The Dead Rise

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the whole land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli Lena sabchthani?" That is, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?"
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He is calling for Elijah!"
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled with some wine, fixed it on a reed and offered Him a drink. But the rest said, "Let's see if Elijah comes to save Him!"
Jesus shouted again with a loud voice and gave up His spirit. Suddenly the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom; the earth quakes and the rocks were split. The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And they came out of the tombs after His resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many. 
When the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, This man really was God's Son!" Matthew 27:45-54

The new information that Luke had not mentioned was:
The offer of wine on a reed
Jesus' first loud call was to the Father's rejection of His Son
The raising of the dead and their appearing to people in Jerusalem

Imagine having all the dead coming back to life, at least all the saints. It is interesting that the wicked are not mentioned, they were forever dead.

Matthew also names the women who both Luke and Matthew say we're standing at a distance. We know Mary the mother of Jesus was there because of John's account. If John was there, he would have known. Luke was not there and neither were Matthew and Mark.

If the dead who were raised were also around when Jesus was raised from the dead, that would have been a spooky few days.

Jesus was not around, He was busy, preaching to those in Paradise. I wonder why these saints were not also there? Perhaps ey and met Him first and had a task to accomplish. 

I know we Christians are still alive, and have a task to accomplish, spread the word. Amen!

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