5 Shocking Things That Happened as Jesus Died

5 Shocking Things That Happened as Jesus Died

1. Darkness covered the earth. 

1. Even before Jesus died, something terrifying happened. 

1. From 12:00 until 3:00 in the afternoon, a supernatural darkness covered the entire Earth. 

   1. Luke 23:44 “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour, and the sun was darkened.” 

      1. Some translations say “covered the land.” 

      2. Others, “all the Earth.” 

   2. Not a natural phenomenon. 

      1. This darkness was not an eclipse nor a volcanic winter

         1. It lasted for 3 whole hours and eclipses last 7.5 minutes.

            1. This occurred during the Jewish Passover, 

            2. This takes place during a full moon, making a solar eclipse impossible.

         2. Covered the entire globe and ended three hours later, not three months or years.

   3. Amos 8:9 “And on that day,” declares the Lord GOD, “I will make the sun go down at noon and darken the earth in broad daylight.

2. Darkness in the Bible is a picture of: 

   1. Judgement 

      1. Egypt: Darkness lasted three hours, which may also remind us of the plague of darkness for 3 days in Egypt. 

         1. One of the final signs before the deliverance of the people of Israel. 

      2. Just as the darkness in Egypt preceded the deliverance of the people, this darkness before Jesus’s death announced the final redemption of humanity through the sacrifice of the Lamb of God.

         1. This points to God’s judgment being poured out upon Jesus as he bore the sins of humanity.

         2. Not poured out upon mankind for their sins.

      3. In Exodus, the final two plagues against Egypt were:

         1. The plague of darkness 

         2. And the death of the firstborn. 

            1. The conclusion of Jesus’ life on earth mirrors these final plagues and also testifies to his identity as the light of the world and the firstborn son of God.

         3. “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”(John 9:5, ESV)

         4. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. (Colossians 1:15, ESV)

      4. When Jesus became sin for us and suffered in our place, all the wrath of God poured out across all time fell on him, including the judgments against Egypt. 

         1. The purpose of those plagues was to force Pharaoh to set the Hebrew people free. 

         2. The purpose of Jesus’ death was also to set select people from all nations free.

      5. There is another time that the Earth faces darkness as God’s wrath, and that is just after the tribulation period. 

         1. Matthew 24:29Immediately after the tribulation of those days: ‘The sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.’ 30 At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn.

      6. The enemies of Christ will be destroyed by the brightness of His coming. 

         1. Interesting connection with the creation of the Earth. 

            1. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. 3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

   2. Darkness is also a sign of separation from God. 

      1. Understand the gravity of separation for a God that is all in all. 

         1. Nothing in the universe can exist apart from Him 

         2. All pain and suffering, even death, are a result of separation from Him. 

         3. The darkness was a supernatural experience of all creation responding to its creator, 

      2. This was the first time in eternity that Jesus had ever been separated from God. 

      3. Jesus, being separated from Father God. 

         1. On the cross, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” 

         2. The darkness resulted from the momentary separation between the Father and the Son as Jesus was bearing the sins of humanity upon himself. 

         3. This was the most intense moment of Christ’s spiritual suffering. 

      4. Darkness is the result of evil, which is the absence of a thing and not a thing in and of itself. 

         1. Theodicy: God is good and made everything good. 

         2. Evil is the absence of good, the absence of God, the absence of light. 

            1. To answer Augustine’s question, “Why does evil exist if God is good?” God is good, God exists, God is light. 

            2. God created all things “good.” 

            3. Humans and Fallen angels have free will and choose the absence of good.

            4. The result is privation – or the absence of good, God, light. 

3. Conclusion: The supernatural darkness that covered the earth during Jesus’s crucifixion was a profound sign, not of natural causes, but of divine judgment and cosmic significance. 

As Jesus bore the sins of humanity, the darkness symbolized God’s judgment falling upon Him instead of mankind. Just as light broke through the original darkness at creation, so too does Christ’s sacrifice bring light and hope, overcoming the darkness of sin and separation from God.

II. The second event was the tearing of the temple veil. 

1. Mark 15:37-38 says, “And Jesus cried with a loud voice and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom.” 

   1. The Curtain was – 60 feet high, 30 feet wide, and a man’s hand breadth (approximately 4 inches) thick. “

   2. Flavius Josephus reported that the veil was 4 inches thick, was renewed every year, and that horses tied to each side could not pull it apart.  

   3. It barred all but the High Priest from the presence of God, but when it was torn in two at the death of Jesus of Nazareth (see Mark 15:38), access to God was made available to all who come through him.” 

2. As soon as Jesus gave up his spirit, a shocking event occurred inside the temple in Jerusalem.

   1. This was not a mere accident or coincidence; it had great spiritual significance, marking the beginning of a new era in the relationship between God and mankind. 

   2. The old sacrificial system was coming to an end, and a new covenant was being established.

3. It is important to understand that the temple veil was not just a simple curtain.

   1.  It was a massive barrier that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. 

   2. The Holy of Holies was the most sacred place in Israel, where the presence of God was manifested. 

   3. Only the high priest could enter there once a year on the Day of Atonement to offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. 

4. The veil represented the separation between God and humanity because of sin. With Jesus’ death, that barrier was removed. 

   1. Now, anyone can approach God directly without the need for priests or animal sacrifices. 

   2. Jesus opened the way directly into God’s presence through his sacrifice.

   3. Now there is no more separation for those who are in Christ. 

   4. Moreover, in the Old Testament, priests had to continually offer sacrifices for the sins of the people. 

   5. But with the death of Jesus, he became the perfect and final sacrifice, ending the need for any other sacrifices.

Conclusion: Jesus experienced our separation, but we gained His access. The tearing of the temple veil at Jesus’s death was not just a dramatic event—it was a divine declaration. 

• The barrier between God and humanity was forever removed.

  • Through Christ’s perfect sacrifice, the way into God’s presence is now open to all. 

  • No more separation, no more need for endless sacrifices; in Jesus, the new and living way has been made.

III. The third event was an earthquake. 

1. At the exact moment when Jesus died, the earth shook violently. 

2. Rocks were split, and all of creation seemed to react to the suffering of the Creator. 

   1. This earthquake was not just a natural phenomenon but a sign from God that something extraordinary was taking place. 

   2. This shows that the death and resurrection of Jesus were cosmic events affecting both the spiritual and physical worlds.

      1. This is evident in Jesus’ triumphant entry.  

         1. Luke 19:39 And some of the Pharisees from the multitude said unto him, Teacher, rebuke thy disciples. 40 And he answered and said, I tell you that, if these shall hold their peace, the stones will cry out.

   3. This statement emphasized that his identity and mission were so significant that, if people failed to acknowledge him, creation itself would bear witness.

   4. Yet, just days later at Calvary, during the crucifixion, the scene was starkly different. The crowds who had once hailed him as king were now silent. 

      1. In this moment, God chose unlikely voices to declare Jesus’ true identity. 

         1. A pagan Roman governor placed a sign above Jesus’ head declaring him “King of the Jews.” 

         2. A hardened Roman centurion, witnessing the events at the cross and the accompanying earthquake, confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54). 

         3. Even the earth itself responded:rocks split, and graves were opened, as if creation could not remain silent in the face of such a momentous event.

3.  The text does not tell us directly, but we can consider some possible causes for this earthquake.

   1.  One possibility is that creation reacted to the death of the Creator. 

      1. The Bible teaches us that Jesus is the one through whom all things were created: Colossians 1:16 “For by him were all things created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible. All things were created by him and for him.” 

         1. If Jesus is the Creator, it is not surprising that creation reacted violently to his death. 

         2. The shaking of the earth was like a cosmic lament, demonstrating that something profound and tragic had taken place.

   2. A second possibility is that the earthquake symbolized judgment and the wrath of God. 

      1. In the Bible, earthquakes often accompany manifestations of God’s wrath or his power in judgment. 

      2. At the Flood – Genesis 7:11 In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, on the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep burst forth, and the windows of the heavens were opened.

      3. At Christ’s return – Revelation 16:18“And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake, and so great.”

         1. Two verses later,Revelation 16:20, reads: “And every island fled away, and the mountains were not found.”

   3. A third possibility is that the earthquake served as a testimony to who Jesus was. 

      1. The fact that Matthew mentions the great fear of the soldiers shows that after the earthquake and other events, they finally realized they were dealing with something far greater than an ordinary execution. 

         1. This fear may have awakened faith in many people who witnessed everything that had happened.

         2. For example, at Mount Sinai, when God gave the law to Moses, the earth also trembled: Exodus 19:19 “And Mount Sinai was altogether in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire, and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.”

            1. This means that the earthquake at the crucifixion may have symbolized God’s judgment upon sin being poured out upon Jesus in our place. 

3. Paul and Silas in prison offer praise that invites the presence of God, like in the battle of Jericho many years before.- Acts 16:25 About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once, all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.

Conclusion: This violent trembling of the ground served as a cosmic response to the suffering and sacrifice of the Creator himself, echoing the truth that all of creation is intimately connected to its Maker. 

• The earth’s reaction was a dramatic testimony that something of eternal consequence had just taken place. 

• Earthquakes are a sign of God’s creation responding to great spiritual shifts in the supernatural realm. 

IV. The fourth event was the resurrection of many saints.

1. Only in Matthew 27:52“And the graves were opened, and many bodies of the saints who slept arose and came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared unto many.” 

   1. This passage raises many questions. Who were these saints? 

   2. What happened to them afterward? What is the significance of this resurrection?

      1. What kind of body did these saints receive? Did they die again? How many people saw them? To what extent were these appearances public?

2. Did they stay inside the cemetery waiting for Jesus to rise? 

   1. Unfortunately, we have little information about many details of this event.

   2. For example, it is unclear whether the resurrection of these saints occurred in a natural or supernatural body. 

      1. However, the second option seems more likely, which would imply that they did not return to their graves. 

      2. If so, their resurrection symbolizes the dawn of the last days. Matthew does not tell us where they went or specify who these saints were, but his language suggests—though without proving—that they could have been well-known 

      3. Jewish figures from the Old Testament and testamental literature, such as spiritual heroes and martyrs from Israel’s history.

         1.  If that is the case, Matthew reveals to us, among other things, that the resurrection of both those who lived before Jesus and those who lived after him depends on his triumph.

3. The only gospel that reports this? Was this a portent? 

   1. A “portant” was common for Greco-Roman literary devices of that period? When someone important died, the writer would mention that strange signs would always follow. 

   2. Was it a figure of speech? Like saying, “911 was an earth-shattering event.”

   3. Does this passage call for an allegorical interpretation of the saints rising in Matthew 27?

   4. Many do not interpret this passage in a historical sense. 

   5. They would call it an apocalyptic anachronism refers to the incorporation of futuristic or “end-times” imagery into a setting that is not, chronologically, aligned with such events. 

4. Jesus was “the firstborn from the dead”. (Colossians 1:18).

   1. But the crucifixion opened the tombs! 

   2. They emerged from their tombs and made their way toward Jerusalem, bearing witness. 

      1. Imagine the awe and wonder as these holy ones—perhaps figures like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, David, and others—walked the streets of Jerusalem, appearing to many and testifying to the power of Jesus and His resurrection! The city was stirred, 

5. The resurrection of Christ was a public, earth-shaking event!

1st Conclusion: God ensured that, even when human voices failed, creation itself and unexpected individuals would testify to the truth of who Jesus was. 

2nd Conclusion: This wasn’t just his victory over death, it’s a preview of what’s coming for those who believe. 

1. We will rise too! 

2. The crucifixion first opened the graves, and then on Sunday morning the Saints were raised and came out of them. 

3. They went into the Holy city, we will rise into Holy Heaven, they went walking towards Jerusalem, we will ride with Jesus towards Jerusalem! 

V. The fifth event was a centurion recognizing the divinity of Jesus. 

1. Matthew 27:54 says,“Now when the centurion and those who were with him watching Jesus saw the earthquake and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, ‘Truly this was the Son of God.'” 

   1. The centurion was a high-ranking officer in the Roman army, responsible for commanding about 100 soldiers. He was likely an experienced man, hardened by war and accustomed to violence and the brutality of executions. 

   2. To him, Jesus was just another criminal sentenced to death by the Roman Empire. 

   3. He saw Jesus being scourged, carrying the cross, being nailed to it, and finally dying. But something about the way Jesus faced death caught his attention.

2. The centurion’s confession was not just any comment. 

   1. He, a Roman soldier educated in polytheism, recognized that Jesus was more than just an ordinary man. 

   2. But what led him to this conclusion?

      1.  First, it was Jesus’ behavior during the crucifixion. He did not react like the other condemned men. 

         1. Instead of cursing those who crucified him, he showed mercy and love. 

         2. Seeing a man asking for forgiveness for his executioners in the midst of extreme pain was something unusual and astonishing. 

      2. Second, the signs—the darkness and the earthquake, which split rocks and opened tombs—were terrifying events for the centurion and his soldiers. 

         1. This was further evidence that something divine was happening.

3. This confession is extraordinary because it comes from a Gentile, a Roman soldier, and not from a disciple or a Jewish religious leader. 

   1. While the Jews themselves were rejecting Jesus, a pagan recognized him as the Son of God. 

   2. This event is perhaps the most important of all for us. It fulfilled the prophecy that the gospel would not be only for the Jews but for all nations.

   3. The conversion of this man foreshadowed what would happen later: thousands of Gentiles would come to believe in Jesus Christ through the preaching of the gospel.