Today's lesson comes from Matthew 27: 45-61. The account of Christ's crucifixion actually begins with verse 31. The crucifixion is recorded in the other three gospels as well. This type of execution was physically painful as well as having great mental and emotional distress. The death of Jesus Christ was the greatest act in the universe. Jesus became a sin offering for a rebellious people, satisfied God's Divine Justice and reconciled men to our Creator.
The death of Jesus was worse than being burned alive or being stoned. It was a public death that was slow, tenacious, agonizing, and accursed. This form of execution was chosen by God before the foundation of the world. This form of death would satisfy God's wrath against sin. This form of death was so horrible that the sufferer could never experience the relief of unconsciousness. It was a torture fit only for the most rebellious.
The first section is "The Triumphant Christ." vv. 45-50 Jesus was placed on the cross at 9:00am. He died at 3:00pm. From noon un til 3:00pm there was darkness over all the land. Jesus said nothing during the three hours of darkness. Some have supposed that during the three hours of darkness and silence that He was battling the forces of darkness and evil. Jesus overcame all the power of the enemy and was victorious in His death. The following points need to be recognized:
1. Jesus would die at 3:00pm because that was the time that the Jewish fathers would be slaying their lamb for the Passover celebration. Jesus was our great sacrifice, so it was fitting that He die at the same time. One was an earthly sacrifice pointing to an event that took places many years before. One was a spiritual sacrifice that would point to eternity for the souls that would be saved do to the Perfect Sacrifice for sin.
2. John 10:18 records Jesus saying that no man takes His life, but He lays it down freely. Crucifixion brought on a slow death by asphyxiation. Yet, verse 50 states, "Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost." If you have ever been completely out of breath, you know it is impossible to yell with a loud voice. Our Lord did not die a natural death from the crucifixion, He chose to die at the exact moment by freely giving up His Spirit.
In verse 46, Jesus cried out, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This is a quote from Psalm 22. That psalm also includes references to piercing of the hands and feet (v. 16), all of the bones being in tact (v. 17) and casting lots for garments (v. 18). Psalm 22 is clearly a Messanic psalm. However, many people fail to read verses 25-31. These verses build in praise to God and verse 27 declares, "All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD." There will be feasting and worship (v. 29) and God 's righteousness will be proclaimed (v. 31). For the believer, we can take solace in our Lord's enduring the cross. No matter how dark things may seem, it will end well for us. The worst that can happen to us is death and that death brings into the presence of the Lord for all eternity. Truly, Christ was triumphant!
The second section is "The Astonishing Realization." (vv. 51-56) When Jesus shouts His voice of triumph, the veil of the temple is torn in two. It was the time of the evening sacrifice. What a shock this would have been to the high priest as he officiated the service. The veil being torn represents that now the way was opened for all people to come to God through the sacrifice of Jesus' blood. The way into the presence of God had been barred to all men, but was now open to all men.
The exclamation of the Roman centurion, "Truly this was the Son of God," shows us that the gospel message is clear to those who God has touched their hearts to receive the truth. The crucifixion opened the eyes of this hardened Roman soldier to the truth. Oftentimes religious people can't see the truth. The prejudice of the Jewish leaders blinded them to the truth. The centurion in heathen darkness, was drawn to truth. We should ask ourselves, do we have prejudices that block us from receiving truth?
The third section is "Joseph's Strange Gift." vv. 57-61 According to Roman law, a relative could claim the body of one executed. If it was not claimed, it would be left to rot until scavenger birds or dogs consumed the remains. Jesus' relatives were from Galilee and would not have a tomb to bury Jesus. Legend states that Joseph of Arimathaea was the uncle of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
There is some debate regarding whether Joseph supported Jesus during His life. We do know that Joseph was a member of the Sanhedrin (Luke 23: 50) and "the same had not consented to the counsel and deed of them." Moreover, since the disciples had fled, it was Joseph who took care of the funeral. Truthfully, Joseph displayed more courage than them all. His actions spoke boldly of his dedication to Jesus Christ. We should ask ourselves do we have the courage of standing by a living Christ that Joseph did for a "dead" Christ?
In conclusion, while the authorities did all they could to keep Christ in the tomb, there was no power that could hold Him.
The Golden Text is "My God, my God. why hast thou forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46) Commentators have described this passage so as to explain Christ becoming the sin offering and absorbing the wrath and hatred of Deity against sin. How should this impact us? It should impact us to the point that we truly hate sin because of what sin required Jesus to endure. Do you really hate sin? You should!
My summary points:
1. Jesus was our perfect sacrifice for our sins and is the eternal Passover Lamb.
2. Jesus voluntarily gave up His life, no one took it from Him.
3. We should have the courage to stand with Jesus Christ the way Joseph of Arimathaea did in His death .
Next week we begin a new study, the history of the Jews return from captivity. Lesson 1 is "The Decree To Return." (Ezra 1: 1-2:1)
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