And Jesus cried again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit.
And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and the rocks were split; the tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe, and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
Matthew 27:50-54 RSV
Matthew stressed the fact that Jesus submitted to death by personal surrender, as an act of his own volition, and well ahead of the time it could have been naturally expected.
The words, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,” are given by Luke; Matthew gave scant attention to the “seven utterances.”
The time of the Master’s death was three o’clock in the afternoon on the day of preparation for the Passover, making it occur on the afternoon, before sunset, when the actual Passover legally began.
Matthew 27:51-53 relate to the Six Wonders of Calvary which received considerable attention in Matthew’s gospel and which are of such surpassing interest.
A special study of these phenomena will be highlighted in our next six blog posts.
A series we’re calling:
THE SEVEN CALVARY MIRACLES
THE PHENOMENA ATTENDING THE CRUCIFIXION AND RESURRECTION
There are actually seven Calvary miracles, the greatest and most wonderful, of course, being the resurrection of Christ.
Attending that prime wonder of all ages were six others, truly wonderful in themselves, and designed to support and confirm the greater miracle they attended.
These were:
The Three Hours of Darkness
The Ripping of the Curtain (Veil)
The Earthquake
The Opening of the Graves
The Undisturbed Grave Clothes
The Resurrection of the Saints
Resurrection of Jesus Christ (Number 7)
John 1:1-5 ASV
