Three Supernatural Events at the Cross: A Meditation on Christ’s Final Hours

We continue from yesterday’s meditation on the seven last sayings of Jesus and the events of His crucifixion, bearing the sins of all mankind. When Jesus died, the first supernatural event was the darkness that covered the land from the sixth hour (noon) to the ninth hour (3 pm; Matthew 27:45). Passover always fell on a full moon, so a solar eclipse did not cause the darkness. Even if it could, an eclipse cannot last for three hours. This darkening of the sun was a sign of judgment and divine displeasure at what happened during the crucifixion of Christ. Jesus bore God's wrath for sin during those three crucial hours. That is why Jesus said, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me," for God cannot look on sin (Habakkuk 1:13), and Jesus took upon Himself the just penalty for the sin of all who receive His pardon. Some commentators believe the darkening of the sun was sent to cover the nakedness and suffering of Christ.

The second supernatural event was a powerful earthquake, and tombs were opened, with the dead coming back to life. I look forward to hearing from those who emerged from their tombs to describe what it was like to see the faces of Christ’s enemies at the scene. Here’s what Matthew wrote:

⁵¹At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split ⁵²and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people (Matthew 27:51-53).

The third supernatural event occurred in the temple. At the moment Christ died, the temple curtain separating God from humanity was torn in two from the top of the curtain to bottom, signifying from heaven that a way had been made into God's presence. No wonder many priests came to believe in Christ (Acts 6:7). When the priests learned what had happened at Calvary at 3 pm, the traditional time for the congregation to slay the lambs for Passover, and saw the curtain being torn, many believed and put their faith in Christ.

While thousands gathered in the temple courts for the ritual slaughter of Passover lambs, those serving in the temple were shocked when invisible hands tore the temple curtain—a cloth four inches thick—right before their eyes. God tore the curtain to show us that access to His presence was open for anyone who would accept Christ's death as their substitute for the penalty of sin. Jesus eliminated the barrier that separated God from humanity. Sin hinders our relationship with God, and Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. "Calvary shows how far men will go in sin, and how far God will go for man's salvation" (H. C. Trumbull).

The Gospel is the good news of a Living Savior who died in your place so that you and I can know God. He took the punishment we deserved and nailed it to the cross. If we repent (change our minds and direction in life) and believe (yield our lives and trust Christ and His saving work) in the Gospel, then we will be saved (enjoy all the blessings of the New Covenant, including eternal life). Will you trust Him? Here’s a prayer you can say to God:

Prayer:  Father, just as the thief on the cross expressed his heart's desire to walk in the newness of life with the words, "Remember me when You come into Your kingdom," I also ask You to please forgive me my sin. I turn around today and yield my life to You. I choose to trust You with my eternal well-being. Because I put my trust in You, receive me into Your kingdom. Amen. Keith Thomas.

The YouTube video of this talk with closed captions (subtitles) in 65 languages is found at the following link: https://youtu.be/98EY8UNmpmk

The written notes are at the following link: The Seven Sayings of Christ on the Cross

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