The Power of the Crucifixion

Matthew 27:39–56 ESV

And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” And the robbers who were crucified with him also reviled him in the same way. Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 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?” And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 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. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 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!” There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Moment of Doubt or Power of Faith

Matthew 27:46 ESV

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?”

This is a quotation of Psalm 22

Psalm 22 ESV

To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!” Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you: You who fear the Lord, praise him! All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him, and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel! For he has not despised or abhorred the affliction of the afflicted, and he has not hidden his face from him, but has heard, when he cried to him. From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will perform before those who fear him. The afflicted shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord! May your hearts live forever! All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before you. For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations. All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive. Posterity shall serve him; it shall be told of the Lord to the coming generation; they shall come and proclaim his righteousness to a people yet unborn, that he has done it.

Jesus is quoting the psalm of David that perfectly describes his pain his rejection and his feelings towards his pending death Yet also beautifully describes the glory of God who does not forsake who does not abandon who cares for and protects and guides his own. God is always there it is he who is in charge and it is he who enables us to endure. He is righteous and holy let us proclaim his greatness.

Today all over Little Rock and all of Arkansas people feel like God has forsaken them they feel betrayed and rejected many are angry and hurting asking why me.

The Crucifixion stands as both the highest injustice for Jesus was innocent

and also the greatest grace for we were guilty and he paid the price for our sins.

Yet it also shows how God can use our pain to bring others to him.

You see the power of God is shown when God carries his people through the trials and struggles of life and they praise him

Again his power is shown as people all across arkansas and this nation are helping people who were impacted by the storms

In the same way The Crucifixion demostrates the power of God through Jesus perfect obedience and his great faith in spite of his persecution rejection and agony of the cross. He still prays father forgive them and witnesses to the thieves and turns even the heart of the centurion to him.

The Temple Curtain is torn

Matthew 27:51 ESV

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.

Jesus death broke the barrier to the presence of God no mediator necessary

You can speak to God at anytime anywhere No need to go through a priest a pastor or some holy man but rather you can pray yourself to God. Do you realize what a blessing that is.

We have unbroken access to God. I am often struck dumb when I think about the power of this reality. That I little old me can speak to the creator of the universe the giver of life about anything.

I don’t need to wonder if he loves me he showed me on the cross.

I don’t have to wonder if God wants me he tells me to come.

I don’t have to wonder if he hears my prayers he says his ear is turned to the prayers of the saints.

It is by the crucifixion that we gain this access. Thank God for the mighty power of the Cross.

The Dead are raised

Matthew 27:52–53 ESV

The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.

This massive earthquake opens these tombs all across the area

then after his resurrection they are raised from the dead and appear to many within the city.

What a testimony to his resurrection power

He not only raises himself but others This is the God of the living not the dead he holds the power over death itself and causes the dead to live.

What a mighty God we serve amen?

We have no reason to doubt our Resurrection he has already proven he can raise people from the dead.

Salvation of The Centurion

Matthew 27:54 ESV

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!”

Centurion is a Roman there is no mention of him being a follower or even a Jewish proselyte

in fact his designation simply as a centurion likely means he was not

Yet this man sees what is happening and know this is the power of God at work

They are filled with awe and wonder at what they see

Truly this was the son of God.

What a profession of faith

Thus we see not only does Jesus open the door for all to come to faith but by his mighty works he causes even this one to come to salvation.