Jesus and the Walking Dead -- Zombies on the Loose!
A Passage of Scripture that Seems More like a Halloween Movie
"Night of the Living Dead" in the book of Matthew? Seriously?
I then I read it.
The Matthew 27 passage, at Christ's death:
"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
-- Matthew 27:50-54 NIV
Did you catch that part about people coming out of their graves? Tombs opening? The once dead appearing to many people?
Any other reporters on the scene?
I love looking up parallel events from different Gospel writers (like I did here), but for this particular occasion, Matthew is the only one weighing in. And that seems to bother some folks.
If you start looking around on the Internet, and Googling "Matthew 27:52-53" you'll find some people who are really disturbed with these verses, even to the point of saying that some overzealous translators must have added them in to add some extra "zest" to the story. As though the story really needs that.
Zombies on the Loose!
Were these "walking dead" some sort of gruesome concoction of zombies like out of the "I Am Legend" or the "Another 28 Days" movies? Did they have half-eaten faces and walk around with arms outstretched like the previews from the upcoming AMC television series, "The Walking Dead"?
I doubt it.
That part about "many holy people who had died were raised to life" gives me the sense that these people were recognizable to those of their day. Many Bible versions, including the King James Version, translate this section as "bodies of the saints".
Saints, huh? Believers? The good guys?
Can you imagine yourself as a long ago Jerusalem resident, an earthquake suddenly shaking your home, and as you try to make sense of what's going on, there's a knock at your door - it's your beloved brother whom you know had been dead and buried? Or maybe it's Joseph -- Jesus' step-dad - hugging his sons and daughters again. Or John the Baptist - with his head back on! What kind of tales would they tell? What kind of wonders had they seen?
Maybe "Zombies" or "The Walking Dead" isn't exactly the best description for these folks. Why, they seem more like "The Walking Living".
Hollywood's monsters are scary, but these saints seem to defy that description all the way. A shocking event? Sure, I'll give you that. But scary? I'm not so sure. Why, it seems easier to imagine them actually smiling with joy during this event rather than going, "Boo!"
It seems to me that these people simply were being themselves, after being given an unusual touch of God's life and love.
Maybe I can't explain why God allowed this unusual scene in history, but deep inside I know the change His love and life is making in me.
The Walking Living. Yeah, I can relate to that.
And there's nothing scary about that.
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Other Resources:
Read Norris Burke's "Taking a Leap of Faith Isn't Crazy" article - Click here
Read Matthew 27:50-54 at BibleGateway.com - Click here
Online Parallel Bible Website for: Matthew 27:52 and Matthew 27:53
Feeding of the Five Thousand - a Green Perspective from Mark -- by Ron Masters (yeah, that's me)
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Hollywood Zombies more to your liking? Don't say I didn't warn ya!
AMC's The Walking Dead Official Site - Click Here
IMDB - I Am Legend - Click Here
IMDB - 28 Days Later... - Click Here
Published by Ron Masters
I may be a Systems Administrator by day, but finding abandoned places, writing fun articles, mentoring or praying for teens, jamming on guitars, sculpting sand, public speaking or working on pencil portraits... View profile
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15 Comments
Post a CommentThis is awesome, very clever!!
I'll tell you they most assuredly were happy because Jesus had just freed them from a temporary heaven that was in the center of the earth. Separate from those damned for eternity in hell. So yes this was a great time of joy as it will be a great time of joy when the rest of the redeemed, rise up to meet Christ in the air, although, I'd bet money that everyone says "aliens took them". :)
Gives you the shivers :)
What a perspective! Zombies! We are all about Zombies these days!
What a great original topic! I like the "walking living." Re: the air marshals - thanks for your idea...I don't care where they sit, my concern is now the terrorists are probably laughing over the airlines' fight to get the marshals out of first class!
Lame.
Jesus was a vampire, and his followers are all zombies. It explains everything.
Yea. I believe they were likely leaping and dancing in the celebration of completed victoy over Satan and death. Those who saw them were perhaps a bit shaken, even as were those Moabites who cast a dead man into a grave atop the bones of Elisha. The man stood to his feet. (2-Kings 13:21). Thank you Ron, for this reminded of the resurection power of the risen King.
The Walking Living! I like that thought. That's what all of us Christians are, I think.
That's what I am without the Lord. we are as dead men walking.
I was "Dead Walking" before I knew Him, too :) cheers :)