ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 PULELULU NOVEMA 29, 2023

Resurrection and the Richter Scale 

Ko e Toetu’u pea mo e Me’afua Mofuike

EZEKIEL 37:1, 7

THE HAND OF THE LORD WAS UPON ME, AND HE BROUGHT ME OUT IN THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD AND SET ME DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE VALLEY; IT AS I PROPHESIED, THERE WAS FULL OF BONES WAS A SOUND, AND BEHOLD, A RATTLING, AND THE BONES CAME TOGETHER, BONE TO ITS BONE.

‘ISIKELI 37:1, 7

1 PEA hoko kiate au ‘a e nima ‘o Sihova, pea na‘e ‘ave au ‘e Sihova ki tu‘a ‘i he laumālie, ‘o ne tuku au ‘i he loto tele‘a; tā na‘e fonu ia ‘i he ngaahi hui.

7 Ko ia, na‘a ku palofisai ‘o hangē ko hoku fekau: pea lolotonga ‘eku palofisai, ‘iloange na‘e ‘u‘ulu; pea tā ko e fu‘u ngaue ‘ena, pea ‘oku fengātolo‘i mai ‘a e ngaahi hui takitaha ke fakataha mo hono kaungā hui.

In Matthew, two earthquakes are recorded. The first coincides with the death of Christ, when "the earth shook, and the rocks were split," tombs opened, and the bodies of saints rose (27:51-54). The second is when Jesus is raised: "And behold, there was a great earthquake" when the angel descended and rolled the stone from the tomb (28:2). This connection between earthquakes and resurrection originates in Ezekiel 37. When he was preaching in the valley of dry bones, "there was a sound, and behold, a ra'ash." Though most translations render this word as "rattling," ra'ash is also the word for "earthquake" (1 Kings 19:11; Isa. 29:6; Amos 1:1).

The Richter scale thus measures preresurrection quivers. The earth, as it were, is trembling like a woman in labor, "groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now" (Rom. 8:22). She is ready to open up her womb to give birth in resurrection to the bodies of the children of God within her. Earthquakes are scary, to be sure, but they also betoken coming hope.

Holy Spirit, teach us to discern your mysterious ways written on the scroll of creation.