DEATH AND COSMIC DRAMA
Opening Prayer
Tell Jesus what his sacrifice means to you.
Read Matthew 27:45–56
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
The Death of Jesus
45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 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?”).
47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 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.
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!”
55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Ponder this prophecy: ‘’In that day… I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight” (Amos 8:9).There is deep mystery here as we witness the Son of God dying on the cross. During the agonizing hours he cries out twice. His first utterance (46) is one of complete aloneness and despair: “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us” (2 Cor. 5:21). Sin inevitably brings separation from God.
Jesus was going to a place unimaginably dark and evil so that you and I do not need to go there.
Jesus’ second utterance was another loud shout. John tells that Jesus cries: “It is finished” (John 19:30). In contrast to the first shout this has the mark of victory about it. The task is complete! At this point, in the midst of the agony of crucifixion, Jesus is still in control and willingly dies (50; see also John 10:18).
What do you make of the dramatic events that took place in the three hours from noon? The death of Jesus was of cosmic significance and there were some dramatic events around it. Nature reacts in the darkness and earthquake. What is being accomplished is shown in the Temple curtain tearing and in dead people rising; the way to God is opened and death is now a door.
Apply
Read Hebrews 10:19–23. Can you share this incredible good news with someone else today?
Closing prayer
Sit in amazed silence—this is our God. Worship out of that quiet place.
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