Matthew 27.45-56

Let's just start off today reading the passage:

⁴⁵ From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi,^[a] lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”^[b]
 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 stick, 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 and the rocks split. ⁵²The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they 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^[c] of God!”
 ⁵⁵ Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. ⁵⁶Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.


This passage shakes me to my utter core. 


For a year of my life, I read this passage every time before I took communion, just reflecting on Jesus' sacrifice for me. The problem that occurs when reading this passage, is that I am thinking about me the entire time. 


Jesus' sacrifice for ME, the fact that he died for ME, he loved ME, cared about ME, took MY place. But the point of this passage comes from the mouth of a Roman soldier. 


First, we see Jesus' death. 


⁴⁵ From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. ⁴⁶ About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi,^[a] lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”^[b]

 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 stick, 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.

The key to understanding this text is what Jesus says from the cross. He quotes a passage from Psalm 22, which starts off with, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me."

When someone quotes a verse from the OT, usually it means they have the entire psalm/passage in mind. What is interesting is that later in this psalm, it says this:

¹⁵ My strength is dried up like a potsherd,
   and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
   you lay me^[b] in the dust of death.
¹⁶ Dogs have surrounded me;
   a band of evil men has encircled me,
   they have pierced^[c] my hands and my feet.
¹⁷ I can count all my bones;
   people stare and gloat over me.
¹⁸ They divide my garments among them
   and cast lots for my clothing.

This is exactly what happened to Jesus. Jesus is the fulfillment of this Psalm. His death on the cross is the final blow to evil and sin in the world. He takes on all the judgment and wrath of God by God actually turning his back on Jesus. And since God turned his back on Jesus, he doesn't have to turn his back on us. His death brings victory for all of us. 

That is what the last part of the passage is about:

 ⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. ⁵²The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they 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^[c] of God!”

 ⁵⁵ Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. ⁵⁶Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

The curtain of the temple is referring to the holy of holies. The temple was the place where God's presence dwelt. In the temple area, there were three basic areas: the courtyard, the holy place and the holy of holies. The courtyard was where the Jewish men were able to come and bring their sacrifices. The holy place, only the Priests who were serving that day are able to enter the holy place to kill the sacrifice. The holy of holies was the innermost room in the temple. This is where God's actual presence dwelt. Only one person was allowed to enter the holy of holies once a year, the high priest. The purpose was to atone for the sins of all the people of the last year. This room was divided from the holy place was a thick curtain which separated all of us from God's presence, because he is holy and pure, and if we as sinful beings come in his presence, we would die. 

But looks what happens after Jesus' death. 

The curtain of the temple that divided us from God's presence was torn in two, symbolizing the fact that Jesus paid for our sin, providing a way for us into God's presence. And look how the curtain was torn, "from top to bottom". It's as if God, from heaven. grabbed ahold of the top of the curtain and just tore in half, providing a way for us to be in the presence with God. 

But who has the authority and ability to truly do all this? Whose death would actually accomplish all of this?

The key is found form the mouth of the Roman centurion:

 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, the lowest point in the history of the world, is actually the hope of the world. His death reveals that he is King. His death reveals our victory!!!

As you read this text, remember, it's not about us, it is about Jesus as King!!!! Jesus is victorious over death and sin and evil. 

And our proper response...is worship.