The Message of the Cross

Setting and Overview

Since the crucifixion of Jesus is by any account one of the most critical events in the Gospels, and indeed in all of history, not to mention one of the most shocking turns to any reader of the Gospels coming to them for the first time, you would expect that Matthew would cover the fact of the crucifixion in extensive detail. In fact, the crucifixion itself is actually covered in just one word, and instead Matthew focuses his attention on the actions of the Romans who do the act, the Jews who observe, the events which immediately follow his death, and the testimony of an observer. In doing so, Matthew helps us to see that it is not only the fact of the crucifixion which is important (something which he expected his readers to already be familiar with) but also the message of the cross to those who were observing then and to those of us who believe today.

Exposition

Matthew begins by focusing on how the Romans see Jesus in light of his being condemned to crucifixion. We first see them forcing to carry his cross, as was common, but because Jesus has been beaten so badly, a bystander is eventually forced to take over. The crucifixion takes place outside of the city, which had roots in the Old Testament (Leviticus 24:13-14, 16:20-22) which pointed forward to fulfillment in Jesus (Hebrews 13:11-13) and was meant to be a measure of further rejection. They then offer Jesus wine that is mixed with myrrh to make it bitter and undrinkable, a torment that fulfills Psalm 69:20-21. After putting him up on the cross, they callously play a game for his clothes in front of him (Psalm 22:18.) They also put up a sign identifying him as king of the Jews, intended to mock him and the other Jews.

Matthew then turns his attention to the Jews. Two insurrectionists are put up on either side of him (Isaiah 53:12) and those who walk by defame him and shake their heads at him (Psalm 22:7.) For the Jews, a person on a cross was cursed by God (Deuteronomy 21:22-23, Galatians 3:13) and so they see their defamation as appropriate for what he had done, not seeing that it was not his sin that placed him under a curse (II Corinthians 5:21.) A series of taunts follow for him to come off the cross and save himself. The criminals on either side of him even jump in, but Jesus stays on the cross out of love for sinners who have rebelled against him (Hebrews 12:2.)

Darkness settles over the land for three hours (Amos 8:9-10), and then at the end of the time, Jesus cries out the words of Psalm 22:1. Some Jews believed that Elijah would rescue righteous people in danger, and so Jesus’ cries are misunderstood as a cry for Elijah, to the amusement of those observing. One tried to give him some sour wine to drink, either as a measure of compassion or to delay his death and cause further torment, but the others are unambiguously unmoved. Jesus then cries out again and gives up his spirit, showing that he is in control from the last, willingly giving his life. Following his death, the temple curtain is immediately torn in two signifying that a path of access to God has now been secured (Hebrews 9:8, 12, 24, 10:19-20.) The significance of the event is then shown in the earthquake that followed, and the tombs being split opened. Matthew alone tells us as well that many earlier saints were raised and came out of the tomb after Jesus’ resurrection, and he probably inserts that note here to point out that Jesus’ death serves to defeat sin and open up access to God. The events that can be seen by all, especially the earthquake, lead at least one group of soldiers to re-evaluate their view of Jesus and become unlikely messengers of the true identity of Jesus as the Son of God (Matthew 3:17, 4:6, 14:33, 16:16, 17:5.)

Examination and Application

The world cannot accept a crucified Christ. Such a fact cannot fit into pagan or Jewish assumptions about God, mankind, sinfulness, and salvation. We are unique as Christians in accepting the truths of the crucifixion, and those truths are not only the foundation of the Gospel that we must proclaim (I Corinthians 1:17-18) but also should transform how we live. The church at Corinth had forgotten the implications of the message of the cross, and so before correcting them in a myriad of ways, Paul reminds them both of the centrality of that in his own preaching, and also in how it should separate them from the unbelieving Gentiles and Jews (I Corinthians 1:22-25.) Likewise, when we recognize that we follow a savior who would endure such shame and suffering for us, then that should upend everything about how we are willing to serve him today.