Read: Luke 23:44-56
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. 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.
Notice the darkness. Was God celebrating the actions of those who crucified Jesus? No—He was condemning them to blindness. Much of Israel was blind to Jesus’s greatness, so God gave them over to that blindness.
Notice the curtain. God Himself destroyed the curtain. It separated the Holy Place, where incense was offered, from the Most Holy Place, where forgiveness and atonement were sought once a year. That curtain was a copy of the true place of worship in Heaven. But now, see how Jesus by His own blood, entered to appear before God for you and for me [Hebrews 9:12, 24].
Notice the cross. The Spirit made it stand firm even as the sun was blotted out and the heavy curtain was torn. See how the cross remained upright in the earthquake; how God opened other graves but preserved this one [Matthew 27:29, 54].
Notice the Psalm spoken. Jesus treasured Scripture so deeply that He quoted it even when in agony. Though exposed to mockery, He took shelter in Yahweh—His Refuge, His Fortress, His Guide. He entrusted His spirit into the hands of His Rescuer, His Father [Psalm 31:1–5].
Notice His last breath. The One who presided over creation, who breathed life into the first humans so they could walk with their Maker, now exhales His final breath—for you and for me—that we might walk with God again [Genesis 2:7].
Notice the Centurion. The Roman official assigned to prevent any rescue had simply done his duty, watching the whole scene. But see how God worked through the darkness, the earthquake, and the word to draw this man to His Son. This Gentile became the first to trust in Jesus after the crucifixion. Surely there was knowledge mingled with guilt.
Notice the women disciples. They had given so much to support Jesus and His apostles. They stayed, watching the death and the mistreatment of Jesus. It would have been easy to hide, to run, to look away. But among their tears, there was bravery. See how diligent they are—to watch, to work, to honor Jesus. Weren’t they looking for more?
Notice Joseph. Joseph was a respected Jewish man yet not respected enough by his peers to be heard. His seat on the council gave him a voice to oppose the injustice, but even his wealth couldn’t shield Jesus from it, and his arguments hadn’t prevailed. Still, Jesus’s death didn’t turn him away. He honored the Son of Man. Surely there was courage amid the outrage. Even with the tomb sealed, wasn’t he still watching for the Kingdom of God?
Notice the linen. These strips of cloth are wrapping Jesus’s body just like the ones that wrapped Him some 33 years earlier. Jesus, the Maker of fabric and flesh, is now honored by the hands of weavers. Swaddled in linen as a baby, He is now wrapped again as a man [Luke 2:7].
Notice the new tomb. This rock God had formed is now cut by human labor: a union of human effort and divine creation. It had never held a body, just as Mary’s womb had never borne a child—until Jesus. For the miracle of His birth, He chose a place only God could form; for the miracle of His resurrection, He chose a place crafted by human hands [Luke 1:34].
Notice the rest. This is a gift from God, embraced by Jesus and His disciples. His body lay still, cold in the grave. The disciples, not yet understanding, still chose to rest in their God rather than rise in rebellion. Isn’t this trust mingled with pain? [Psalm 127]
