THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS' PUBLIC MINISTRY AND HIS CRUCIFIXION

The Phenomena Accompanying The Death of Christ

-Matthew 27:51-56; Mark 15:38-41; Luke 23:45, 47-49

-“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom...” (Matt. 27:51).

-Of course, the rending of the veil from top to bottom was filled with significant symbolism.

 This veil had separated the holy and most holy places within the temple.  Only the high priest

 was granted access through it. 

            -“...[T]he moment Jesus died, thus making the way manifest, the veil was appropriately rent

             in twain from top to bottom, disclosing the most holy place to the priests who were at that

             time offering the evening incense in the holy place” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 731). 

             Wouldn’t it be interesting to know what their reaction was like?

            -The Law had now been nailed to (fulfilled and therefore removed by) the cross of Christ (Col

             2:14).  Paul, when writing of the unity that is to exist between Jews and Gentiles in the church,

             wrote, “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of

             partition between us” (Eph 2:14).

            -Jesus is our High Priest (Heb. 2:17).  By shedding His blood upon the cross on our behalf, He

             has granted us access to God.  “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by

             the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil,

             that is to say, his flesh; and having an high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with

             a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and

             our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without

             wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto

             love and to good works” (Heb. 10:9-24).

-“...and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened...” (Matt. 27:51-52).

            -Even though graves were opened, it was not until the resurrection of Christ that “...many

             bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and

             went into the holy city, and appeared to many” (Matt. 27:52-53).

            -This earthquake was brought upon Jerusalem as another way to significantly mark the

             the time of our Lord’s death.  It was as if the earth itself shook in anguish. 

            -“It was Calvary answering to Sinai.  There was a great earthquake at Sinai (Ex. 19:18) when

             the Law was given; and the Law, so long associated with sin and death (Rom. 8:2), was being

             removed and replaced by the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus” (Coffman, Matthew,

             pg 491).  How appropriate for the earth to quake.

-A Roman centurion, an officer with authority and supervision over 100 soldiers, was deeply

 impacted by the manner in which Jesus died and the supernatural phenomena of three hours

 darkness and the earthquake.  As a result, he “...glorified God saying, Certainly this was a righteous

 man”(Luke 23:47) “...Truly this was the Son of God” (Matt. 27:54).           

            -In acknowledging the righteousness of Christ, one must also acknowledge the truth of His

             claim to be the Son of God.

            -Notice, the centurion was not alone.  Matthew points out that these events affected,

             not only the centurion, but also “...they that were with him...” and “they feared

             greatly saying, Truly this was the Son of God” (Matt. 27:51, emp. ad.).

            -“Like the centurions of Capernaum (Matt. viii. 10) and Caesarea (Acts x. 1,2), this Roman

             surpassed in faith those who had better opportunities.  But in this faith he was not alone”

             (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 732).

-Luke 23:48 reveals that “...the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things

 which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.” 

            -Undoubtedly, as a whole, the Jewish leadership felt satisfied and comfortable with the

             proceedings of the day.  However, it seems that they were certainly in the minority.

            -The multitude at Jerusalem that had gathered before Pilate had been enticed, excited and

             deceived by the chief priests and elders.  Having looked upon the horrifying death of Jesus,

             that enticement and excitement subsided yet the fact that they had been deceived remained.

       They departed from the site of the cross bearing shame and grief.  Perhaps that shame and grief

             helped to contribute to many hearts being pricked on the approaching Day of Pentecost.

-The women and others who had been at the foot of the cross withdrew - evidently during the period

 of darkness - and “stood afar, beholding these things” (Luke 23:49).  Among them were women

 of Galilee who had followed our Savior providing friendship, encouragement and support to Him. 

-“And...many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection,

 and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many” (Matt. 27:52-53).

-Although this did not transpire until the time of Jesus’ resurrection, we will address it at this point

 since it is mentioned at this point by Matthew and falls under the category of phenomena.         

-We are told very, very little about this intriguing event.  We would like to have additional details

 but they simply are not provided.  Who were these resurrected saints?  Who did they appear to? 

 What did they say?  What happened to them? 

            -Again, this lends additional support to the fact that the scriptures are not derived from man’s

             will but are indeed the inspired words of God.  “The unaided mind of man finds this event

             a matter of the very greatest curiosity; and it may be certain that if men, unaided by the Holy

             Spirit, had written the New Testament, we should have had volumes about those risen saints

             and what they did and the complications they encountered on such an astounding occurrence as

             their returning from the dead” (Coffman, Matthew, pg 493).

-Since Jesus, following His resurrection, appeared specifically to believers only, it seems logical

 to conclude that these resurrected saints did the same.  Hence, it is very likely that the multitudes of

 Jerusalem did not witness this wonderful phenomenon. 

-What happened to these individuals?  “There has been much speculation as to what became of these

 risen saints.  We have no positive information, but the natural presumption is, that they ascended to

 heaven” (McGarvey/Pendleton, pg 732). 

-Regardless of the details that we do not have and questions that might remain, let us not miss the

 important significance of these resurrected saints.  This clearly demonstrated that the victorious

 resurrection of  Jesus extended beyond Himself.  These saints provided proof that “...now is Christ

 risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept” (1 Cor. 15:20).  Thus we look

 forward with hope to our own resurrection!  “For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be