One day the reformer Martin Luther was feeling rather down. He had problems at his workplace. He felt the heavy pressure that came with being a professor, pastor, and father. And he was in excruciating pain from kidney stones. As he moved around the house lamenting for all that was happening, his wife Katherine came near him and said in a sad voice, “God is dead.”
Luther looked at his wife with puzzlement and replied, “God is not dead.” Katherine went on to say, “It sure seems like God is dead by the way you are acting.” Luther thanked his wife and etched a Latin word on his desk: vivit. Vivit means, “He lives.” Whenever things weren’t going well and Luther was tempted to complain about them, he looked at that one simple word and was strengthened.
Jesus is alive today amidst all the situations in our life.
1. Darkness over all the land
Matthew 27:45 - From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.
Jesus was hanging for six hours on the cross. From 9:00 am in the morning to 3:00 pm in the afternoon. There was light in the first three hours and from noon onwards, darkness came over all the land.
This is recorded in all the three gospels: in Matthew, Mark (15:33) and Luke (23:45).
Look at the phrase ‘over all the land’. It was not darkness just in Jerusalem where Jesus was hanging, it was not darkness just in Israel, but darkness over all the land. That is a miracle. Because the earth is designed in a way that when there is light in one part of the earth, there is darkness in the other.
Luke 23:45 - for the sun stopped shining.
Over the years, scientists and scholars have tried to find out the reason why there was darkness for three hours upon the whole of the land.
One suggestion was that probably could have been a solar eclipse at that time. But that cannot be possible at all. Because it was the day of Passover. Passover is celebrated on a full moon day. A solar eclipse cannot happen during a full moon.
There’s yet another reason why this darkness cannot be a natural one. Total eclipse for the whole of the earth happens very rare. Most often eclipses happen in a particular location. For instance, during the last total solar eclipse in America in 2017, none of the other countries were affected. And the maximum possible duration of a total solar eclipse is 7 minutes and 31.1 seconds. Another source says that the only total eclipse visible in Jerusalem in this era occurred late in the year AD 29, on 24 November at 11:05 AM. Around the Sea of Galilee, it would have been visible for just one minute and forty-nine seconds.
All this proves that the darkness on the land was a supernatural occurrence. Just as Luke writes, the sun stopped shining. I think the sun stopped shining when the light of the world was put on the cross.
This is something similar to what was there in the beginning before God created anything.
Gen 1:2 - Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
This is something that will happen when Jesus comes again. Amos 5:18 - Woe unto you that desire the day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the day of the Lord is darkness, and not light.
What does this miracle show us?
In the Old Testament, there are instances of darkness happening as a sign of judgment from God. While God sent ten plagues over the land of Egypt, the ninth plague was darkness for a period of three days. We read about it in Exodus 10:21-22. It was so darkness that scriptures say the darkness could be felt. After the plague of darkness came the death of the firstborn sons in Egypt.
Recall that the ninth plague of the exodus event was darkness over the land of Egypt for a period of three days—a darkness that could be felt (Ex. 10:21-22). After the plague of darkness came the death of the firstborn sons (Ex. 11:4-5). Darkness preceded death.
Likewise, on the cross, darkness preceded the death of Jesus. What does that mean? The judgement of our sins was placed on Christ. Jesus was our substitute. On the cross, God poured the judgement of our sins on Christ. The darkness was the sign of judgement, as Jesus was bearing our sins on the cross.
2 Cor 5:21 - God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Pet. 2:24 - “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”
That is why as Jesus bore the weight of our sin upon him, he was disconnected from the Father and he cried out : Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
So God was speaking through the miracle of darkness. Not just to those in Israel but to all people in all the world. This itself is a proof that Jesus is the Lord of all mankind. Jesus is the Lord of all the earth. He is not just the lord of the Christians. He is the Lord who created everyone. Whether people believe it or not, He is God of all mankind.
Now, Christ had already hung upon the cross for three hours before the darkness fell.
During these first 3 hours, there were so many things that were happening. People were complaining about the superscription over the cross, "This is the King of the Jews." Multitude of people were mocking and insulting God. Soldiers were casting lots for his robe. And suddenly darkness comes.
And as the darkness was getting over, at 3:00 in the afternoon, the voice of God became clear and loud. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
Matthew 27:50 - And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
2. The second miracle is recorded in Matthew 27:51a
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Matthew’s audience were Jewish, and so they were probably aware of what he meant. For us, in order to understand fully the significance of the tearing of the veil, we must know a little more about the veil.
The temple in those days was divided into three areas or parts.
1. The Outer Court, where the congregation was permitted to enter.
2. The Holy Place, where the priests entered.
3. The Holy of Holies where only the High Priest could enter.
Let me tell you a little about this veil that was between the Holy place and the holy of Holies. It was not an ordinary thin curtain that we use for the windows in our house.
The veil looked gorgeous. It was embroidered in blue and purple and scarlet. You read about this curtain in Exodus 26:31-33
31 “Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. 32 Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. 33 Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
Scholars say that the veil had the height of minimum of 60 feet. And Matthew records that the veil was torn from the top. It is practically impossible that someone could have climbed 60 feet above and torn the veil at the exact moment when Jesus gave His spirit.
Historian Josephus recorded that the veil was 4 inches thick, was renewed every year, and that horses tied to each side could not pull it apart.
300 priests were required to immerse it in water to cleanse it when it became ceremonially unclean.
Although the veil looked lovely and gorgeous, the veil had a very different purpose. They were meant to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place.
The picture of cherubim was embroidered in this veil. We read about that in “He made the curtain of blue, purple and crimson yarn and fine linen, with cherubim worked into it. 2 Chronicles 3:14”
Where do we first read about cherubim? In the book of Genesis, when God drove Adam and Eve out of the garden, he placed cherubim to guard the way to the tree of life. Do you remember? Genesis 3:24 - After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
Cherubim were defenders of God’s presence. Like the cherubim who guarded the entry to the Garden of Eden, these cherubim on the veil symbolically guarded the entry to the Holy of Holies.
The veil separated God and man. No man was allowed to approach the Holy of Holies. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies and that too only once a year. He could only enter if he carried the blood from the altar to present as an offering to God. The blood was for the atonement of his sins and the sins of the people.
This was a thick and strong veil that was impossible to be torn by human hands.
But when Jesus died for our sins, the veil was torn from top to bottom. As if God was himself tearing with his hands. That’s is a miracle. It was something supernatural. Because Jesus paid the price on the cross. We now can enter the Holy of Holies with the blood in our hands, the blood of Jesus Christ. All we need to do is put faith in God’s work on the cross and we can boldly enter His presence.
Isn’t the tearing of the veil a miracle? Isn’t the death of Jesus good news to us? It has opened a way for all of us to boldly come before the throne of Father. How can a sinner like us approach the most Holy Father? We approach by the blood of Jesus.
You don’t need a mediator to talk to Father. You have direct access. Because of the blood of Jesus.
Hebrews 10:19,20 ¬- 19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body,
3. Matthew 27:51b - The earth shook, the rocks split
Matthew records that the earth shook immediately after Jesus gave up his spirit. And it seems it was a powerful earthquake, powerful enough to split the rocks. Earthquakes are not uncommon. What makes this earthquake a special one?
If it had been a natural quake, the buildings in Jerusalem would have been destroyed. There would have been hundreds and thousands of casualties. But nothing of that sort was reported.
When God appeared to Moses on Sinai to give His law, “the whole mountain shook violently” (Ex. 19:18).
Mount Sinai was covered with smoke, because the LORD descended on it in fire. The smoke billowed up from it like smoke from a furnace, and the whole mountain[a] trembled violently.
A writer and Bible teacher Warren Wiersbe connects the earthquake at Jesus’ death to the Sinai event, suggesting that the earthquake at Calvary signified that the demands of the law were fulfilled in Christ.
At Mount Sinai, God gave laws to Moses. Now, with Christ dying for us, the laws are fulfilled in Christ. That is why we are no longer under the condemnation of the law but under grace.
Yet another thing about this miracle is that earthquake was not powerful to bring death to the living people but was powerful enough to give life to the dead.
The earth shook, the rocks split Matt 27: 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Isn’t this earthquake such a miracle? Usually, living people die during earthquake. But in this earthquake, dead people are raised to life. This is supernatural. The power of resurrection was already at work.
These resurrections demonstrate Jesus’ victory over death as he was crucified on the cross. The resurrection is also a foretaste of the final resurrection of which Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 4:16: “the dead in Christ will rise”.
It is a hope for all of us that we will all be resurrected. That is why while Jesus was on the earth, he said in John 11:25 “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die.” You and I now have victory over death because of Jesus’ death on the cross.
All the curses that came with Adam and Eve are now cancelled. There was a divine exchange on the cross.
1. Jesus was punished and we are forgiven.
2. Jesus was made sin and we are made righteous.
3. Jesus tasted death and we have hope for eternal life.
4. Jesus was wounded and we are healed.
5. Jesus was made a curse and we receive the blessing.
6. Jesus endured our poverty and we share in His abundance.
7. Jesus was rejected and orphaned and we are adopted as sons and daughters.
8. Jesus bore our shame and we share His glory.
9. Jesus was rejected and we are accepted by the Father.
10. Jesus was troubled and we receive the peace of God
What was significant about all these three miracles is this:
vs 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Jesus’ death on the cross had the power to bring salvation. You and I are saved because of what God did on the cross. Until the death of Jesus, salvation was especially for the Jews. But by the death of Jesus, all of us receive salvation. Salvation has become universal. And that is the greatest miracle of the cross.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).
