Matthew 28:1-3 (NIV): 1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.2There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
Two earthquakes struck Jerusalem within three days time, caused by unusual events. It was on a Friday 31A.D. and “God With Us” just shouted: IT IS FINISHED. As the breath of life left His body, the earth shook, breaking open graves and tearing the thick curtain in the temple apart. I’m sure it caught everyone off guard. Then just before the sun could rise another earthquake rocked Jerusalem – this one more violent and devastating than the first one.
I wonder, what was the damage done to that city and the surrounding towns? How many homes were damaged? How many families displaced? Did residents and Passover pilgrims know what had caused the earth to shake? Yet, in the midst of those quakes the Salvation of the world was being worked out. God was drawing attention to what really mattered – eternal life through Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.
In doing a quick search, I found that there are about 17 or 18 times an earthquake is mentioned in the Bible. At times this was a direct judgment from God. One time it was meant to highlight the Still Small Voice of God. Additionally, it was used to point people to God and His saving work. Remember the Philipian jailer who was lead to Christ after an earthquake. In Matthew 24, Jesus says that these are indicators of His soon return.
Truly in any case, natural disasters should always serve as a wake up call and priority checker. I’m I right with God? Have I shown my friends, enemies, and neighbors the love, truth, power, and Spirit of Jesus consistently? What are my true priorities? What should they be? Let’s be sure to connect with and cling to our Creator before, during, and forever after the literal and figurative earthquakes in our lives.
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To get a true-life look at God at the grace of God at work in disaster take a look at the following link: Haitians-helping-Haitians. To find others ministering to disaster victims check out this link: ADRA. Our prayers are with those who have suffered so much from the earthquake that has devastated Haiti.
