44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” 48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. 49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
Luke 23:44-56
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. 52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
The Burial of Jesus
It was now about noon on the Friday of Jesus’ crucifixion. There were great signs that accompanied Jesus’ death on the Cross. There was a great darkness in the middle of the day for about three hours. There was a great earthquake during which the curtain in the temple was torn in two. When people saw it, they realised that Jesus was no ordinary man. Early Christian defenders would point to the Romans having key reports in their archives of an eclipse and earthquake that occurred during the time of Jesus. Tertullian says this, ‘Those who were not aware that this had been predicted about Christ, no doubt thought it an eclipse. You yourselves have the account of the world-portent still in your archives.’
The church father Origen likewise referred to Phlegon of Tralles, who wrote about an eclipse that was accompanied by an earthquake during the reign of Tiberius. While these original sources have since been lost from the historical record, it can be believed with relative certainty that these events were recorded by non-Christian sources. These events were further testified by a 2011 geological study which indicated that there was a major earthquake in the region of Judea around 30-33AD. Whatever this earthquake was, it was powerful enough to be felt through the Empire.
These events played an important role in convincing the Romans that Jesus was indeed the Messiah. These signs were not localised, or legends that were made up at a later date. These were experienced by real people, some hostile, others neutral, who wrote and recorded these events. The religion of Christianity would not have been able to get off of the ground had the first cohort of Christians not experienced these things. It wouldn’t have been believed had it not be verified by multiple independent sources, many of which we still have. When Christians called pagans to believe in Christ, is was not blind belief, but reasoned and well-argued truth claims.
Let’s get back to the text. Jesus then cried out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ It was at that moment, that Jesus gave up His life for His followers.
John 10:17-18, ‘”For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”’
Jesus has the authority to lay it down, and in the same way He has the authority to take it up again. We should always remember that Jesus chose to lay it down. He chose to give up His Spirit to the Father, and in the same way He has the ability to take it up again. It reminds us that Jesus chose to save us, if indeed we trust in His name. He was not forced into it, He did not despise doing it. Jesus does not regret saving you. Hebrews 12:2, ‘[look] to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.’ It was because of the joy before Him that He endured. Like Him, if we look to the joy before us, we can endure anything.
Now this crucifixion wasn’t fun for the crowd anymore. They were laughing it up, mocking Jesus and feeling powerful and secure knowing that they had won and Jesus had lost. He hadn’t performed any miracle to bring Himself down from the Cross and the leaders were satisfied with their work. But then darkness came from noon till 3pm and a great earthquake shook the whole city. Now things were different. No one was laughing anymore. No one was mocking. Fear must have overtook them for the Centurion realised that something big had happened. It says that the Centurion praised God, which is bizarre because the Romans took great joy in mocking and blaspheming the Jewish God. These events had shaken him to his core. Seeing Jesus die in this way had terrified him. He remarks, ‘certainly, this man was innocent!’ Mark 15:39 he also says, ‘truly this man was the son of God!’ Already, people were believing in Jesus, both the thief and now the Centurion.
The rest of the crowd were likely shattered, for Luke tells us that they left beating their breasts. The sun came back, Jesus was hanging dead on the cross and all had appeared to return to normal. What did it all mean? The phrase ‘beating their breasts’ was a sign of sorrow and shame. The crowd seemed to have regretted what they had done. Terror was on everyone. Little did they know, they had just witnessed the lamb of God slain for sins. Anticlimactically, things returned to normal, but don’t be fooled, the world would never be the same again.
Now what was to be done with Jesus’ body? The Romans would likely bring His body down and then throw it in a ditch somewhere. However, there was a man named Joseph of Arimathea who was a member of the Sanhedrin who had just condemned Jesus to death. Joseph hadn’t condemned Jesus however and was not happy with their decision to execute Jesus. He was a good and righteous man who was genuinely seeking God. Because of this, Joseph knew Jesus was from God and couldn’t bear to have His body thrown in a ditch somewhere. In a risky move, Joseph went to Pilate and requested the body of Jesus – something that may jeopardise his position in the council, or even his very life.
Pilate grants him the body of Jesus and he prepares His body for burial. Then they lay Him in a tomb where there weren’t any other bodies. The women who had been watching from a distance had followed Joseph and seen where the tomb was. Knowing this, they went back home to prepare some spices and ointments to put on Jesus’ body after the Sabbath. As soon as the sun set on the Friday it would signify the start of the Sabbath. There Jesus’ body would rest undisturbed, guarded by a large stone which was rolled in front of the entrance. Other Gospel accounts tell us that there were even guards who stood watch outside the tomb. It is there that we shall leave this story, waiting to see what will take place on the first day of next week.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son to die on our behalf. He didn’t have to do it but chose to go to the Cross to glorify you in saving us. Thank you that by believing in You we can have eternal life. Thank you that you went to your grave so that we could go free. In Jesus Name, Amen.