Author: drthomasclothier

“Now after the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.” (Matthew 28:1 (ESV)

“When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.” (Mark 16:1 (ESV)

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. ¹But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.” (Luke 23:55–24:1 (ESV)

In our study of the Gospel of Matthew’s record of the Passion Week of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is necessary, and insightful, to examine all four Gospel accounts. This discipline provides us understanding of all the events and encounters which took place during those hours. There is a lot of information surrounding the resurrection of Jesus Christ following His death on the cross. All four Gospels provide insight into this historical moment.

“The Gospels contain abundant testimony to the resurrection of Christ (See Matt.28:1-20; Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-53; John 20:1-21:25). In addition to these detailed narratives in the four Gospels, the book of Acts is a story of the apostles’ proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ and of continued prayers to Christ and trust in Him as the one who is alive and reigning in heaven,” explains Dr. Wayne Grudem.

“The Epistles depended entirely on the assumption that Jesus is a living, reigning Savior who is now the exalted head of the church, who is to be trusted, worshiped, and adored, and who will one day return in power and great glory to reign as King over the earth. The book of Revelation repeatedly shows the risen Christ reigning in heaven and predicts His return to conquer His enemies and reign in glory. Thus the entire New Testament bears witness to the resurrection of Christ.”

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John all record the events surrounding Jesus’ resurrection occurred on the first day of the week. They are consistent with each other. They do not contradict each other. They all proclaim Jesus’/ resurrection was on a Sunday. The biblical authors all affirm this as undisputed truth.

“Sabbath officially ended with sundown on Saturday. At this time the women could purchase and prepare spices (Luke 24:1). The event described here occurred on the next morning, at dawn on Sunday, the first day of the week,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

“The women were not expecting to find Jesus risen from the dead; their only plan was to finish anointing His body for burial. Luke mentions that Joanna and other women were also there (Luke 24:10; cf. Mark 15:41). The women bought more spices in addition to those prepared earlier (cf. Luke 23:56; John 19:39–40). Unlike the Egyptians, the Jewish people did not embalm their dead. Anointing was an act of love, to offset the stench of a decaying body. That the women came to anoint Jesus’ body on the third day after his burial showed that they, like the disciples, were not expecting him to rise from the dead (cf. Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34).”

“The first witnesses to the resurrection were the same women who were there when Jesus died—Mary, Mary Magdalene, and Salome. They journeyed to the tomb in order to finish the burial customs and anoint Christ’s body, clearly not expecting to find anything there but His body,” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Therefore, the two takeaways from today’s texts are (1) The women who came to Jesus’ tomb did so on Sunday and (2) they did not expect Jesus to be alive; otherwise why bring spices to anoint His dead body if they fully expected Him to be resurrected.

“It is true that they should have paid more attention to the Lord’s repeated prediction that he would rise again on the third day. On the other hand, while we may criticize their lack of sufficient faith—a lack which they shared with the male disciples—let us not overlook their exceptional love and loyalty. They were at Calvary when Jesus died, in Joseph’s garden when their Master was buried, and now very early in the morning, here they are once more, in order to look at the tomb; that is, to see to it that everything is in good order, and to anoint the body,” states Dr. William Hendriksen.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁶² The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³ and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ ⁶⁴ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵ Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.” (Matthew 27:62–66 (ESV)

Here are some concluding observations of the ignoble burial of Jesus Christ in anticipation of His glorious resurrection. The Jewish religious leaders’ hypocrisy and their hatred of Jesus Christ is on full display.

First, the chief priests and the Pharisees violated their own Sabbath traditions and rules. Instead of observing the Sabbath by doing no work, they went to Pontius Pilate and negotiated with him ways to secure Jesus’ tomb so no one could steal His body. They did this on the day after the Day of Preparation. In other words, they went to Pilate on the Sabbath. These religious leaders evidenced their true selves, fulfilling Jesus’ words He spoke against them.

²⁷ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which outwardly appear beautiful, but within are full of dead people’s bones and all uncleanness. ²⁸ So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” (Matthew 23:27–28 (ESV)

 Second, their full hatred of Jesus is apparent when they called Him an imposter. An imposter (πλάνος; planos) is a deceiver. They also called His claim to rise from the dead a fraud or a deception. Matthew used the same Greek word. These are individuals who cause others to be mistaken. They are liars. They lie purposefully and intently. Ironically, the religious leaders who accused Jesus of being an imposter and His resurrection a fraud were themselves imposters. They lied not only to the people, but also to themselves.

¹³ “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces. For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.” (Matthew 23:13–14 (ESV)

²⁹ “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you build the tombs of the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous, ³⁰ saying, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.’ ³¹ Thus you witness against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets.” (Matthew 23:29–31 (ESV)

John Calvin was a 16^th century Protestant reformer, theologian and pastor. He shares the following insights, in his commentary from the Gospel of Matthew, concerning today’s text.

“Cunning men, practiced at least in fraud and treachery, plot among themselves and contrive a method by which they may extinguish the memory of a dead man. For they see that they have gained nothing if they do not destroy the certainty of the resurrection.”

“But while they are attempting to do this, they appear rather as if they had expressly intended to bring it forth to the light, that it might be known. The resurrection of Christ would undoubtedly have been less manifest, or at least they would have had more plausible grounds for denying it, if they had not taken plans to station witnesses at the sepulcher. We see then how the Lord not only disappointed the crafty (Job 5:12), but employs even their own schemes as snares for holding them fast, that He may draw and compel them to render obedience to Him.”

“The enemies of Christ were indeed unworthy of having his resurrection made known to them; but it was proper that their insolence should be exposed and every occasion of slander taken away from them, and that even their consciences should be convinced so that they might not be held excusable for their ignorance.”

“Yet let us observe that God, as if He had hired them for the purpose, employed their services for rendering the glory of Christ more illustrious, because no plausible ground for lying was left to them when they found the grave empty; not that they desisted from their rage, but with all persons of correct and sober judgment it was a sufficient testimony that Christ was risen, since His body, which had been placed in a grave and protected by guards who surrounded it on all sides, was not to be found.”  

It’s Saturday, but Sunday’s coming.”

Soli deo Gloria!
 

What is a doxology? A doxology is an expression of praise to God. The following is an excerpt from a message entitled The Doxology of the Cross by Pastor P.G. Matthew.

“We have been considering the history and theology of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Christ was crucified in time and space, and we studied that historical event as recorded in all four gospels. The theology of the crucifixion means the interpretation of Christ’s death as given by Jesus and his apostles. We learned that Christ’s death was for the ransom for the elect of God; that Christ died for our sins; that Christ was made sin that we might become the righteousness of God; that Christ was made a curse that we might receive the blessings of Abraham; and that Christ’s death was a propitiatory sacrifice, one that turned God’s wrath away from us and caused the Father to be propitious and gracious toward us.”

“We learned that the cauldron of God’s wrath against us was poured out in its totality upon his only beloved Son on the cross, leaving nothing to be poured out upon us for whom he died. Christ suffered all our hell and punishment. In Isaiah 53 we are told that “the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all,” and “the punishment that brought us peace was upon him” (Is. 53:6, 5). Jesus Christ was punished, but we are given peace. He was wounded, but we are healed and saved. He was judged, but we are justified.

Now we want to consider the doxology of the cross. What does that mean? It is the application of redemption in the lives of God’s elect. It is the praise and honor that redeemed sinners render to God as a result of our understanding of the cross.

God’s people give him glory because he saved them. On the cross Jesus Christ secured salvation for all those who would repent and believe for him. He died for his people, meaning all those whom the Father gave him to save. He loved the church, we are told, and gave himself up for her. And St. Paul says, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. . . . and those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Rom. 8:29, 30).

God’s people are enabled by the Father to come to Jesus Christ for salvation, and this salvation is sure and complete. Jesus said, “All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37), and “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:44). He said, “Whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life,” from the realm of death into the realm of life everlasting (John 5:24). The cross, therefore, brings life, peace, justification, and healing to some, and they are the ones who praise God. That is the doxology of the cross.

Not everyone believes in a dying Jesus for salvation and praises God. When Jesus hung on the cross, the vast majority of people mocked and reviled him. What were the taunts of the passers-by? “You who were going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In other words, they were saying, “Jesus, since you are still up there, you must be a false messiah. You are not the Son of God. You are a blasphemer, not a savior!” Was there doxology coming from their mouths? Not at all. Why? They were not the elect of God. They were not included in the Father’s donation to the Son (John 17).

Did the church leaders–Annas, Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, the elders, scribes, and theologians–praise God? Not at all. They also mocked Jesus. First they said, “He saved others,” and at least they acknowledged that much. But they continued, “but he cannot save himself! He is the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” Jesus received no praise from the Jewish establishment.

What about the Gentile soldiers? They also joined the passers-by and the Sanhedrin to mock Jesus the dying Christ. What about the two thieves? We are told in Matthew and Mark that at first both thieves mocked Jesus and heaped insults upon him even in their own hour of death. They did not glorify God. There was no doxology coming from the mouths of any of these people.

But then God sent the miracle of darkness and the miracle of the earthquake–the darkness that lasted three hours long and the earthquake that ripped open stone tombs. As the Roman centurion witnessed these things and the calm and majestic way Jesus was suffering, and as he listened to Jesus’ words: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” and “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” he believed in Jesus. Luke says he praised God, saying, “Surely, this was a righteous man,” and we are told in Mark that he declared, “Surely this was the Son of God.” Here, then, we see doxology coming from the lips of an unlikely candidate–a Gentile centurion. This man praised God, confessing that Jesus is the Son of God, the righteous one. What was this centurion really saying? That Pilate, Rome, and the Sanhedrin were wrong in condemning Jesus. He was filled with a new understanding that Jesus was all he claimed to be–the innocent one, the righteous one, the Son of God, the true King of Israel.

Jesus knew that his death would bring about the salvation of Gentiles. In John 12 we are told about some Gentiles who came to see Jesus, and this is what he said: “But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself” (John 12:32). In John 3:14-15 he declared, “Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” Everyone! And so we see a centurion, a Gentile, enabled and drawn by the Father to come to the Son. He who executed the will of Pilate by crucifying Jesus now made the true confession of faith: “He is innocent. He is the Son of God,” and praised God. This is the doxology of the cross.

We must realize that the history of crucifixion is necessary, but that history alone will not save us. Theology of crucifixion is necessary but that theology alone will not save us. There must be doxology which comes only from a heart that believes in Jesus who died on the cross in behalf of us.

What about you? It is never too late. While you are living, there is hope for you if you repent and trust in Jesus alone. Jesus tells us to look unto him and be saved, all the ends of the earth. You should not delay putting your trust in Jesus. Your children should not go out without trusting in Jesus. Jesus came to save us, and he will save us even now if we do not remain impenitent, hardhearted, stubborn, and loving sin and its pleasure. The real reason people do not want to trust in Jesus Christ is because they want to sin. There is no other reason. The reason is not an intellectual one but a moral one.

May God help us to understand the cross! May we pray to his Son, saying, “Remember me and be gracious to me. Have mercy on me, a sinner. I know that I must stand before God the Judge, but you are the mediator. Have mercy on me and forgive my sin. I believe that you died on the cross for me also–even for me. Clothe me with your righteousness that I may enter into paradise.” May we thus be drawn by the Father, drawn by Christ, and enlightened by the Holy Spirit that we may also enter into paradise when we die!

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost..

Soli deo Gloria!

⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. ⁶² The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate ⁶³ and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ ⁶⁴ Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” ⁶⁵ Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” ⁶⁶ So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.” (Matthew 27:61–66 (ESV)

⁴⁷ Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where he was laid.” (Mark 15:47 (ESV)

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.” (Luke 23:55–56 (ESV)

In our study of the Gospel of Matthew’s record of the Passion Week of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is necessary, and insightful, to examine all four Gospel accounts. This discipline provides us understanding of all the events and encounters which took place during those hours.

There is a lot of information surrounding the burial of Jesus Christ following His death on the cross. All four Gospels provide insight into this historical moment. The Synoptic Gospels all refer to the Jewish religious leaders’ efforts to secure Jesus’ tomb.

On the day after the Day of Preparation, which was the Sabbath, the Jewish religious leaders met with Pontius Pilate. They wanted Jesus’ tomb sealed and protected from theft or invasion. Their reasons were not altruistic. They remembered the Lord saying He would rise from the dead. While the leaders were sure Jesus would not rise from the dead, they did not want His disciples to steal His body and then say He had come back to life.

Therefore, the chief priests and the Pharisees wanted Pilate to make the tomb secure. Pilate was in no mood for discussion. He said to the Jews, ““You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” They did so by sealing the tomb and setting a guard.

Concurrently, some of the women who were Jesus’ disciples followed these events and knew the exact location of the tomb where Jesus lay. During the Sabbath Day, they prepared spices and ointments in order to complete their annotating of Jesus’ body. This they would do on the first day of week.

“Jesus died late on a Friday afternoon nearly two thousand years ago. Ordinarily in that day, the Jews anointed the bodies of the dead with oil and spices as a sign of respect and to cover up the odor of decaying flesh. But since there was not enough time before the Sabbath to prepare Jesus’ body for burial according to all the proper customs, the body of our Lord could only be wrapped in a cloth and laid in a tomb before the sun set and the day of rest began (Mark 15:46),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“Ancient Jews reckoned their days from sundown to sundown. Jesus died on a Friday, was laid in the tomb from late afternoon Friday through early Sunday, and then was resurrected sometime Sunday morning near the break of dawn (Mark 16:1–8). That represents a total of three days—Friday, Saturday, and Sunday—because the Jews counted time inclusively. That is, when they said three days from Friday, they included Friday as one of those days.”

One lyricist put it this way: “It’s Friday; but Sunday’s coming.”

Soli deo Gloria!

⁵⁷”When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who also was a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. ⁵⁹ And Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud ⁶⁰ and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away. ⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.” (Matthew 27:57–61 (ESV)

⁴² “And when evening had come, since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, ⁴³ Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. ⁴⁴ Pilate was surprised to hear that he should have already died. And summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he was already dead. ⁴⁵ And when he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the corpse to Joseph. ⁴⁶ And Joseph bought a linen shroud, and taking him down, wrapped him in the linen shroud and laid him in a tomb that had been cut out of the rock. And he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.” (Mark 15:42–46 (ESV)

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.” (Luke 23:50–54 (ESV)

³⁸ “After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. ³⁹ Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. ⁴⁰ So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. ⁴² So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.” (John 19:38–42 (ESV)

In our study of the Gospel of Matthew’s record of the Passion Week of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is necessary, and insightful, to examine all four Gospel accounts. This discipline provides us understanding of all the events and encounters which took place during those hours.

There is a lot of information surrounding the burial of Jesus Christ following His death on the cross. All four Gospels provide insight into this historical moment.

First, Matthew and Mark state it was evening. Mark, Luke and John indicate it was the Day of Preparation, the day before the Sabbath. Since Preparation Day was the day before the Sabbath, Jesus therefore died on a Friday since the Sabbath was/is Saturday (Mark 15:42; Luke 23:54; John 19:42).  

Second, all four Gospels mention Joseph of Arimathea. Arimathea, also known as Ramah, was the birthplace of Samuel (I Sam. 1:1, 19; 2:11). It was located 15-20 miles from Jerusalem. Joseph was a rich man. He was a respected member of the Sanhedrin Council (Mark 15:43). He was a good and righteous man (Luke 23:50) who had not consented to have Jesus crucified (Luke 23:51). He was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews (John 19:38). He was also looking for the kingdom of God (Mark 15:43).

Third, Joseph courageously went to Pontius Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Pilate was initially surprised Jesus was dead so soon and summoned the centurion to know whether this was true. Victims of crucifixion often hung for days before they died. The centurion confirmed Jesus’ death to Pilate (Mark 15:44-45). Pilate then released the Lord’s body to Joseph.

“Though prisoners sentenced to death forfeited the right to burial under Roman law, their bodies were usually granted to relatives who asked for them, but Jesus’ mother was emotionally exhausted from the ordeal. There is no evidence that his brothers and sisters were in Jerusalem, and his closest friends, the disciples, had fled (except for John, who had Mary to take care of; John 19:26–27). In the absence of those closest to Jesus, Joseph courageously asked Pilate for Jesus’ body,” explains Dr. John MacArthur. .

Fourth, having received permission from Pilate, Joseph and Nicodemas, who himself brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes weighing about 75 pounds (John 19:39), wrapped Jesus’ body in a clean, linen shroud Joseph provided (Matt. 27:59; Mark 15:46; Luke 23:33; John 19:40).

Fifth, Joseph and Nicodemas laid Jesus’ body in Joseph’s own tomb cut out of/in the rock. Joseph then rolled a stone over the entrance to the tomb (Matt. 27:60; Mark 15:46). Luke and John record the new tomb had never been used, and was located in a garden close by (Luke 23:53; John 19:41). Matthew alone mentions that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were also in attendance (Matt. 27:61).

“Joseph needs all the help he can get because he must take Jesus down from the cross, wash His body, anoint Him for burial, and finally place His body in the grave. He and Nicodemus only have a three-hour window in which to accomplish this work; Jesus died at the ninth hour (Matt. 27:45–50) and all work must stop when the Sabbath begins at the twelfth hour. Because he is a rich man, Joseph likely has servants who are helping in the process, although even with this help there will remain more work to be done, which is why the women return to His tomb on the first day of the week (Mark 16:1). That Jesus is buried in a rich man’s tomb is yet another fulfillment of prophecy (Isa. 53:9),” explains Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“Jesus’ fellow Israelites consider it especially charitable to provide a proper burial for someone who might not otherwise get one. No doubt this fact motivates Joseph of Arimathea; however, he is not merely doing a good deed. In coming forward to bury Jesus, Joseph identifies himself as a disciple of Christ and risks the Sanhedrin’s fury. After years of following Jesus behind closed doors, Joseph makes his true allegiance known.”  

May our allegiance to Jesus be known as well.

Soli deo Gloria!

³¹ 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. ³² So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. 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. ³⁶ For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” (John 19:31–37 (ESV)

In our study of the Gospel of Matthew’s record of the Passion Week of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is necessary, and insightful, to examine all four Gospel accounts. This discipline provides us understanding of all the events and encounters which took place during those hours.

There is a lot of information surrounding the burial of Jesus Christ following His death on the cross. All four Gospels provide insight into this historical moment. The Gospel of John in particular gives a glimpse into an event immediately following Jesus’ death. It demonstrates the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies concerning the Lord; even to the minutest detail.

John mentioned Jesus’ death occurred on the Day of Preparation. This would be the day before the Sabbath and also the beginning of Passover that year. This is why John called this Sabbath a high day. It also proves Jesus died on a Friday because the Sabbath was always on a Saturday.

In order for the bodies to not remain on the crosses during the Sabbath, the soldiers would break the legs of the condemned. This would prevent them from pushing up their bodies with their legs, while on the cross, in order to breathe. Without being able to exhale and inhale, the crucified individual would suffocate and die. This was an assured manner of hastening death.

Not having the authority to do so, the Jews asked Pontius Pilate for the criminal’s legs to be broken for this purpose. Pilate agreed to the request and had the Roman soldiers break the three men’s legs. They did so to the criminals on either side of Jesus. When they came to the Lord, they saw He was already dead so they did not break His legs. However, to ensure Jesus was truly dead, one of the soldiers pierced the Lord’s side with a spear. Blood and water flowed out from the wound indicating the spear pierced Jesus’ heart.

“Though the Romans had no problem leaving crucified victims hanging on crosses long after they died (allowing their corpses to rot or be eaten by birds), the Jewish leaders insisted that Jesus’ body be taken down. The Mosaic Law stipulated that a person hanged on a tree should not remain there overnight (Deut. 21:22–23). They would have been especially wary of this in light of the Passover celebration. In order to hasten death for certain reasons, soldiers would break the legs of the victim with an iron mallet. Doing so inhibited the dying man’s ability to push up with his legs in order to breathe. Death by asphyxiation soon followed,” explains Dr. John MacArthur.

“The soldier’s stabbing of Jesus’ side caused significant penetration because of the sudden flow of blood and water. Either the spear pierced Jesus’ heart or the chest cavity was pierced at the bottom. In either event, John mentioned the outflow of “blood and water” to emphasize that Jesus was unquestionably dead.”

John provided a commentary concerning this event. He stated. “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. ³⁶ For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” ³⁷ And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.” John testified he was an eyewitness to this event (v. 26; 13:23; 20:2; 21:7, 20; cf. 1 John 1:1–4). The Old Testament Scriptures John referred to were Exodus 12:46, Numbers 9:12, Psalm 34:20, and Zechariah 12:10.  

“John quoted from either Ex. 12:46 or Num. 9:12, since both stipulate that the bones of the Passover lamb must not be broken. Since the NT portrays Jesus as the Passover Lamb that takes away the sins of the world (John 1:29; cf. 1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Pet. 1:19), these verses have special typologically prophetic significance for him. The quote in John 19:37 comes from Zech. 12:10. The anguish and contrition of the Jews in the Zechariah passage, because of their wounding of God’s Shepherd, is typologically prophetic of the time of the coming of the Son of God, Messiah, when at his return, Israel shall mourn for the rejection and killing of their King (cf. Rev. 1:7),” concludes Dr. MacArthur.

Not even seemingly insignificant details were overlooked concerning Jesus’ death on the cross. The Gospels are true and accurate.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁵⁵ “There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, ⁵⁶ among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.” (Matthew 27:55–56 (ESV)

⁴⁰ “There were also women looking on from a distance, among whom were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. ⁴¹ When he was in Galilee, they followed him and ministered to him, and there were also many other women who came up with him to Jerusalem.” (Mark 15:40–41 (ESV)

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 23:48–49 (ESV)

“But standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.” (John 19:25 ESV)

In our study of the Gospel of Matthew’s record of the Passion Week of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is necessary, and insightful, to examine all four Gospel accounts. This discipline provides us understanding of all the events and encounters which took place during those hours.

We saw the response by the Roman Centurion and the soldiers to Jesus’ death. What about the others in attendance? How did they react to the Lord’s demise?

Luke recorded the crowds who were there for the spectacle went back to their homes beating their breasts. They were striking themselves in remorse and regret; not only for what they had seen but also what they had done in mocking the Lord.

Luke also mentioned Jesus’ acquaintances (γνωστός; gnostos). These were men who knew Jesus, but who may, or may not, have been sincere disciples.

Finally, all four Gospels mentioned the many women in attendance. Some were close to the Lord; physically at the scene of His death and relationally during His life. All of them followed Jesus since the earliest days of His ministry in Galilee.

The women included the following: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph (Joses) who was also the wife of Clopas, and Salome, who was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of James and John. There was also Mary, the mother of Jesus who also was Salome’s sister.

“One other group of Christ’s followers remained near Him at the end—the faithful women who had loved and served Jesus during His ministry. Mark tells us that many women were there when Jesus died, including “Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joseph, and Salome” (Mark 14:40–41),” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.

“Mary Magdalene, of course, was our Lord’s most well-known female disciple, from whom He had driven seven demons. Many scholars believe the other Mary was Jesus’ mother (6:3). Salome was the mother of Zebedee’s sons James and John (Matt. 4:21; 27:56). Their mention is significant, for women were not often regarded very highly in first-century culture and would not have been expected to have the kind of courageous faith that enabled them to stay near Jesus when the men ran away. John Calvin notes that Mark mentions the women as a reproof of the male disciples. Those whom He called and would commission as Apostles were less faithful than those who would not receive the Apostolic office.”

Dr. William Hendriksen states, “Notable women were these, and this for at least three reasons: (1) With the exception of John none of the other disciples who belonged to the group of twelve is reported to have been present at Calvary, but these women were present! They displayed rare courage; (2) We are distinctly told they were women who had followed Jesus from Galilee and had been in the habit of ministering to his needs. They had given evidence of hearts filled with love and sympathy; and (3) Being witnesses of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection appearance, they were qualified witnesses of facts of redemption on which, under God, the church depends for its faith.”

These women were faithful to the Lord; even in His death. Are you prepared to stand firm for Jesus no matter the cost? Pray that the Lord would strengthen you to be faithful to Him. If you have denied Christ, repent and return to Him this day.

Soli deo Gloria!

“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!” (Matthew 27:54 (ESV)

^“And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39 (ESV)

“Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” (Luke 23:47 (ESV)

In our study of the Gospel of Matthew’s record of the Passion Week of the Lord Jesus Christ, it is necessary, and insightful, to examine all four Gospel accounts. This discipline provides us understanding of all the events and encounters which took place during those hours.

“Given the emphasis in Matthew’s gospel on how Jesus fulfills the old covenant (Matt. 5:17; 12:15–21; 26:47–56), it is hard to miss the significance of the hour of His death. Our Savior dies at the ninth hour (27:45–50) — three o’clock p.m. — the same hour at which the daily sacrifices begin in the Jerusalem temple. By this we see that Christ fulfills all of the old covenant sacrifices. After His atonement, there is no need to offer up the blood of bulls and goats; sin has been dealt with and the temple rituals therefore pass away (Heb. 10:1–18),” states Dr. R. C. Sproul.

Today’s texts reveal another striking irony. The Jewish religious leaders and people gathered around the crucifixion scene mock and reject Jesus’ person and work. However, not only is one of the criminals brought to saving faith in Jesus (Luke 23:39-43), but arguably the centurion in charge of the execution.

A centurion (ἑκατοντάρχης; hekatontarchos) was a commander of 100 men in the Roman army. There were generally six centurions in each cohort 600) and ten cohorts in a legion (6,000). Each legion had six tribunes to whom its centurions were subordinate (Acts 22:26).

“The office of centurion was normally the highest one within reach of the ordinary soldier. A centurion had many duties besides maintaining discipline among the ranks. He had to oversee executions for capital offenses (Matt. 27:54; Mark 15:39, 44–45; Luke 23:47),” explains the Tyndale Bible Dictionary.

There are six centurions mentioned in the New Testament. These include the following.

• A centurion at Capernaum pleaded for the life of his dying servant because he believed that diseases would obey Jesus just as his soldiers obeyed him (Matt. 8:5–13; Luke 7:2–10).
• A centurion in Caesarea named Cornelius was converted to Christ through the testimony of the apostle Peter, whose reluctance to share the gospel with Gentiles had been broken down by a vision from God (Acts 10).
• A centurion in Acts 22:25–26 helped save the apostle Paul from a scourging when he reminded his tribune that the accused was a Roman citizen.
• Another centurion helped save Paul from a Jewish plot to murder him (Acts 23:17–22).
• A centurion named Julius was assigned to guard Paul on his journey from Caesarea to Rome (Acts 27:1). When their ship broke up in a storm, Julius prevented the soldiers from killing all the prisoners on board, including Paul (vv 42–43).

Foremost for today’ study was the centurion in charge of the squad that executed Jesus. All three Synoptic Gospels record his confession of the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. All three note the centurion’s initial statement “truly” (ἀληθῶς; alethos) or “certainly” (ὄντως; ontos). This mean he understood who Jesus really was.

Matthew includes the other soldiers also being filled (σφόδρα; sphodra) with awe (φοβέω; phobeo). This great number of men, and their leader, were greatly frightened and worshipful of the Lord. Luke records the centurion praised (δοξάζω; doxazo) the One, True God. This was significant.

“Ironically, many Jewish leaders will not believe even after these signs (Matt. 27:62–66; 28:11–15). To the soldiers guarding Jesus, however, these supernatural events prove they have killed a divine man (27:54). This may not be saving faith, but it does reveal that their hearts are not so hard as to miss the obvious,” states Dr. Sproul.

“The centurion was the one who uttered the words of confession, but he evidently spoke for his men as well. Their fear speaks of an awareness of their sin and the word ‘truly’ suggests a certainty and conviction that bespeaks of genuine faith. These men represent an answer to Jesus’ prayer in Luke 23:34. Their response contrasts sharply with the mocking taunts of Matt. 27:39-44,” comments Dr. John MacArthur.  

Soli deo Gloria!