Truly this was the Son of God!

 

 Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.  And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"  Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man is calling for Elijah!"  Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.  The rest said, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him."  And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.  Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.  So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

 

- Matthew 27:45-54 

 

Yesterday we read that, following His trial before Pilate and assignment to be crucified, as Jesus and the soldiers came out from the Praetorium, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name.  Him they compelled to bear His cross.  And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink.  But when He had tasted it, He would not drink.  Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:  "They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots." Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there.  And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him:  THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one of the right and another on the left.  And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, "You who destroy the temple and built it in three days, save Yourself!  If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."  Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, "He saved others; Himself He cannot save.  If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.  He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, 'I am the Son of God.'"  Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing. 

 

  Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land.   The sixth hour is noon; the ninth hour is 3:00 in the afternoon.  Regarding this darkness at noon, see Zechariah 14:6-7; Amos 8:9.

And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"  Jesus is praying Psalm 22, a psalm which foretold the details of the Crucifixion.  My study Bible says that if this is taken from the rest of the psalm, Jesus' cry of "Why have you forsaken Me?" can be misinterpreted as a cry of despair.  We should understand that since He took on our human nature, Jesus also experiences our alienation from God in His humanity, knowing our suffering and distress; but He does not despair.  He speaks these words in the name of humanity, my study Bible notes, completely identifying with us in our condition, as in His divinity, He is never forsaken by the Father.  

Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, "This Man is calling for Elijah!"  Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink.  The rest said, "Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him."  And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.  The text tells us that Christ yielded up His spirit.  My study Bible comments that Christ's death is voluntary to the very end.  Even on the Cross, it says, Christ's life could not be taken from Him against His will.  He accepts death on the Cross neither to receive the Father's punishment on our behalf, nor to satisfy the Father's need for blood-justice (as if God would demand such things), but by entering death as the divine Son of God, He can destroy the last enemy -- which is death itself (1 Corinthians 15:20-28).  In allying Himself completely to our nature, He transforms human nature for all of us.

 

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, . . .  The veil of the temple separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple.  My study Bible calls it a symbol of the separation between God and humanity.  Christ's death now opens the way into the presence of God for all people, giving human beings access to that which is the most holy of all:  God.  Additionally my study Bible notes that in many Orthodox churches, there is a curtain between the altar and the nave; it's drawn open during liturgical services in order emphasize that communion with God, which was at one time sealed off from humanity, now available to all who approach in faith.  

 

 . . . and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.  My study Bible says that the completeness of the salvation won by Christ is signified in this resurrection of the saints from the Old Testament.  It says that this is a guarantee of the promise given to Ezekiel that God can and will one day open the graves of all humankind (Ezekiel 37:1-14).   The saints entering the holy city, it notes, is an icon of resurrected humanity entering the heavenly Jerusalem (Hebrews 11:10; 12:22-23; Revelation 21:2-22:5).

So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"   According to my study Bible, this centurion is a Gentile who realizes that Jesus has dominion over nature, and therefore acknowledges Him as the Son of God.  In tradition he is known as St. Longinos.

The text tells us that, immediately after Jesus yielded up His spirit, then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.  These images sear the mind as those of things popping open, almost like spring -- the tearing of the veil of the temple in two from top to bottom, the earth quaking, the rocks splitting, graves opened and the bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep raised and coming out of the graves, even appearing to many.  Everything splits open to reveal extraordinary things setting forth, pouring out, appearing before people, as if the whole world has suddenly broken open with these extraordinary things exploding out like chicks breaking out of an eggshell they've broken open from within.  Christ's voluntary death lets forth an unprecedented outpouring from the world, splitting the veil in the temple and the rocks, opening the graves, and saints appearing to the people.  It's like an eruption of life that was just waiting to be revealed, which nobody knew was there.  But poetically, perhaps ironically, it is Christ's death which explodes this vivid outpouring of life.  It's as if there were all these things hidden, and all it took was this one event to unleash them for all to see.  This is a strange parallel with the understanding of the season of spring, its name in many languages indicating the "springing forth" of flowers from the ground.  But Christ's death springs forth everything, not just flowers.  It's an indication of things to come, the kinds of truths and meanings that will flow from this event and through the Church, bringing countless things to light and into history in ways that inform every facet of our lives --  most of which is now so woven into our culture we are likely no longer entirely aware and might struggle to name.  This outpouring has to be understood as the effect of the Sower, who will now be "sown" in the ground Himself, and whose Resurrection it all portends.  Jesus has said to Himself, in John's Gospel:  "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain" (John 12:23-24).  Even more powerfully, He asks us to follow Him, for participating in His life, death, and Resurrection, we may also do the same:  "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor" (John 12:25-26).  He sows His life and expands new life for us all.  Whatever we "lose" in following Him, is raised up with many, for the Father will honor such endeavor, and all of the life exploding out in Jerusalem at Christ's death affirms this unmistakable power.  Let us consider what His death and sacrifice give to us; let us live His life He gives us in His Resurrection, and share in what we reap.  For even as the centurion can see, "Truly this was the Son of God!"

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS

 

Byzantine Christogram:  Jesus Christ Conquers.  Graffito; Athens, Greece.  Spray-painted over black star.  © Author's collection

 There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.  And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.  Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  And they divided His garments and cast lots.  And the people stood looking on.  But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."  The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."  And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:

THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."  And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."

 

- Luke 23:32–43 

 

Yesterday, we read that as they led Christ away to the place of crucifixion, they laid hold of a certain man, Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming from the country, and on him they laid the cross that he might bear it after Jesus.  And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him.  But Jesus, turning to them, said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children.  For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, 'Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!"  Then they will begin 'to say to the mountains, "Fall on us!" and to the hills, "Cover us!"'  For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?"

 

  There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death.  And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left.   Calvary literally means "the skull."  To be crucified between two criminals shows the complete identification of Christ with fallen humanity, my study Bible says; it also fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah 53:9-12.

Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do."  And they divided His garments and cast lots.  My study Bible calls this an intercession not only for those who sentenced and crucified Jesus, but for all of humanity.  That is, for people who have no insight into the profound mystery of God's salvation.  Jesus speaks these words not as a request, but rather with divine authority.  My study Bible adds that their great sin would still have been forgiven if they repented.  One of the soldiers did repent (verse 47), and he is considered to be a saint of the Church.  The soldiers divided His garments and cast lots:  see Psalm 22:18.

And the people stood looking on.  But even the rulers with them sneered, saying, "He saved others; let Him save Himself if He is the Christ, the chosen of God."  The soldiers also mocked Him, coming and offering Him sour wine, and saying, "If You are the King of the Jews, save Yourself."  My study Bible points out that the taunt, "Save Yourself" is a continuing temptation of Satan to deter Jesus from completing His mission (see Luke 4:9-13).  

And an inscription also was written over Him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew:  THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.  This inscription is an indicator of the upside-down nature of the time, in which an Innocent is crucified while a murderer (Barabbas, whose name means "son of the father") is freed.  The inscription on the Cross is meant as an accusation and a mockery.  Instead it became a triumphant symbol that all nations would come under the reign of Jesus the King. 

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us."  But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?  And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong."  Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."  And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."  My study Bible says that the first of the criminals wanted to use Jesus to avoid responsibility for his actions, but the other accepts his sentence, and simply asks to be remembered.  It is the latter way that is the path to Paradise.  Jesus says that today this second thief will be with Him in Paradise:  My study Bible reflects that to be reconciled to Christ is to be in paradise immediately.  Moreover, it says, the souls of the departed are in the presence of God and they experience a foretaste of His glory before the final resurrection.

 

 Jesus' crucifixion fills us with a terrible sadness, a crushing horror that makes us weep.  How can this happen to the Savior of the world?  Why would such a terrible fate await the purely good, our Lord who is truly beautiful?  Some might answer that the Crucifixion presents to us an image of ourselves, an ungrateful and sinful humanity rejecting and even crucifying our Lord.  But my study Bible once again -- as the Gospel passages over the past week did as well -- points out that there is one culprit upon whom the ultimate blame lies for this scene, and that is Satan who continues to work through human beings as they sneer and mock.  This isn't to remove culpability from human beings for the choice to sin or to commit evil acts.  But the teaching of spiritual evil is not simple mythology used to naively explain away bad behavior, nor is it without tremendous theological foundation supported by the most brilliant thinkers and saints of history.  It is an unseen reality we'd be better off acknowledging if we want to understand ourselves, and our world, and how spiritual evil works off of our temptations, weaknesses, and passions.  Above, in the discussion of the inscription written on the Cross in Greek, Latin, and Hebrew, my study Bible remarked that, although it was meant as an accusation and a mockery, it instead became a triumphant symbol that all nations would come under the reign of Jesus the King.   As we also noted, this is an indication of what we might call an "upside-down time."   It seems this quality of being upside down is an indicator of evil influence, a time in which rules and logic, an understanding of good values which include respect for one's fellow beings, are shoved aside for a rule of selfishness and criminality, where brutality becomes an acceptable means to an end.  If we look at recent historical examples, such as the time of the Cultural Revolution in China, or the early decades of the Soviet Union, the period of Nazi rise and rule in Germany, and a great many other examples in the world, we see what can be called "upside-down" periods of time, when traditional values are deliberately overthrown in favor of extremely ruthless means of assimilating and building power.  Concentration camps that tortured and exterminated whole groups of people on the basis of propaganda claiming to be scientific were merely a means of consolidating power in Nazi Germany, as earlier genocides such as of the Christians of the Ottoman Empire did the same.  The ruthlessness of the KGB in revolutionary Russia was made in the name of progress and human liberation, but equaled every bit the hideous practices of the Nazis.  The Cultural Revolution in China claimed also to liberate, while it decimated education, relations within all communities, and destroyed those who represented in the most tangential way the lengthy historical culture of the country.  At the same time, what was called "The Great Leap Forward" needlessly resulted in tens of millions of deaths due to starvation, just as collectivization had done in the Soviet Union.  Pol Pot called his country Democratic Kampuchea, while in reality instituting one-party rule and murdering millions of his own citizens.  These are examples of huge periods of historical chaos, but an upside-down time can occur on a large scale or a small, even to intimate and fleeting times of our lives, when suddenly nothing seems comprehensible, save for an extreme idea, or a slogan that grips the mind in response to fear or other passions.  The culture of the mob often produces upside-down results, unthinkable under historical systems of law or justice.  And in this period of the crucifixion of Christ, we see so many signs of a world turned topsy-turvy, as we look back at His ministry of love, care, and healing, the great teachings in fulfillment of the Law and Prophets, and the many good things Christ did within the immediate years preceding His death.  All know He is being crucified on the basis of lies and manipulation, and all know Barabbas to be a murderer whom the crowd has demanded to be set free.  Let us note, secondarily, that whether or not we correctly perceive this upside-down time really depends upon which side of the fence we're on at the time.  Those who only seek their own benefit perceive it the other way around -- and so, we might say their perception is also upside down!  If we look at the response of the women and others who weep for Christ, at the uncomprehending disciples, even at members of the ruling Council who have faith in Christ (such as Nicodemus, in his response in John 7:51), we see the stunned and bewildered effect a world turned upside down has on the ones who seek the truth they need.  This confusion only emphasizes the evil of the time, in which "whoever kills you will think that he offers God service" (John 16:4), and "you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relatives and friends; and they will put some of you to death," and "you will be hated by all for My name’s sake" (Luke 21:16-17).  But in such times, Christ calls on us for endurance, and moreover suggests they may be opportunity for testimony and the work of the Holy Spirit in us (Luke 21:13-15), and by our patience we will possess our souls (Luke 21:19).  In these times, we turn to our spiritual weapons of prayer and worship, we seek to cultivate virtue and spiritual fruit, we remain alert and awake and rely on God.  We watch and pray, as will the women who remain faithful to Him, and the disciples.   For these are our examples in a time when even our Savior is numbered with the transgressors, and a King is nailed to the Cross.