Today we come to the death of Jesus. A very famous passage, but like last week, Matthew only gives us one verse on Jesus’ death. What he seems much more concerned with are the miracles surrounding Jesus’ death. Jesus’ birth was surrounded by miracles that we all know well. The virgin birth, the angel’s, the wise men following the star. But, we forget all the miracles that were associated with Jesus’ death. And it makes sense on one level because these miracles get overshadowed by the miracle of the resurrection. But, God gave miracles at Jesus’ birth and death to show us that Jesus is His Son with whom He is well pleased and that Jesus is Himself God. 

We can often use the word ‘miracle’ to describe something that is surprising, but not truly supernatural. We say things like, “It’s a miracle! My teenager cleaned up their room!” or “It’s a miracle! The Seminoles won a football game!” As unlikely as those things are, they aren’t miracles. A miracle is when God intervenes in the natural order to accomplish His purposes. Miracles reveal God’s power, they confirm His message, and they bring glory to His name. They are not just rare or unlikely occurrences, they are intentional acts that demonstrate His sovereignty over His creation. 

If this were a movie, the camera has been on the crowd for most of the chapter and now it focuses in on Jesus. Matthew gives us five miracles surrounding Jesus’ death and I want us to put ourselves in the crowd looking at Jesus and seeing these miracles and see how it affects our hearts. So, let’s walk through the five miracles.

1. Miracle 1: The sky goes black

For three hours as Jesus hung on the cross, the sky went black. Everyone saw it! Many people were still alive when Matthew wrote about it. Some people today have tried to explain this by a solar eclipse, but we know that the Passover happened during a full moon and eclipses can’t happen during a full moon. And if you’ve ever seen an eclipse, you know they last a few minutes, not three hours. Others have wondered if a volcano happened to erupt somewhere like at Pompeii where the sky went dark with ash, but there are no volcanoes in the area. Was it a storm that perfectly covered the sky until the moment Jesus died? Listen, Matthew knew what a storm was. If it were a storm, he would have said so. 

This was an act of God which took place between noon and 3pm (so, what would normally be the brightest part of the day) and ended when Jesus cried out with a loud voice and gave up His Spirit. I know that when I first read this story, I wanted to know more. What did Matthew think about this? How did people respond? But, Matthew and the other gospel writers don’t give us that. They just record it as they see it which actually lends more historical credibility to their account. They don’t try and embellish, they just call it as they see it. 

These hours of darkness are what some call the silent hours. We don’t know anything that happened during them. All the speaking between Jesus and the soldiers or Mary happened before this darkness. Then the narrative goes silent. Maybe man was not worthy to watch Jesus die on our behalf and that’s why the sky went dark. There is much we don’t know, but we do know that the darkness is a physical manifestation of what is going on spiritually at that moment. 

This is when Jesus was taking on the wrath of God for every Christian who would ever live. When he experienced pain and suffering both physically and spiritually that we could never begin to imagine. This is why at the end of the darkness, he cried out, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani.”  This was Aramaic for “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The soldiers there didn’t know Aramaic and thought that “Eli, Eli” was Jesus calling out for Elijah. That’s why they withheld the sponge of sour wine and said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” I don’t think the soldiers were mocking Jesus. I actually think the soldiers were genuinely wondering, after the whole sky had gone dark, whether Elijah would supernaturally come and save Jesus. 

But, these words Jesus spoke are taken directly from Psalm 22. That psalm expresses the spiritual desolation of a man who continues to trust and appeal to God in spite of the fact that his ungodly opponents mock and persecute him. No one has ever experienced more desolation than Jesus at this moment. He wasn’t doubting God or losing faith, He was acknowledging that all that had to happen for humanity to be saved was happening at that moment. On the cross, Jesus became the enemy of God. On the cross, the darkness of God’s wrath came down on Jesus. He did that in our place. He who came not to judge, but to bear judgement is doing just that. He who was the light of the world, is surrounded by darkness. That’s the first miracle.

1. Miracle 2: The Temple curtain is torn

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record that it was torn from the top to the bottom indicating that it was God who tore it. There are actually two curtains in the temple and we don’t know which was torn. There was the outer curtain keeping any gentiles out and there was the inner curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy place where God’s presence dwelled. It could have been the inner curtain, but if this miracle is supposed to be a visible manifestation for all the people to see, then it makes more sense to me that it would be the outer curtain because that is the one people could see. 

And because this curtain is torn, five things are true. 1) This is a sign of the end of the Temple system. The Temple system that had gotten so corrupt. The Temple system that Jesus had been speaking against the entirety of the week leading up to his death. 2) Both Jews and Gentiles now have access to God. There is now no more curtain keeping the gentiles out. The gospel is not going to stay in Israel, but go out to the world the way it was designed. 3) Jesus’ sacrifice is final. There is no more need to offer sacrifices for sin. The Old Testament sacrificial system pointed forward to this moment. Nothing more needs to be done to reconcile sinful man and God. This is why Paul wrote to Timothy,  5 For cthere is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man1 Christ Jesus, 6 dwho gave himself as a ransom for all, which is ethe testimony given fat the proper time - 1 Tim 2:5,6

And then, fifthly, we now have direct access to God. We don’t need to go through a priest or a temple system. Jesus made a way to go directly. This week I was working on my sermon in my office and my door flew open. I was pretty surprised because no one does that. Everyone knocks. But, I looked up and it was my wife. Who has this kind of access to my office? She does. I’ve used this next analogy before, but I’m hoping it’s helpful enough to use one more time and then put to pasture. My kids are aging out of sneaking into our bed at night, but if there is a storm or the electricity goes out, I might still roll over and see one of the younger faces next to me. And that’s perfectly ok. But, what if I rolled over and saw one of you there next to me? That’s not ok! You don’t have that kind of access, but my kids do. This is the kind of access that Jesus has given us to God. The access that a child has to his or her father. 

The people of God did not have that kind of access before this moment. They had to go through someone else. But, now the door to the throne room is wide open to all who believe. This is why the author of Hebrews wrote, 19 pTherefore, brothers,3 since we have confidence to enter qthe holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by rthe new and living way that he opened for us through sthe curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have ta great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts usprinkled clean vfrom an evil conscience and our bodies wwashed with pure water. - Heb 10:19-22

That’s the second miracle and it goes hand in hand with the third. 

1. Miracle 3: The earthquake

It seems most likely that the earthquake and the splitting of the curtain happened at the same time. The precise moment when Jesus died. Have any of you ever been in an earthquake? I never have. I have always wanted to experience a small earthquake. Not big enough to be in danger, but big enough to feel the whole ground shake. My wife thinks I’m crazy. Earthquakes themselves are not miraculous. They happen all the time. But, the perfect timing of this one the moment Jesus died is what qualifies it as a miracle. 

Earthquakes in the Bible are often a symbol of God’s power, judgement, and presence. When God descended on Mount Sinai to give the Law to Moses, the mountain shook. In Amos 1, a great earthquake is referenced in connection with God’s coming judgement. In Numbers 16 the earth splits open and swallows Korah and his followers as punishment for their rebellion against Moses. Earthquakes are used in the Psalms to remind people that God controls the earth itself. Prophets used earthquake imagery to speak about the final day of judgment. But, they are also used to point toward God’s ultimate deliverance of His people like in Haggai 2 when God promises to shake the heavens and the earth as He establishes His unshakeable kingdom. 

So, all of this is coming together here. At the very moment Jesus died, the earthquake hit showing that God’s judgement has been given to Jesus in our place, all the rebellion of not believing in Jesus will one day be judged, all that has happened was under the full control of God, and that even though the Temple will be shook to pieces in just a few decades, but the kingdom of God is established and cannot be shaken. That’s miracle three.

1. Miracle 4: The dead come to life

Ok, of all the miracles, this is the hardest to understand. Matthew says that many of the Old Testament saints resurrected and appeared to many people in Jerusalem AFTER Jesus’ resurrection. This could mean three things. Did this rising and going to Jerusalem happen after Jesus' resurrection? Were the tombs opened in the earthquake, but they rose from the dead after Jesus did? Or did they rise at the earthquake, but go into Jerusalem after Jesus resurrected? We don’t know for sure, but it makes the most sense to me that the tombs were opened in the earthquake and the dead rose after Jesus did. 

When the Bible calls someone a saint, it just means a true believer. We don’t know if these saints had died a long time before or recently. We don’t know if it was a Lazarus type of resurrection where he would die again or if it was like Enoch and Elijah who did not die and were just called up to heaven. If it was like Lazarus, we don’t know how long they lived after this resurrection. We don’t know who it is they went to see in Jerusalem or what they said to them. 

But, we do believe that this is an historical account. That this really did happen. Again, Matthew doesn’t try and over dramatize these events, he just records that they happened which adds to his historical credibility. If this were a made up story like the Greek Gods, we would have a lot more flowery detail. What we do know is that the resurrection of these believers was a foretaste of the final resurrection that will happen to all those who believe in Jesus. 

This is why Paul wrote, 20 But in fact fChrist has been raised from the dead, gthe first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as hby a man came death, iby a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For jas in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. - 1 Cor 15:20 Jesus is the first fruits. Growing up near downtown Orlando, I was never much of a farmer. But when Angela and I lived in Italy, a part of our language learning was going to live in the Chianti region of Tuscany with an Italian Christian family at their vineyard. We all have our crosses to bear:) I worked outside in the vineyard and Angela worked with the women inside the home and I learned a lot of Italian and a lot about farming. The first fruits are just what they sound like. The first fruits to grow which represent the whole harvest. And in the case of grapes, you could know from the first grapes to grow what the whole crop would be like. If the first grapes were good, the rest were going to be. If they were bad, the rest would be. In the same way, Paul says that Jesus is the first fruits for all of us because His resurrection from the dead will also be true of all of us. 

That is what this miracle is pointing to. I do personally think that they had a Lazarus type resurrection and that they did die again like Lazarus did and that their souls are with Jesus now, but they still await their final resurrection when Jesus comes back at the end of time. What Matthew wants us to see are all the miracles that surrounded Jesus’ death and this was a big one for him even if part of it happened three days later. The promise that all who die having put their faith in Jesus will not stay dead, but be resurrected in the same way Jesus was. 

1. Miracle 5: The Roman centurion

There is a last miracle here that is harder to see, but greater than the darkness, greater than the veil being torn, greater than the earthquake, and greater than the dead being resurrected: The response of the Roman centurion. This was a pagan Roman centurion who had been tasked with crucifying Jesus. He was cruel, his heart was hard, and yet, after all these miracles happened, he was filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” Everything in me believes that this man came to faith. I don’t think Matthew would have recorded it otherwise. I think Matthew wanted to show this as an example of what is required for all who are confronted with Jesus. You can mock Him or you can bow down to Him as the Son of God. And it’s interesting that Matthew says that this centurion ‘and those who were with him.’ It wasn’t just one person who realized Jesus is the Son of God, it was at least three which satisfies the Jewish requirement for 2-3 witnesses for a testimony to be valid in the court. 

Up to this point in Matthew, God has twice declared Jesus to be His son, demons have acknowledged him as such, Jesus has made this claim, and the disciples have as well. But, this is the first time someone who was not a part of the disciples made this claim about Jesus. I can’t help but think of the lump in their throats as they realize Jesus is the Son of God and they just killed him! 

So, why do I say this is the greatest of all miracles? Because faith isn’t something we can muster up on our own. I feel like I’ve said this a lot recently, but no one is wise enough, spiritual enough, moral enough, or smart enough to say, “Truly this is the Son of God!” That is a work… a miraculous work… of the Holy Spirit. A work that we are going to celebrate on April 27th with 20 baptisms between the two services. 

Matthew has been showing us for 26 chapters that Jesus is the Son of God. He is the Messiah. He is the King of Israel. He is God Himself. Then, in chapter 27, for the past two weeks, we have seen this king mocked, beaten, shamed, and crucified. We are left asking ourselves how this can be. And now we see. We see that as Jesus died, every claim he made was validated. Even the way He died shows He was in control. He didn’t just slip away. The language is very intentional. He gave up His spirit. He was in control until the very end. It all becomes clear to the soldiers. They cannot mock anymore. They can only bow. How much more can happen to show that Jesus is who he says He is? The sky went dark, the earth shook, the veil was torn, the dead were raised, and the most unlikely people to believe have believed. 

Do you remember when that miracle happened to you? It happened to me in college at FSU. My goal was to be governor of Florida and by my senior year I was well on my way. I was president of my fraternity, president of a leadership honor society, I was in the secret society that controlled much of FSU, I helped start a whole political party that took over the campus, and I was president of the Senior Class. My campaign manager in college was actually former Representative Matt Gaetz. That’s the path I was on. Say whatever you want to say about Matt, but not for Jesus’ intervention, I think my life could look very similar to his. Then, one day, I was working on my resume preparing for graduation. A resume that had everything on it to accomplish my goals. But it didn’t bring me any satisfaction. I was ridden with existential strife as I came to grips with the fact that I had everything I thought I wanted, but it didn’t bring me the joy and satisfaction I desired. 

Do you know why it didn’t? Because I was king of my life and I made a lousy king. I wanted my resume to do what only Jesus could: deal with my sin. But it couldn’t and I was coming to grips with that. So, I began to pray. Every night for two weeks, “Lord, I’m not happy and I don’t have faith and I’m open to those things going together. But, if you’re God, you need to show me. I’m not going to believe something just to feel better.” And then, a guy with Campus Crusade walked up to my fraternity house (which had never happened!) and he shared the gospel with me. And that day everything changed. All my desires changed. My vocational path changed. The ways I interacted with people changed. They changed because I met Jesus.

That day, I felt what the centurion was feeling. My whole life mocked Jesus and, all of a sudden, I desired to know him and honor him with my whole life. I was looking for purpose in my resume and that had failed me, but now I had a new purpose that was so much bigger, so much holier, and so much more satisfying. That wasn’t what I was looking for. That wasn’t the logical end to my path. That was the miracle of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. 

So, can you feel what the centurion felt? The awe? The joy? The fear? The grace? It’s easy for us to become numb to that over the years as life gets busy and hard. But, I think God wants us to come back to that on a regular basis. To remind ourselves of the miracle He has worked in our hearts and to let that fuel our pursuit of Him and joy in Him. 

And if you are here today and you can’t remember feeling that awe, joy, and grace, maybe today is the day you feel it for the first time. Like the centurion, you can look at Jesus on the cross in your mind and heart, as Matthew wants us to, and confess that surely this is the Son of God!