It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭27‬:‭50‬-‭54‬
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”

We often have good ideas of how we think God should do things to benefit us and reveal his glory. Some want to gain wealth so they can give more. Some, health so they can live more, and some, more power or strength so they can build and serve more. All noble things for sure.

When I was younger, I wanted to see God do a miracle so my mom would be healed of cancer. He had done a miracle in my life earlier, allowing zero pain in my broken arm when the doctor set it, after we prayed. So, I knew he could heal my mom too. And she was serving others and spreading the gospel. She could continue to do this! Wouldn’t this bring God glory?

I think this same type of thinking was present in Jesus’ followers at this time. They had ideas for God about how he could benefit them and also get the glory. The Jews who followed Jesus, in large part, wanted him to lead an earthly rebellion and free them from Roman captivity. Wouldn’t this be a good use of God’s power?

But God does not operate according to our plans for him or on our timeline for him. HE IS SOVEREIGN!

I found this out as God allowed my mom to die of cancer when I was 14. And out of her death, many have since grown in their faith. They saw that she was faithful to God until the very end. God was greatly glorified in that too, hard as it was for me and my family.

Jesus’ followers found this out too. This passage is the first time God showed his glory in regard to honoring his son, Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, after his death.

Three glorified things happened: 1) The sun was darkened for three hours at midday, 2) there was a massive earthquake that accomplished a couple of things: a) the thick curtain separating the Holy of Holies in the temple was torn asunder, and b) the tombs of many were broken open as the rocks split guarding their entrances, 3) The bodies of many holy people were raised to life and went into the holy city of Jerusalem and appeared to many people.

This is God making a statement in his way, in his time, and by his power. This is God showing his glory! And it had a great impact. Those soldiers guarding Jesus said, “Surely this was the Son of God” and “surely this was a righteous man”.

It is hard for us to really understand why the ones we love are, at times, taken from us way too early. I still miss my mom. But we have to lay down our best plans for God and his glory displays and trust him that his plans are better and his timing and manner of displaying his glory will have a much greater impact!

Surrender, trust, and follow … these are the calling cards of a true disciple of God and Jesus Christ.

Lord, thank you for the ways in which you show your power, might, and glory for all the world to see. I choose to wait on you for your plan to develop in my life. Teach me to be joyful and faithful as I hope in you.