Title: The Gospel in the Darkness
Text: Matthew 27: 45-56
Date: July 3, 2011
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. (46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? (47) Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. (48) And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. (49) The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him. (50) Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. (51) And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (52) And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, (53) And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. (54) Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God. (55) And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: (56) Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children."
Proposition: “It is finished.” Redemption is accomplished by Christ Jesus. Justice is satisfied. Righteousness is the robe of all who believe on Christ.
I. DARKNESS
Matthew 27:45: Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.
It means for three hours darkness covered the whole world.
Amos 8: 9: It shall come to pass in that day, saith the Lord GOD, that I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day”
The Darkness of The Sin-Dead Heart
The crimes being committed by wicked hands fulfilled God’s purpose but they were against the Prince of life. Religion without the Light of Christ—they claimed to be doing all in support of God’s honor, God’s glory, God’s law, and God’s people—but if Christ be not at all—all is darkness! The darkness shows us the darkness of the hearts of those for whom Christ died.
The Darkness That Christ Bore Himself
Christ is the Light of the world. Christ is the Light who gives Light to the Sun. But in this moment when he bore our sins in his own body on the tree, the sun in the sky did not even shine.
Illustration: How dark our day is—none darker than when Christ hung on the cross!
II. A FORSAKING
Matthew 27:46: And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
The Lord Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of the shadow of the law. It is significant that 3pm is about the time of the slaying and offering of the daily sacrifice. Our Lord Jesus is bearing “our sins in his own body on the tree.” The LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” The Savior is forsaken in wrath by God! He has no man to help. He is satisfying justice on behalf of his people—and he is treading the press alone!
It is not that God ceased loving him or that the Savior did not know why he was suffering. But as the perfect Man representing his brethren, forsaken of God, our Savior’s cry is one of perfect faithfulness and love, he is forsaken in justice, yet still cries in faithfulness, “MY God, MY God…”
JC Philpot--Here we see the sacred humanity of the blessed Redeemer lifted up, as it were, between heaven and earth, to show to angels and to men the spectacle of redeeming love, and to declare at one and the same moment, and by one and the same act of the suffering obedience and bleeding sacrifice of the Son of God, the eternal and unalterable displeasure of the Almighty against sin, and the rigid demands of his inflexible justice, and yet the tender compassion and boundless love of his heart to the election of grace.
III.OBEDIENCE UNTO DEATH
Matthew 27: 47: "Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. (48) And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. (49) The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him." 50Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost."
Christ Jesus voluntarily, when he was pleased, yielded up the ghost. No man took his life. He released his spirit himself. The whole of his obedience was voluntary—If his life had been taken away, contrary to his will, there would have been no obedience unto death? He was crucified on the cross—willilngly—but they did not kill him. He gave up the ghost himself in voluntary obedience. This last act was as voluntary as the first; the death on the cross as much as the assumption in the Virgin.
John 10:14-18 "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (15) As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. (16) And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. (17) Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (18) No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father."
IV. SATISFACTION DECLARED
Matthew 27:51: "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; (52) And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, (53) And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many."
The rent veil—declared Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to all who believe Believer’s enter into the holiest of all—God’s presence—not into a holy room here on earth. And we enter not through a tapestry but through the flesh of Jesus Christ.
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
The earthquake and the rocks rent—declaring Christ the Wisdom and Power of God
It speaks to God’s wrath toward his enemies over the suffering of his Son
Ps 18:7: Then the earth shook and trembled; the foundations also of the hills moved and were shaken, because he was wroth.
It speaks to the shaking of all but Christ’s new creation which cannot be shaken—such as all earthly, natural church states and ordinances such as came about by the destruction of Jerusalem.
Heb 12:26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 27: And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
The saints resurrected after he arose declares he is the Resurrection and the Life! In all this we behold God is satisfied with Christ and those in him.
V. A CONFESSION
Matthew 27:54 "Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God."
Are you able to confess in faith—casting all care on Christ, believing on him for acceptance with God? Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess. Have you seen the Lord Jesus by faith? Have you beheld that he has perfected you forever by his one offering? Are you trusting that all power is his in heaven and earth so that he shall provide, protect and preserve you unto himself?
There must be a true confession of heart—truly Jesus Christ is the Son of God, truly he is Righteous, “but he must be indeed all my righteousness!” With a confession will come what we see lastly:
VI. COMMITMENT
Matthew 27:55: And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: (56) Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children.
Mary Magadelne was the first the Lord spoke to after his resurrection. She was one of the vilest women he saved—he cast seven devils out of her, She and Mary, James mother, were the last to leave his grave—she was the first one to that came to the Lord after his resurrection. Who loves most? The one to whom most is forgiven!
I pray there be some sinner here this morning, who needs grace like she did.
1. Behold in this darkness—God’s hatred for sin, the darkness of your heart, your need for Christ the Light
2. Behold, in Christ forsaken on the cross—in his obedience unto death—the free pardon of sin and justification which Christ himself accomplished for all his people.
3. Behold, in these miracles—the veil rent (Christ the end of the law), the earthquake (in Christ the Power and Wisdom of God is eternal security), the resurrected saints (Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life).
4. Confess him and commit to him—believe on Christ, following him in believer’s baptism and comit with his people to the furtherance of this good news—IT IS FINISHED!
AMEN!