Matthew 27:45-54 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying,
“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is,
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.”
48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink.
49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,
53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said,
“Truly this was the Son of God!”
When Jesus spoke He made statements….
Luke 23:44 there was darkness
over the whole land until the ninth hour,
45 while
the sun's light failed.
failed - to cease, to stop
God himself turned out the lights!
2 corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him
to be sin who knew no sin,
so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
The hosts of heaven veiled their faces from the fearful sight. Inanimate nature expressed sympathy with its insulted and dying Author. The sun refused to look upon the awful scene. Its full, bright rays were illuminating the earth at midday, when suddenly it seemed to be blotted out. Complete darkness, like a funeral pall, enveloped the cross. "There was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour." There was no eclipse or other natural cause for this darkness, which was as deep as midnight without moon or stars. - Ellen Gould White, 1898
This darkness was a visible sign that God the father had turned his back on God the son and was pouring out his immense judgment for the sin of the world on his sinless son.
Isaiah 53:5 He was wounded for our transgressions He was bruised for our iniquities The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we were healed.
Matthew 8:17 “He took our sickness and bore our diseases.”
Isaiah 52:14 But many were amazed when they saw him. His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human, and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.
Matthew 26:39 “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
On the cross, Jesus became, as it were, an enemy of God who
was judged and forced to drink the cup of the Father’s fury. He did
it so we would not have to drink that cup. - David Guzik
Psalm 22:1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, but I find no rest.
Psalm 22:16 Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce my hands and my feet. 17 All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me.
Psalm 22:18 They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.
Maddua - looks backwards after an event and seeks the cause of the action.
Lama - looks forward and seeks a demonstration of purpose
Matthew 27:51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
SLIDE PICTURE OF TEMPLE COURTS “It is not a slight rent through which we may see a little; but it is rent from the top to the bottom. There is an entrance made for the greatest sinners. If there had only been a small hole cut through it, the lesser offenders might have crept through; but what an act of abounding mercy is this, that the veil is rent in the midst, and rent from top to bottom, so that the chief of sinners may find ample passage!” - Charles Spurgeon
Matthew 27:52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised,
53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Matthew 27:54 When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said,
“Truly this was the Son of God!”
John 12:32 “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.”
Jesus is not a confused son asking God to explain why this is happening to Him; He’s a focused Savior asking God to demonstrate purpose to the people He is dying to save.
Sin is significant.
Romans 6:23The wages of sin is death
Romans 3:23For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God
God Is Just.
God Is Love
Isaiah 53:5 He was wounded for our transgressions He was bruised for our iniquities The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we were healed.