When they saw the earthquake and the things that were done they feared exceedingly saying, “Truly this was the Son of God.” That is what they did when they came to Calvary. There were four great miracles that took place when Jesus died on the cross. There was an earthquake. The veil of the temple was rent from top to bottom. The rocks were rent. The tombs were opened and many bodies of the saints were raised up and entering into the Holy City after the resurrection appeared unto many.
These four miracles are some of the most obscure miracles of the New Testament. How long has it been since you heard a sermon on the rending and the rocks? That was quite a miracle. How long has it been since you heard a message on the earthquake that took place when Jesus died? The rending of the veil and the raising up of the dead do not get so much attention either. Wonder why? If they had been mentioned any place else in the word of God than in this chapter they probably would get a lot of attention, but because they stand in such proximity to the cross, they are dwarfed into insignificance. So it should be with us. Every event in life should fade into obscurity in its relationship to the cross.
The Lord’s Supper on the Lord’s Day should have such a prominent part in our thinking that everything and anything should mean nothing to us in comparison. Let the cross tower above all. Let Christ have first place in all of our activities. There is much I would like to say about the bodies that were raised from the dead that day. Much could be said of the rending of the rocks—rocks that seemed to be softer than the hearts of the people who were there. Much could be said of the earthquake, and certainly the rending of the veil is very significant. But for now we will forebear. Let the cross stand out in bold relief. That is all that matters. The song asks the most important question for us:
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?
Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble,
Were you there when they crucified my Lord?