Three Groups At the Tomb

The Crucifixion was an earth-shattering event.  God placed upon Jesus all the guilt and shame, the pain and suffering, the sins from throughout all history, the iniquities of all mankind.

So great was that event that the sun went dark for three hours. The earth shook so violently that rocks split open, tombs were opened and holy saints of old walked about in Jerusalem. The veil of the temple tore in half, from the top down. All of nature seemed to be engaged in this great tragedy. The overwhelming power and penalty of sin was broken by the sacrifice of the Son of God, Jesus himself. The punishment that brought us peace was upon him. That incredible day of darkness was the day of redemption. The serpent had struck the heel of the Savior, but the Son of God would soon crush the serpent’s head.

Three days later, early on Sunday morning, another incredible display of power occurred. Jesus rose from death. Resurrection day. This great display of God’s power was seen only in the spiritual realm, though, not in the physical realm. Nature was not involved.  It was a display of power on par with creation. It was the beginning of the new creation, the promise of the fullness of our redemption, to live with Christ eternally in a new resurrected body, enjoying a new heaven and a new earth, in fellowship with the Godhead forever. From this point on God the Father prepared a bride for his son, Jesus.

Three groups were present at the Resurrection.  God’s host of holy angels were arrayed, every one of them, with Michael, the greatest warrior of all God’s creation, standing just above the tomb. And there was arrayed another host of spiritual beings, also observing the tomb. Satan, and all his fallen angels.  Satan, the destroyer, the serpent, Apollyon, Lucifer, the great dragon of Revelation.  His host was outnumbered two to one, but they thought they had won the great spiritual battle of all times. They had brought to death the Son of God.  They were watching the tomb, ignorantly gloating in their victory, waiting to celebrate.

The third group was in the tomb itself – God the Father, the Holy Spirit, and a dead Jesus. Very, very dead, not just almost dead. The Godhead together, as they were so many times through eternity, fulfilling the great redemptive plan that they had devised, from before creation, before the fall of Adam and Eve. Paul tells us, In Ephesians 1:20, that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead. God put his hand under the head of his son while the Holy Spirit breathed new life into him. His eyes opened, and quickly filled with great tears. “For the joy set before him he endured the cross.”  This was the beginning of that great joy. The father lifted his son to his feet and put upon him glowing white robes. His presentation to all the beings of spiritual creation was at hand.

Then it happened. The stone creaked.  Ever so slightly. The corner of Michael’s mouth curled up. The eyes of Satan and all his host looked at the stone in horror and disbelief.  Then another creak, and visible movement. Michael set down his shield and took his hand off his sword.  There would be no battle today. Grimacing horror, undeniable defeat was evident in the hosts of Satan. Then Jesus walked out of the tomb, alive and resurrected.  His holy host of angels broke out in cheers of joy.  Christ, the savior of mankind, is risen from the dead, the first fruits of all the saints who shall also rise from the dead. Satan and his host fled the scene, shrieking. They would not give up, though. They left to go and regroup. If they could not destroy the Son of God, then they would try to destroy his followers, one, by one, by one.

The great power of the resurrection, heard only in the creaking of the stone, is the same power that will raise us from the dead, and complete our redemption. It is the same subtle power that transforms our lives as we live in trust relationship with Jesus. God’s incomparably great power for all who believe is at work in us, quietly, making us alive in Christ when once we were dead in our sins.