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After Jesus' Death
After Jesus’ Death
“Truly this was the Son of God.”
Jesus on the cross is one of the most dramatic events of the entire bible which is filled with some of the most incredible literature ever written down. The moments after His death begins a series of proofs in which we can put our trust that He was dead. These proofs were prophesied about and have been hotly debated but never debunked.
Let us examine a few verses from two of the Gospel writers:
Matthew 27:50-54 - And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice [, (Luke 23:46b) “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!], and yielded up his spirit.
John 19:31-34 - Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So, the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came blood and water.
Matthew 27:51-54 - 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!”
Jesus’ death was public and dramatic. He was beaten, tried by Pilate, and crucified publicly for all to witness. As John says of himself in verse 35, “He who saw it has borne witness – his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth – that you also may believe.” The shock of that day must have reverberated amongst all who were there, even the gentiles, likely pagan, as we see in the testimony of the centurion as he said, “Truly this was the Son of God,” and “Certainly this man was innocent!” (Luke 23:47b) The people who were there, likely many who had been making fun of Him before he died, went home “beating their breasts” (Luke 23:48b) after seeing this event.
What did they see? They saw the other two criminals get their legs broken to hasten their deaths as they could no longer push up to exhale their breath, then the executioners come to Jesus and see no need to do that. (Fulfilling the prophecy of Psalm 34:20, and evidencing Jesus as the final sacrifice as the lamb for the Passover was to not have its bones broken from Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12.) If there was any question already about whether Jesus was simply fainted, these professional executioners, who were under penalty of their own life being forfeit on the cross if Jesus lived, stuck a spear into His side, piercing Him as prophesied in Zechariah 12:10.
Extraordinary events happened around Jerusalem that day as well. An earthquake shakes the land, and rocks were split open like they were in I Kings 19:11, and terror likely gripped many in the city as the bodies of the dead came out of their tombs and were seen by many people roaming around the city.
The moment of Jesus’ death should serve as a reminder of the power and awe of God and what Jesus did for us. He laid down His life. And in three days He, from beyond the grave itself, was able to pick it back up again, and with unbroken legs, walk out of the tomb, stealing away the keys of death from Satan, destroying his power, and condemning him to an eternity of fiery destruction. Why? So that we all might be saved, even when none of us deserved it.
Praise God!
Lance Byers
March 8, 2025
- After_Jesus_Death_3-8-25.pdf (33.10 kB)
