Dead Men Talking

Matthew 27:51-53 “At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead after Jesus’ resurrection. They left the cemetery, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.”

Can you imagine? People long dead and buried, now walking around the city. The bible says they appeared to many people. What did they say?

Jesus after being crucified and buried, rose from the dead. He appeared to over 500 of His followers and to His disciples who had seen Jesus crucified. They had seen him die. Now here was Jesus standing before them. He was alive! What Jesus said was this, “With my authority, take this message of repentance to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem.  There is forgiveness of sins for all who turn to me. You are witnesses of all these things. And now I will send the Holy spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”
Power from heaven, the Holy Spirit did come upon his disciples and followers.  From that day on they poured themselves out, sharing the message of the Gospel. They brought life to people dead in their sin.
Last year I was in New Orleans, while there I heard many stories of men and women who had been rescued from drugs, alcohol, homelessness, prostitution, they were dead in sin, now they are alive. They are changed people, filled with the Holy Spirit, because someone came and told them the Gospel, “this message of repentance.” They now walk the city streets, searching out the lost. Delivering this message of hope, this message of new life.

People once dead now walking through the city. Delivering this message, “Christ died for our sins, just as the scriptures said, He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day.  (1 Corinthians 15:3,4) Delivering one message, the necessity of turning from sin and turning to God, and faith in our Lord Jesus.”  (Acts 20:21)

We as Christians are people once dead. We are now walking around the city, we appear to many people.  What are we saying?