RESPONSES TO LOVE IN AGONY

Today we are in Matthew 27:45-56. This is the point in the story where Jesus dies on the cross. From noon until 3 p.m., darkness covered the land as Jesus hung on the cross. In anguish, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Moments later, He gave up His spirit, and a series of supernatural events followed: the temple curtain tore in two, the earth quaked, rocks split, and tombs opened, releasing saints who later appeared in Jerusalem. Witnessing these signs, the Roman centurion and his men declared, “Truly this was the Son of God!” Nearby, several women who had followed Jesus from Galilee, including Mary Magdalene, watched from a distance, mourning His death.