CROSS WOWS Matthew 27:45-54
I. DARKNESS OVER THE LAND (Mt. 27:45)
A. It Was Not An Eclipse
1. The Jews use a lunar calendar
2. Passover always falls on the full moon
3. A solar eclipse impossible on a full moon
B. It Was A Supernatural Darkness
1. The darkness of God “forsaking” His Son
2. The darkness of sin was placed on the light of the world 3. The darkness of human ignorance of God
II. THE EARTHQUAKE (Mt. 27:51a)
A. The Judgment Of God
B. The Overthrow Of Kingdoms (Satan’s)
C. The Very Presence Of God At His Son’s Death
D. The Wrath Of God Poured Out For Sin
II. RENDING OF THE TEMPLE VEIL (Mt 27:51)
A. Jesus died at 3 O-clock (the priest were busy with sacrifices)
B. Symbolic of Jesus body (broken for you)
C. Symbolic of access to God’s (priesthood of believers)
D. The priest only 1 day a year (atonement)
E. Now (Heb.) tells us we may come boldly to the throne
III. THE OPENING OF THE GRAVES (Mt. 27:52)
A. Symbolic of Jesus’ victory over death
B. Not all the graves were opened, just the saints.
C. These “many” were seen in the city by “many”
D. A foretaste of 1 Thess. 4:16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
IV. THE CONFESSION OF THE CENTURION (Mt. 27:54)
A. These fearless soldiers found someone to fear
B. They saw the miracles
C. They had just killed very The Son of God
D. His statement of faith goes against the Jews mockery
E. “I don’t care what they all say, He is Lord”
V. THE CONVICTION OF THE MULTITUDE (Lk. 23:48)
A. The beating of the breast was a sign of anguish
B. These once cold-hearted killers, hearts melted
C. That’s the way it is of us;
1. Once we really know Christ we regret our sin
2. Once we really know Christ we regret our waiting to get saved
3. Once you really know Christ died for your sins,
you’ll want to live for Him
The “WOWS” of the cross are not for us to just wonder about.
God performed these things so that you might know:
He sent His Own Son to pay the price of your sin
He punished Jesus in your place
Jesus suffered the wrath of God so you wouldn’t have to
(Rom. 10:9-10) if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
