Throughout the ministry of Jesus there were miracles, signs and wonders testifying of His authority and His deity. It should not surprise us in the least that there were signs and wonders at the cross.
1. “It was now about the sixth hour and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour, because the sun was obscured” (Luke 23:44,45).
The sixth hour to the ninth hour would be from noon to 3:00 P.M. At noon the sun is at its highest point and the day is brightest. But now, Jesus, the Light of the World, the Bright and Morning Star, takes upon Himself the darkness of human sin and curse and death. He takes upon Himself the full and eternal wrath of God against sin. At His birth, the skies and fields of Bethlehem were lit by the glory of the Lord (Luke 2:9). Now at His death, darkness consumes earth and sky.
How do we account for the darkness? According to scientific data, the earth, sun and moon were not in any alignment that would have led to an eclipse on that day. Even if there had been an eclipse, it would not have lasted for three hours. This was a supernatural event with three possible explanations.
a. The Darkness of God’s Presence in Wrath
We don’t usually think of God’s presence in terms of darkness, but the Psalmist reveals, Clouds and thick darkness surround Him (Ps. 97:2). Moses described the manifest presence of God at Mt. Sinai as, A mountain blazing with fire to the heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness (Deut. 4:11). Deep darkness and blazing fire accompanied the presence of the Lord.
When David celebrated the Lord’s delivering acts in his life, he said, He bowed the heavens also, and came down with darkness under His feet … He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies (Psalm 18:9,11). Darkness accompanied the delivering power of the Lord.
The prophet Joel depicts the Day of the Lord, when God’s righteous judgment comes on the earth, as a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and thick darkness (Joel 2:2). Darkness accompanies the judgmental action of God in history.
So the darkness at the cross surely represents the judgmental presence of God as the penalty for sin and God’s wrath against sin, which should have been unleashed on every sinner, is poured out on Jesus, the holy Lamb slain in the place of sinners.
b. The Darkness of God’s Absence
The prophet Habakkuk reminds us that God’s eyes are too pure to look on evil (Hab. 1:13). The darkness may reveal the absence of God the Father who turned away from the sin offering hanging on the cross, withdrawing the light of His presence.
c. The Darkness of Hell’s Presence
Hell is often referred to as the outer darkness (for instance, Matt. 22:13 25:30). Taken in this sense, the absence of light depicts Jesus undergoing the ultimate penalty for sin — complete separation from God in the dark fire of hell.
However we interpret the darkness, it certainly speaks of the unfathomable loss of communion between God the Father and God the Son. Jesus certainly sensed this separation as He cried out, My God, my God, why have you forsaken Me? (Matt. 27:46). As His sin-bearing sacrifice reaches its climax, Jesus sensed His alienation from the Father.
This is a sacred mystery, that the indivisible God, perfect in unity, enjoying unbroken communion from eternity, would in some way experience separation. The Persons of the Trinity could not have been separated in substance; Jesus did not cease to be God in human form nor did He cease to be a member of the Trinity nor did the Trinity lose its perfect unity. But in some way beyond our understanding, there was an interruption in the communion between God the Father and God the Son. This alienation was expressed through a supernatural darkness.
2. And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Luke 23:45).
A thick veil hung over the entrance to the Holy of Holies in the Jerusalem temple. Once a year, on the Day of Atonement, the High Priest entered through that veil to sprinkle blood on the mercy seat. No one else was allowed access; only the High Priest and only on that one day and only bearing the blood of sacrifice.
When Jesus died, that veil was torn from top to bottom indicating that the entrance into the holy presence of God is now open to all repentant sinners through the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God: Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water (Hebrews 10:19-22).
Jesus, our great High Priest and holy Sacrifice, did what no mortal priest could ever do. He opened a new and living way into the holy presence of God. This signaled the end of the Old Testament Age. In fact, within one generation, the temple was destroyed and with it, the priesthood and the sacrificial system. God no longer dwells in temples made with hands but in people who have been washed by the blood of the unblemished Lamb. No longer is worship limited to or centered on a sacred place or holy city but rather flows from holy hearts in Spirit and in truth (John 4:21-23).
For this reason we are encouraged and exhorted to enter God’s presence with a boldness never known before: Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebr. 4:16).
3. The earth shook, rocks were split.
And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split (Matt. 27:51).
Creation trembled at the death of its Creator, of Whom it is said, For by Him all things were created ... and He is before all things and in Him all things hold together (Col. 1:16,17).
Jesus not only created the universe, He also upholds all things by the word of His power (Hebr. 1:3). He preserves and sustains that which He created. The molecular structure of the universe consists, coheres through the continuing word of Christ. The galaxies are held together in their orbits by the continual exertion of the power of its Creator. History itself is proceeding under the governing authority and purpose of Creator. But as Creator died, creation shook.
4. The tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many (Matt. 27:52,53).
The tombs were opened, we would suppose, by the earthquake but the raising of the dead was a sovereign act of God. These were Old Testament saints who lived by faith and whose faith was counted by God as righteousness. When Jesus died their souls returned from the dwelling place of the righteous dead and were joined to resurrection bodies.
The reason they did not appear in Jerusalem until after the resurrection of Christ is because He is the first fruits of those who are asleep (I Cor. 15:20). But after the resurrection of Jesus they entered the holy city and appeared to many. We would suppose that they only appeared to believers as Jesus did after His resurrection.
They are a prophecy, a foreshadowing of the final resurrection of the righteous dead. We must not suppose that their resurrection was like that of Lazarus, who rose only to die again. This resurrection must have been unto eternal life. They represent the truth that through the sacrifice of Jesus, death is swallowed up in victory. Just as the torn veil in the temple revealed an open way into the presence of God, so the raising of saints revealed that the power of sin and death was broken.
Note that many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised — not a few but many. And note that they appeared to many as a testimony. It is as though the harvest cannot wait for the end of history. Fruit springs from the earth, anticipating the resurrection of Jesus and the someday resurrection of all. Evidently they were then translated to heaven, a foreshadowing of the someday rapture of the saints.
5. A soul was saved.
The greatest miracle to occur at the cross was the salvation of one of the criminals crucified beside Jesus. He cried out, ‘Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!’ And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise’ (Luke 23:42,43). No one comes to salvation except through the miracle working power of God and we should not be surprised that the wondrous power of the cross to save sinners was unleashed at the cross.
6. A soldier testified.
A final supernatural event at the cross was the testimony of the Roman centurion, the officer in charge of the crucifixion. We can believe that he was a hardened combat veteran who had witnessed many deaths during his tour of duty. Yet he was deeply moved by the death of Jesus. Matthew, Mark and Luke all carry his testimony with slight differences. Matthew says that the centurion and those guarding Jesus were so frightened by the earthquake, by the manner in which Jesus dismissed His spirit, and all else that had happened, that they (the soldiers and the officer) testified, Truly this was the Son of God (Matt. 27:54). Notice the word truly. This indicates obvious conviction and awe.
Luke says that when Jesus breathed His last, the centurion began praising God and saying, Surely this man was innocent (righteous) (Luke 23:47). Mark records the testimony to the centurion and ascribes his motivation to the manner in which Jesus breathed his last breath, no doubt referring to the way Jesus gave up His spirit (Mark 15:39).
In testifying that Jesus was the Son of God, the officer may have committed treason. Son of God was one of the titles ascribed to and reserved for the Roman Emperor. If Jesus is the Son of God, then Caesar is not.
Jesus had said, And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself (John 12:32). While still on the cross, we see Him doing this. A dying thief was moved to repentance and faith. The Roman officer and the soldiers under his command, they who had fought many a battle and seen many a man die, they who had just now mistreated, whipped, crucified and mocked Jesus, even they could not resist the compelling splendor of the crucified Savior.
These are miracles, powerful signs and wonders. But far greater than the darkening of the sun, the tearing of the temple veil, the earthquake, and the rising of Old Testament saints, the miracle of hardened sinners turning to Christ at His cross is the greatest miracle God could provide.
We should not be surprised at this. The Apostle Paul testifies, For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes (Rom. 1:16). Yes, even a calloused criminal and equally hardened soldiers could not remain unmoved by the splendor and glory of the dying Savior. And the miracles continue to this present day. Surely we can each testify of the power of God for salvation which was released at the cross. With millions of saints we sing,
What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh precious is the flow
that makes me pure as snow,
no other fount I know,
nothing but the blood of Jesus.