Matthew 27:50-54 New International Version (NIV)
50 ….and when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 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 went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Jesus cried out in a loud voice ------why? A cry of triumph and victory over the enemy whose head He had just crushed? A cry of accomplishment of doing His Father’s will? A cry of the extreme pain He is experiencing for you and me? All these and more. His crying out in a loud voice shows that He was very much alive at that moment and His life was still whole in Him. He had said that “No man taketh my life from me, but I lay it down of myself.” He could have continued alive even in the greatest tortures if he had pleased. Or He could have given up His life as soon as He was crucified, avoiding the torture and the humiliation and the pain of the cross. But He chose to remain in the cross for more than three long hours experiencing the cruelties and at the proper time He gave up His spirit in the hands of His Father God shouting with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” This shows the vehemence of His affection and strong confidence in God, and His being fearless of death. Also He spoke in a loud voice since He wanted Him to be heard and his words attended to. Moreover, being able to express Himself in such a loud voice amidst the extreme pain, declared Him to be more than a mere man. After such agonies in the garden, and so much fatigue in being hurried from place to place, and such loss of blood by being scourged, crowned with thorns, and nailed to the accursed tree, where he had hung for some hours, to speak with so loud a voice was more than human. This loud voice is one of the reasons which made the centurion to cry out, "truly this man was the Son of God",
His shouting in a loud voice at the time of His death accomplished the following:
1. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The curtain that divided man from entering into the Holy presence of God was torn by God Himself from top to bottom. Only to accomplish this plan of salvation for mankind, He had sent His Son into the world and allowed Him the cross. If only man believed in the atoning death of Jesus, he will have the courage to enter into the Holy presence of God at any time to attain mercy and forgiveness of his sins. No man can see God without holiness. The death of Jesus offers forgiveness of our sins and His blood cleanses us from all our sins and makes us worthy to see God.
2. The earth shook, the rocks split. The heavens and the earth and all that we see were made through Him and for Him. When He died, the nature, the works of His hands could not bear it and so the earth shook and the rocks split.
3. The tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. It foreshadows the great event that will happen to the believers when Jesus comes again to gather His saints. Also the death of Jesus has resurrected us who were dead in our sins and iniquities and made us witnesses unto His death and resurrection.
4. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” It is really a wonder that the lowly death of Jesus on the cross made people declare “Surely he was the Son of God!” It is the work of God and it is marvelous to our eyes.
Thank you dear Jesus for dying for me so that I can live for ever!
