Matthew 27:45-56 Sermon for April 3, 2026 (Good Friday)

Good evening to all of you who have come together tonight in unity from The Church of New Life and Kingdom Bound Church. Tonight, I have the honor and the absolute privilege of preaching God’s Word and, surely, there’s a lot for here for us to meditate and reflect on. What I am going to do here is read our full text AND I’ll be bringing us through the text AGAIN one or two verses at a time. With that said, let’s make our way to Matthew’s Gospel and turn to the 27th chapter. And before I read it, let us all stand as we recognize our text as the living, inerrant Word of God for us. Once I conclude the reading of this great passage, I’ll say, “This is the Word of God.” To which you respond, “Thanks be to God.” Let us begin starting in verse 45 and we’ll go to verse 56. From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me.’ When some of those standing there heard this, they said, ‘He’s calling for Elijah.’ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and offered him a drink. But the rest said, ‘Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.’ But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit. Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split. The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection entered the holy city, and appeared to many. When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’ Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him were there, watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons. This is the Word of God. SO, before I bring us through this passage once again verse by verse, I want to highlight two big ideas. First, it’s this overarching theme that this passage is talking about penal substitution, covenant theology, and Christ’s mediatorial work. Yes, I know. Big words, but I’ll walk us through it all as we progress. The second thing I want to share is that I am approaching this text, as I do the entire Bible, with a set of presuppositions. What are they? It’s my belief that this is literally the living, inerrant Word of God. It isn’t just another book, and I do not approach it wondering what’s of God and what is not of God. The entire collection of all 66 books is God’s Word. I am also of the belief that the supernatural is very much real. Not only do I believe in what you and I see right in front of us in our everyday affairs, but I also believe in the spiritual realm. That angels and demons are real. That spiritual warfare is real. That God is actively working wonders outside of our awareness. That certain things can only be explained by God. Now, that we’ve settled that, let’s get right into the text. “From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness came over the whole land.” (v 45) This is a sign of divine judgment. It’s a cosmic signal that the wrath of God is being poured out; that Christ Jesus is bearing the curse of the law. Galatians 3:13 says, “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” This is important for us to know. This isn’t some random malfunction of nature or a freak storm that just randomly happens. No, this is God acting. You look at Exodus 10:21-22 and it says, “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand towards heaven, and there will be darkness over the land of Egypt, a darkness that can be felt.’ So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and there was a thick darkness throughout the land of Egypt for three days.” God’s judgment is here. His wrath is being poured out on His one and only Son, Jesus. John 3:36 says, “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.” And so, if you believe in the Son, the wrath of God has been fully satisfied because Jesus took it on for you. If you reject the Son, the wrath of God due to sin, is still upon you. Let’s continue. “About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?’” (v 46) Jesus here, is quoting Psalm 22. Verse 1 says, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” This is real forsakenness. Jesus is experiencing the withdrawal of the Father’s comforting presence as he bears YOUR sin. Christ endures the God-forsakenness YOU and I deserved so that we may never be forsaken, that is, those who truly believe. You have to remember that this is substitutionary atonement. It’s Christ taking YOUR spot on the cross. He’s doing for you what you and I can’t do for ourselves. Let’s continue. “When some of those standing there heard this, they said, ‘He’s calling for Elijah.’ Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and offered him a drink. But the rest said, ‘Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.’ (vs. 47-49) This is a classic picture that the natural man cannot understand the things of God. That even those who are THIS close to Jesus just simply don’t get it. They do not have the eyes to see. You see, it doesn’t matter if you are in church. If you are not in Christ, you’re still hell bound. You need to be born again. You need your eyes to be spiritually opened. You need Jesus to quicken your soul. Without this, you’ll either be blindly deceived or mocking that which you do not understand. Look at 1 Corinthians 1:18 which says, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but it is the power of God to us who are being saved.” Foolishness. They mock God. The people mocked Noah for building the Ark. And yet, God’s sovereign plan is unfolding despite the ignorance and mockery of fools and the natural man. Let’s continue. “But Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and gave up his spirit.” (v 50) In John 10:18 it says, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.” Here’s what we need to know: Jesus lays down His life of His own accord. His death is the climax of His active obedience. He offers Himself as the perfect and satisfactory sacrifice to appease the wrath that we deserved. I preached this last Sunday and I’ll say it again: all that is happening and will happen is perfectly aligned by God’s sovereign will, plans, and decrees. Nothing is by mistake and nothing is a shock here. This was intentional. Let’s continue. “Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, and the rocks were split.” (v 51) In the Old Testament temple, the Tabernacle, there was a separation between what was called the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. What separated these two spaces was a curtain. Only a priest could go through the curtain to mediate between the people and God. So, don’t miss the massive significance here. That curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. Hebrews 10:19-22 says, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus- he has inaugurated for us a new and living way through the curtain (that is, through his flesh)- and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.” This is massive. Christ is our ultimate High Priest and our ultimate Mediator! The veil has been torn! And then the rocks were split! Why? Well Romans 8:22 says, “For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now.” All of creation feels the reverberation of death! Let’s continue. “The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And they came out of the tombs after his resurrection, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.” (vs 52-53) Ok, we need to, like, take a huge pause and ask ourself what we just read. Let me parse it for us. First, it says that the bodies of MANY of the saints were raised. It does not say the saints themselves. Second, this is a slight detail that seems sort of chronologically out of order. It says that the bodies of MANY of the saints came out of the tombs AFTER the resurrection and went to Jerusalem and appeared to many. I believe that Matthew did this intentionally to highlight a theological point. Again, this is a real event that really happened. But Matthew wants us to not miss a theological connection here. What is happening, or will happen in a few days, is a preview of the resurrection harvest. This isn’t a random event. It is eschatological signaling. 1 Corinthians 15:20-23 says, “But as it is, Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead also comes through a man. For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ, the firstfruits; afterward, at his coming, those who belong to Christ.” Honestly, a whole sermon series can be done on this detail, but I need to stay focused here and not lose you. In the Bible, you have temporary resurrections (like Eutychus, Lazarus, etc.). These point to a greater resurrection (Jesus). You then have conversion resurrection, which states a natural man is completely dead (not just sick as some claim) and is needed to be resurrected to life and that can only come via the saving grace of God alone. And then you have the resurrection of the dead at the end of all things, where EVERYONE will be judged and then assigned to one of two eternal habitations, heaven or hell. Let’s continue. “When the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they were terrified and said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’” (v 54). As I read this verse here, I am of the belief that this is the resurrecting power of the centurion’s dead soul! This is the moment of regeneration. This is the opening of his spiritual eyes. This is something that only God can do. This is the valley of dry bones coming to life. This is the “I once was lost but now and found”! This is true conversion here and this is that great call for you and I to be in Christ. Robert Purnell once wrote, “The soul now begins to say to itself, ‘I, who was once God’s enemy, am now reconciled to God. I, who was in times past without God, without Christ, without promise, without covenant, without hope, now have God for my God and Christ as my peace. I am not one of God’s people. I now belong to the covenant of his peace.” And now, to our concluding portion of tonight’s passage. “Many women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and looked after him were there, watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.” (vs. 55-56) These are familiar characters in our gospel story and, at first, these two verses just seem like minor details. But it’s not. I’ll say this loud and clear: True discipleship perseveres even when hope seems lost. God preserves a remnant. What do I mean by that? Let’s take a look at John 6:37-39 which says, “Everyone the Father gives me will come to me, and the one who comes to me I will never cast out. For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me. This is the will of him who sent me: that I should lose none of those he has given me but should raise them up on the last day.” This is known as the perseverance of the saints. For you and I, if we are truly converted and truly saved, even the worst day we face won’t shatter our faith. We may be tried, tested, and go through the storms, but the grace of Jesus sustains us. As we head home shortly, let us reflect and ponder what Jesus has done for us. Let us sit in the core truths of this Friday and let us look forward to Sunday. Let us be eternally in awe at the grace of God for not leaving us to what we deserve, that is death, but giving us life everlasting.