We continue our daily meditations on the supernatural ministry of the Lord Jesus. Today, we focus on three displays of God's power during the crucifixion of Christ:
Matthew’s Gospel records the first supernatural phenomenon: “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land” (Matthew 27:45). Passover always occurred on a full moon, so a solar eclipse was out of the question during that time; even if it were possible, an eclipse could not last for three hours. This darkened sun was a sign of judgment and divine displeasure at what took place at Calvary. Jesus bore the wrath of God for sin during those three crucial hours. That is why Jesus cried, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46). Some commentators suggest that the darkening of the sun served as a veil to cover the nakedness and sufferings of Christ.
The second supernatural phenomenon was a tremendous earthquake that occurred when Christ died, causing tombs to open and the dead to rise:
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split. 52and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people (Matthew 27:51-53).
Jerusalem is built on very rocky terrain with little soil for burying people. Most tombs are carved from the surrounding rock face or constructed above ground and sealed with a slab, rock, or boulder. Could these be the split rocks that the Gospel writer Matthew refers to? Those present witnessed sealed tombs being torn apart and holy men and women arising and walking around! We do not know who these individuals were; all we know is that they were righteous men and women who had died and been buried. I will have to wait until I get to heaven to ask questions about this event.
The third supernatural event took place in the temple. When Christ died, the temple curtain that separated God from man was torn in two from top to bottom, signifying a divine message. Many priests came to faith in Christ (Acts 6:7) after learning what happened at Calvary at 3 p.m., the traditional time for the communal sacrifice of lambs during Passover.
While thousands gathered in the temple courts for the ritual slaying of the Passover lambs, those ministering were shocked when invisible hands tore the temple curtain, cloth as thick as a man's hand, right before their eyes. God tore the curtain to demonstrate to both Jews and Gentiles that the way into His very presence was open to everyone. Jesus removed the sin barrier that kept humanity from enjoying a relationship with God. He paid the penalty for your sins and mine. "Calvary shows how far men will go in sin, and how far God will go for man's salvation" (H. C. Trumbull).
The Gospel is the message of a Living Savior who died in our place so that we can know God. He took the punishment we deserved and nailed it to the cross. If we repent (change our minds and direction in life) and believe the Gospel (yield our lives and trust in Christ and His saving work), then we will be saved (enjoy all the blessings of the covenant, including eternal life). Will you trust Him? Keith Thomas
This meditation comes from a more comprehensive study of the crucifixion of Christ. Click on the Gospel of Luke, then scroll down to study 63, The Crucifixion of Christ.
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