Matthew 27:45-56
The Death of Jesus
Read the passage
45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land.
46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He is calling Elijah.”
48One of them quickly ran and brought a sponge. He filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and held it up for Jesus to drink.
49But the others said, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes to save Him.”
50When Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit.
51At that moment the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, and the rocks were split.
52The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
53After Jesus’ resurrection, when they had come out of the tombs, they entered the holy city and appeared to many people.
54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified and said, “Truly this was the Son of God.”
55And many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to minister to Him.
56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
From the sixth hour to the ninth, darkness covers the land. Jesus cries out the opening words of Psalm 22, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Some bystanders misunderstand him and wonder whether Elijah will come. Jesus cries out again and yields up his spirit.
At that moment the temple curtain tears in two from top to bottom. The earth quakes, rocks split, and tombs open. Matthew says that many saints are raised and, after Jesus’ resurrection, come out of the tombs and appear to many people in the holy city. The death of Jesus is therefore presented as an event that reaches beyond the cross itself, touching the temple, the earth, the dead, and the living.
The centurion and the guards see the earthquake and what has happened, and they become terrified. They confess, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Many women remain nearby, watching from a distance after following Jesus from Galilee and ministering to him. Matthew gives us both the public signs and the faithful witness of people who stay near the suffering Christ.
The torn curtain is not explained in a single sentence here, but its direction is clear: Jesus' death marks a decisive change in access to God's holy presence. Read with the rest of the gospel, the cross is not merely an example of courage. The Son gives himself for sinners, bearing judgment so that those who trust him may draw near to God through his finished work.
This passage calls for awe, grief, and confidence in what Christ has accomplished. We should not rush past the horror of the cross, but neither should we leave it as an unexplained tragedy. The King who is mocked and killed is the Son of God, and his death is the turning point of redemption.
How We Know
Jesus cries the opening words of Psalm 22. Matthew then records the temple curtain tearing at His death. Hebrews explains that believers have confidence to enter God’s presence through Jesus’ blood and calls them to draw near with assurance. That teaching grounds our hope in His sacrifice rather than our own worthiness.
Questions
1 What happens when Jesus dies?
AnswerJesus cries out, yields up his spirit, and dies while darkness covers the land. The torn temple curtain, earthquake, opened tombs, and the centurion's confession show that his death is the decisive event Matthew is announcing.
2 How do the guards respond to what happens at Jesus’ death?
AnswerThe centurion and the men guarding Jesus are terrified by the earthquake and the other events. They acknowledge that this was the Son of God, the identity the mockers had challenged.
3 Why is Jesus' death more than an example of courage?
AnswerJesus dies as the Son of God, giving himself for sinners and bearing the judgment that brings forgiveness and access to God. His courage matters, but the cross saves because of who he is and what he accomplishes for his people.
4 How can our household approach the cross with truthful grief and hope?
AnswerOur household can speak honestly about the grief and cost of the cross, give thanks for Christ's finished work, and approach God with the confidence Jesus' sacrifice provides. Let that assurance produce one concrete act of mercy rather than a performance of religious feeling.
What This Means for Us
The cross is where God's holiness and mercy meet. Jesus does not merely show us how to endure pain; he gives himself for sinners. The torn curtain points to the access his death secures, while the earthquake and opened tombs announce that his death is already breaking the power of death.
That does not make suffering unimportant or make every painful experience a direct parallel to the cross. Jesus' sacrifice is unique. Because he has borne judgment, a Christian household can tell the truth about sin without despair and can approach God without pretending to have earned the welcome it receives.
Let the family name one burden of guilt, grief, or fear that needs to be brought to Christ. Then give thanks for the cross and choose one act of mercy that reflects the grace you have received.
Prayer
Father, keep us near the cross of your Son. Give us reverence for his sacrifice, confidence in the access he has opened, honest grief over sin, and grateful mercy toward people who are suffering. Amen.