THE DEATH OF JESUS

Passage: Matthew 27:45-56

Key verse: 50

NIV

The Death of Jesus(A)

45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness(B) came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[a] lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[b](C)

47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”

48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar,(D) put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.(E)

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple(F) was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split(G) 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[c] went into the holy city(H) and appeared to many people.

54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding(I) Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”(J)

55 Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs.(K) 56 Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[d] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.(L)

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Matthew 27:46 Some manuscripts Eloi, Eloi
  2. Matthew 27:46 Psalm 22:1
  3. Matthew 27:53 Or tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they
  4. Matthew 27:56 Greek Joses, a variant of Joseph
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

The Death of Jesus

45 Now from the sixth hour[a] there was darkness over all the land[b] until the ninth hour.[c] 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus (A)cried out with a loud voice, saying, (B)“Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with (C)sour wine, and put it on a reed and (D)gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus (E)cried out again with a loud voice and (F)yielded up his spirit.

51 And behold, (G)the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And (H)the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of (I)the saints (J)who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into (K)the holy city and appeared to many. 54 (L)When the centurion and those who were with him, (M)keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, (N)“Truly this was the Son[d] of God!”

55 There were also (O)many women there, looking on (P)from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, (Q)ministering to him, 56 among whom were (R)Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and (S)the mother of the sons of Zebedee.

Read full chapter
Footnotes
  1. Matthew 27:45 That is, noon
  2. Matthew 27:45 Or earth
  3. Matthew 27:45 That is, 3 p.m.
  4. Matthew 27:54 Or a son
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. 'My God, why have you forsaken me? (45-50)

For three hours darkness covered the land. Jesus suffered most because he bore in his body the sins of the world. Because of our sins, he felt deep separation from God, so he cried out in the words of Psalm 22:1, 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' This Psalm ends with a cry of triumph (22:27,28). But on the cross, our Lord Jesus suffered incredible physical and spiritual agony. Then, he cried again and gave up his spirit.

2. 'Surely he was the Son of God' (51-56)

When Jesus died, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, and the way into the throne room of God was opened (Heb10:19-22). The dead were raised to life, for his death broke the power of Satan (Heb 2:14). The centurion confessed, 'Surely he is the Son of God.' The faithful women watched in quiet despair, but they did not run away. They became the first witnesses of his resurrection.

Prayer: Lord, you bore my sins in your own body on the cross. By your wounds I am healed. Through your blood I come before the throne of my Father.

One Word: Jesus died for me