THE DEATH OF JESUS

Join your Calvary Chapel family tomorrow for Palm Sunday and the beginning of Passion Week (Sunday, 4/13, 10:00 a.m.) in the main sanctuary or on our website (www.calvaryinv.com

), Facebook, and YouTube (Calvary Inverness) as we continue our study of Matthew's Gospel (27:45-56).

It was a day like no other. After a long, brutal night and a morning spent being shuffled between Jewish and Roman trials, followed by a long, agonizing walk to Golgotha, Jesus now hung between heaven and earth. Death was imminent.

Rome had crucified multiplied thousands. Every day, more would be sentenced to one of history's most excruciating deaths. Many would never make it to the cross due to the bloodletting of flogging. Others would collapse carrying their cross due to dehydration. Those who did survive had nothing but torment awaiting them as they were nailed to the cross. Some would live for days before their strength finally yielded. And then silence.

The death of Jesus was unlike any other. As He hung between heaven and earth,

numerous supernatural events occurred to demonstrate that He was unlike any other man. Each was more wondrous than the last. These events happened so that those who witnessed the spectacle of Jesus' death would look upon Him and believe. By believing, they would be saved from the penalty of their sins.

The first miracle occurred at noon, when the Sun reached its zenith, and darkness enveloped the entire land. It wasn't just local or regional—the darkness shrouded the whole globe—a darkness that pierced and shook the soul. God, whose judgment is depicted as a time of darkness, had come to Calvary. He did not come to assist or save His Son but to condemn Him. Jesus' death would settle the debt of sinful humanity.

The second miracle occurred when Jesus shed His blood and breathed His last. The veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place, symbolizing the divide between a holy and righteous God and sinful humanity, was torn from top to bottom. Humanity could now be reconciled to God by placing their faith in the selfless act of His Son.

The third and fourth miracles literally shook the land when an earthquake caused the graves of many Old Testament saints to open. Those who had been dead were raised to life and seen walking the streets of Jerusalem. They were the first of the multitudes who, when they trusted Jesus for their salvation, were raised to life to never die again.

The final miracle, which proves that Jesus' death was no ordinary death, occurred when a battle-hardened Roman Centurion, who was a pagan, witnessed all that transpired and loudly proclaimed that Jesus was truly the Son of God! His confession of faith is the greatest of all miracles. He serves as evidence that God can transform any person when they look upon His Son and believe.

May Jesus' teaching fill our hearts with the knowledge of His word, prepare us to receive Him, equip us to share the gospel with anyone who will listen, and keep our eyes and hearts open to His imminent return.

In His Strong Love,

Pastor