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!” Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

--Parallel verses:
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭16‬
For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are an aroma that brings death; to the other, an aroma that brings life. And who is equal to such a task?

What terror must have come over the Roman soldiers when they saw these events:
The Curtain of the Temple was torn in two. This was no ordinary curtain, it was very thick and impossible for one to tear with his hands. Furthermore, for someone to tear it in two, they would have to enter the Holy of Holies. Except for the high priest once a year, no one was allowed to enter there. If they did, they were instantly killed. So this was clearly an act of God.
There was an earthquake like no earthquake I’ve seen or experienced. This earthquake split rocks and tombs were split open. The rocks they rolled in front of tombs were huge and took teams of four or five people to move. This too was an act of God.
Holy people who had died were raised to life! They were seen walking around in the streets. How else does one explain this, except for an act of God?

When those who crucified Jesus, and stood guard while he was crucified, saw this, they exclaimed: “Surely, this was the son of God.”

Maybe some of them repented and turned to Jesus?

I also find it interesting that many of the women followed Jesus to care for him. Women have in their hearts a high ability to nurture and care. While the disciples were fleeing, women showed up.

The cross-reference cited here, speaks of those who preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and the aroma that comes from them. It is an aroma of life for those who believe, but it is also an aroma of death for those who reject it.

In a similar fashion, those who rejected Jesus must have smelt the aroma of death. The judgment of God was impending, and those who stayed true to him or repented and turned back to him, would smell the aroma of life.

Lord, you are the only one who I follow because I know you love me and you would sacrifice anything for me. I want to help people turn to you. I want them to experience true life in you. Hone my skills and my abilities so that I can be more persuasive to those who are perishing, I pray.