45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? 47 Some of them that stood there, when they heard that, said, This man calleth for Elias. 48 And straightway one of them ran, and took a sponge, and filled it with vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave him to drink. 49 The rest said, Let be, let us see whether Elias will come to save him.
50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; 52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. 54 Now when the centurion, and they that 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. 55 And many women were there beholding afar off, which followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto him: 56 Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s children. (Matthew 27:45-49 KJV)
The Death of Jesus
While Jesus endured the indignities and abuse of men, heaven itself seemed to frown upon him, as signified by a miraculous eclipse that lasted three hours (Mt 27:45). Darkness covered the land—possibly the whole earth, as many interpreters suggest. Ancient accounts, such as that of Dionysius in Egypt, noted the event, interpreting it as a sign of something divine occurring. Just as an extraordinary light announced Christ’s birth (Mt 2:2), this extraordinary darkness marked his death, for he is the Light of the world. The sun, witnessing such wickedness, withdrew in protest. This darkness silenced the blasphemers temporarily, though like Pharaoh after the plagues, they hardened their hearts once the darkness lifted (Mt. 27:47).
This darkness pointed to Christ’s conflict with the powers of darkness. He fought them on their own ground and overcame, becoming more than a conqueror. It also represented the absence of heavenly comfort. The Father withheld not only relief from men but even the light of the sun. To deliver us from eternal darkness, Jesus walked in darkness without light (Isa. 50:10), suffering in silence for three hours. During that time, he spoke no words but endured in quiet agony, absorbing the weight of divine displeasure—not for his own sin, but for ours. Never had such hours been known, marking the pivotal moment of redemption.
Then, at the ninth hour, as the darkness began to lift, Jesus cried aloud, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?”—“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mt 27:46). Quoted in Syriac, the words echo Psalm 22:1, showing that David’s cry was ultimately fulfilled in Christ. His other final sayings, too, drew from the Psalms, encouraging us to turn to scripture in our own prayers.
He spoke with a loud voice, revealing the depth of his anguish and fulfilling Joel 3:15-16: “The sun and moon shall be darkened… The Lord shall roar out of Zion.” His cry—that God had forsaken him—was astonishing, considering that he was God’s chosen one in whom He delighted (Isa. 42:1). Yet Jesus was forsaken at the moment of greatest suffering, though not because the Father ceased to love him. Rather, he was handed over to his enemies (Job 16:11), denied any comfort from heaven or earth, and left to bear the full weight of divine wrath against sin. Though forsaken, he still clung to God: “My God, my God.” He remained the obedient Servant, making satisfaction for sin, and claiming God even in abandonment (Isa 49:5-9).
This was the suffering that wounded him most. He did not cry out over the scourging, the mockery, or the nails, but over his Father’s silence. This was the true bitterness—the sorrow that filled his soul (Ps. 69:1-3). Still, his trust in God remained firm.
His enemies mocked even this. Some misheard him and said, “He’s calling Elijah” (Mt 27:47). Perhaps it was ignorance—Romans misunderstanding Jewish hopes and the name “Eli”—or perhaps it was deliberate mockery. Either way, divine truth was twisted by those who failed to understand. Just as today, the sincere prayers of the godly are often ridiculed by scoffers, Christ’s holy words were distorted.
In his agony, he was offered sour wine (Mt 27:48), not to comfort him, but to mock him further. One person ran to offer it, pretending to help but eager to insult. Others stood by and said, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him” (Mt 27:49). They thought his case hopeless, and in their scorn, they treated the Messiah’s final appeal as folly.
Jesus died in a remarkable manner (Matthew 27:50). He was crucified between the third and sixth hour (9 a.m. to noon) and died around the ninth hour (3 p.m. to 4 p.m.), the time of the evening sacrifice and the slaying of the Passover lamb. Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed at the close of the world’s day (1 Corinthians 5:7; Ephesians 5:2). It was also the hour when Gabriel gave Daniel the prophecy of the Messiah (Daniel 9:21, 24), and some believe it was fulfilled to the exact day—four hundred and ninety years later—just as Israel’s exodus was to the day after 430 years (Exodus 12:41).
Two details mark his death. First, he cried out with a loud voice (Matthew 27:46), showing that his life was not taken by force but freely given. Dying men usually weaken, but Jesus cried out powerfully, proving his strength and control (John 10:17-18). His loud cry was a battle shout—declaring victory over spiritual powers (Isaiah 63:1; Judges 16:30)—and a trumpet blast announcing his sacrifice to the world.
Second, he gave up his spirit. His death was real—his soul separated from his body (Hebrews 9:15). It fulfilled both God’s eternal plan and prophetic scripture. Death, the penalty of the broken covenant, had to be paid, and Christ offered himself as the sacrifice for sin.
At his death, miracles occurred. The veil of the temple was torn in two (Matthew 27:51), a sign of divine power and mystery. This veil, which separated the holy place from the most holy, was torn at the very moment Jesus died, likely during the evening sacrifice when priests were present. This act confirmed Jesus’ power and echoed his words about the temple’s destruction (John 2:19).
The torn veil had several meanings. It symbolized the end of the Old Testament temple system and the destruction of Christ’s own body, the true temple (John 2:21). It revealed the hidden mysteries of the old covenant, now made clear through Christ (2 Corinthians 3:13-18). It also signified the removal of the dividing wall between Jews and Gentiles, achieved by Christ’s death (Ephesians 2:14-16; John 17:21). Most importantly, it opened a new and living way to God (Hebrews 10:19-20). Christ, our High Priest, entered the heavenly holy place by his own blood (Hebrews 9:7-12), and in him, we now have bold access to God (Hebrews 4:16; 6:20). The kingdom of heaven is open to all believers (Revelation 4:1).
The earth quaked (Matthew 27:51). This earthquake symbolized both the evil of Jesus’ crucifiers and the power of his cross. The trembling earth testified to Jesus’ innocence and condemned those who killed him (Amos 8:8; Genesis 4:11-12). It also marked the shaking of Satan’s kingdom and the coming of God’s reign (Haggai 2:6-7; Judges 5:4; Psalm 68:7-8).
Rocks split, showing more awareness than the hard-hearted people. The splitting rocks symbolized Christ, the true Rock, being broken for us (Nahum 1:6; Exodus 33:22; Song of Songs 2:14; Exodus 17:6; Psalm 78:15; 1 Corinthians 10:4). From him flow rivers of living water. Our hearts should break too when we remember his suffering.
Graves opened, and many saints rose (Matthew 27:52-53). Likely through the same earthquake, tombs were opened. After Christ’s resurrection, many saints entered Jerusalem and appeared to many. These risen ones might have been patriarchs, martyrs, or saints recently deceased—perhaps recognizable witnesses like John the Baptist or Simeon. Whether they rose to die again or ascended with Christ is unknown, but they testified to his victory over death. Their resurrection previews the general resurrection and shows that Christ’s death saved both those before and after it (Hebrews 13:8). His death conquered death, and these saints were trophies of that victory (Hebrews 2:14; Hosea 13:14). They also foreshadow how all believers will rise from spiritual death into righteousness and live as citizens of the heavenly city (Revelation 21:2).
Those who crucified him, including the centurion and soldiers, were convicted (Matthew 27:54). These Roman soldiers had mocked Jesus (Luke 23:36), but after seeing the earthquake and other signs, they were filled with fear and confessed, “Truly this was the Son of God.” Their confession, like Peter’s (Matthew 16:16), came at a moment when others doubted or fled. God opened their hearts, showing that even hardened men can be brought to repentance. Though Jews rejected Christ, Gentiles began to believe—a sign of the gospel’s coming spread.
Lastly, many women witnessed his death (Matthew 27:55-56). Unlike the apostles, who fled, these women remained. Though not required to attend the feast, they followed Jesus from Galilee and supported him. Their presence shows that past devotion should inspire perseverance (Galatians 3:3-4), and that God strengthens even the weak for courageous faith.