"THE DEATH OF OUR SAVIOR"

Parallel Gospel Accounts -

Matthew 27:45-50 - make a couple of observations

Mark 15:33-37 - make a couple of observations

Luke 23:44-45a, 46 - make a couple of observations

John 19:28-30 - make a couple of observations

Proposition - This morning we are going to learn about three aspects of the cross: 1) the completion of the cross, 2) the misunderstanding of the cross, and 3) the fulfillment of the cross.

Interrogative question - How does the “cross” affect you daily life?

1. The Completion of the Cross - vs. 45-46

Matthew 27:45–46 NASB95

45 Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. 46 About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Why did darkness fall upon the land?

Noun: σκότος (skotos), GK 5030 (S 4655), 31×. skotos denotes the physical state of “darkness” (as in the absence of light). The only use of this word for actual darkness is the darkness that occurred during Jesus crucifixion (Mt 27:45; Mk 15:33; Lk 23:44). Even here it has metaphorical qualities, for at this time the powers of “darkness” seems to achieve the victory (cf. Lk 22:53).

For the most part, therefore, skotos is used in a metaphorical way as referring to “darkness of the mind or spirit.” This metaphorical sense of skotos is clearly negative. People live in darkness (Isa 9:2; Mt 4:16) and cannot avoid the darkness of death (Lk 1:79). All too often, people “love darkness instead of light because their deeds are evil” (Jn 3:19).

But skotos is not a power equal to God. God now causes light to shine in human hearts (2 Cor. 4:6). He “has rescued us from the dominion of darkness” (Col 1:13). He has sent his Son to call people out of the “darkness” and into his wonderful light (1 Pet. 2:9). Once we were darkness, says Paul, but now we are “light in the Lord” (Eph 5:8). Consequently, we should have nothing to do with “darkness” (5:11); instead, we should wage war against the powers of “darkness” (6:12). For those who give in to sin, “the blackest darkness” is reserved (2 Pet. 2:17; Jude 13). Mounce, W. D. (2006). In Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old & New Testament Words (p. 155). Zondervan.

27:45 The bystanders naturally interpreted the darkness as God’s judgment (Am 8:9). While they likely thought the judgment was against Jesus (as if he were a heretic), in light of his later resurrection they came to see the darkness as judgment against the sin that Jesus became on our behalf (2Co 5:21).

27:46–49 Jesus’s lament quotes Ps 22:1. The psalm reads as if it were written by someone standing near the cross (see esp. Ps 22:7–8, 14–18). Jesus’s cry expressed the alienation from God that he endured as he bore the Father’s wrath against sin. Although Jesus elsewhere addressed God as “Father,” he addressed him merely as my God in this verse. Quarles, C. L. (2017). Matthew. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 1552). Holman Bible Publishers.

When is the sixth hour?

How do we know this?

Look at the parallel gospel accounts?

27:45 sixth hour … until the ninth hour. From noon until 3:00 P.M. Josephus says that the ninth hour was the time when Jews offered the daily evening sacrifice (Jewish Antiquities 14.65). darkness. Not a solar eclipse, since Passover occurred during a full moon, and a solar eclipse can occur only during a new moon; rather, it is a supernatural act of God, displaying his displeasure and judgment upon humanity for crucifying his Son. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1886). Crossway Bibles.

Answering the question of how long Jesus was on the cross is complicated by the fact that two systems of marking time are used in the Gospels. Matthew, Mark, and Luke use the Jewish system of marking time. John uses the Roman system. Using the Jewish system, Mark says, “They crucified him and divided his garments among them, casting lots for them, to decide what each should take. And it was the third hour when they crucified him” (Mark 15:24–25, ESV). According to this, Christ’s crucifixion began at 9:00 A.M. Also using the Jewish system of marking time, Matthew says that “from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour” (Matthew 27:45, ESV). That is, the darkness lasted from 12:00 noon to 3:00 P.M. This was Jesus’ final three hours on the cross. At the end of that time, “when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit” (Matthew 27:50). After that a Roman soldier made sure of His death (John 19:34), and Jesus’ body was taken down. Jesus had been on the cross from approximately 9:00 A.M. until 3:00 P.M., a total of six hours. John adds the detail that Jesus’ trial before Pontius Pilate was taking place, according to Roman time, “about the sixth hour” (John 19:14, ESV). Since the Romans started counting their hours at midnight, the “sixth hour” would start at 6:00 A.M. So, using the Roman system: “about the sixth hour” = about 6:00 A.M. Jesus is sentenced by Pilate. Then, using the Jewish system: “the third hour” = 9:00 A.M. The crucifixion begins. “the sixth hour” = 12:00 P.M. (noon). Darkness begins. “the ninth hour” = 3:00 P.M. Jesus dies. Putting it all together, Jesus’ trial ended about 6:00 A.M. His crucifixion began about three hours later, and He died about six hours after that. gotquestions.org

What is the purpose of what Jesus cried out?

27:46 Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani. “Eli” is Heb.; the rest Aram. (Mark 15:34 gives the entire wail in Aramaic.) This cry is a fulfillment of Psalm 22:1, one of many striking parallels between that psalm and the specific events of the crucifixion (see notes on Ps. 22). Christ at that moment was experiencing the abandonment and despair that resulted from the outpouring of divine wrath on Him as sin-bearer. MacArthur, J., Jr., ed. (1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed., p. 1449). Word Pub.

Considerable variations exist in the spelling in the manuscripts at this verse, but the Hebrew Eli and the Aramaic Eloi both mean My God. Jesus apparently sensed an abrupt loss of the communion with the Father. Lemke, S. W. (2007). The Academic Use of Gospel Harmonies. In Holman Christian Standard Bible: Harmony of the Gospels (pp. 211–212). Holman Bible Publishers.

Some of the most profoundly mysterious words in the entire Bible. In some sense Jesus had to be cut off from the favor of and fellowship with the Father that had been his eternally, because he was bearing the sins of his people and therefore enduring God’s wrath (cf. Isa. 53:6, 10; Hab. 1:13; Rom. 3:25; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; 1 John 2:2). And yet, in quoting Ps. 22:1 Jesus probably has in mind the remainder of the psalm as well, which moves on to a cry of victory (Ps. 22:21–31); and he expresses faith, calling God “my God.” Surely he knows why he is dying, for this was the purpose of his coming to earth (cf. Matt. 16:21; 20:18–19, 28). And surely his cry, uttered with a loud voice, is expressing, not bewilderment at his plight, but witness to the bystanders, and through them to the world, that he was experiencing God-forsakenness not for anything in himself but for the salvation of others. Surely Matthew, understanding this, quotes Jesus’ words to challenge his readers. Jesus’ torment, despite his anticipations of it in Gethsemane, was surely inconceivable in advance. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1886). Crossway Bibles.

2. The Misunderstanding of the Cross - vs. 47-48

Matthew 27:47–48 NASB95

47 And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48 Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink.

Why did they think he (Jesus) was calling for Elijah?

27:47 Elijah. Jesus’ call to God in Aramaic (’Eli, ’Eli) sounds similar to the Hebrew name for Elijah (’Eliyahu), which the bystanders misunderstand as a summons to the prophet. Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1886). Crossway Bibles.

3. The Fulfillment of the Cross - vs. 49-50

Matthew 27:49–50 NASB95

49 But the rest of them said, “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.

Mk 15:34 Psalm 22 has many connections with Jesus’ passion, referring to the insults against a righteous sufferer (Ps 22:7–8), piercing of His hands and feet (Ps 22:16), and gambling for His clothes (Ps 22:18). Lemke, S. W. (2007). The Academic Use of Gospel Harmonies. In Holman Christian Standard Bible: Harmony of the Gospels (pp. 211–212). Holman Bible Publishers.

Psalm 69:21 NASB95

21 They also gave me gall for my food And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

Psalm 22 (NASB95)

For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David. 1 My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. 2 O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest. 3 Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

4 In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. 5 To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, A reproach of men and despised by the people. 7 All who see me sneer at me; They separate with the lip, they wag the head, saying,

8 “Commit yourself to the Lord; let Him deliver him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.” 9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb; You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts. 10 Upon You I was cast from birth; You have been my God from my mother’s womb.

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help. 12 Many bulls have surrounded me; Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. 13 They open wide their mouth at me, As a ravening and a roaring lion. 14 I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd, And my tongue cleaves to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death. 16 For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; 18 They divide my garments among them, And for my clothing they cast lots.

19 But You, O Lord, be not far off; O You my help, hasten to my assistance. 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, My only life from the power of the dog. 21 Save me from the lion’s mouth; From the horns of the wild oxen You answer me. 22 I will tell of Your name to my brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. 23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel.

24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard. 25 From You comes my praise in the great assembly; I shall pay my vows before those who fear Him. 26 The afflicted will eat and be satisfied; Those who seek Him will praise the Lord. Let your heart live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will worship before You. 28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s And He rules over the nations. 29 All the prosperous of the earth will eat and worship, All those who go down to the dust will bow before Him, Even he who cannot keep his soul alive. 30 Posterity will serve Him; It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation. 31 They will come and will declare His righteousness To a people who will be born, that He has performed it.

SO WHAT?

How has the cross affected your life?

Matthew 7:24–29 (NASB95)

24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock.

26 “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.” 28 When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; 29 for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.