul would later say in 1 Corinthians 15: “Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.” These raised saints are like the first green shoots pushing through winter soil. They are signals that spring has come, that resurrection life is real, and that Christ’s victory is not symbolic—it’s physical, historical, and transformative.
Takeaway:
Matthew 27:52–53 invites us to reflect on the power of Jesus’ death as the beginning of new creation. Even before Easter Sunday, death is already retreating. If the cross is powerful enough to break open tombs, then surely it’s powerful enough to break the chains of guilt, shame, and fear in our own lives.
Prayer:
Risen Lord, even in your death, life began to bloom. Thank you for the hope that the open tombs proclaim. Help me to live today in light of your victory over death. Let my life be a witness that the grave is not the end, and that your resurrection life has already begun in me. Amen.
