Prodigy rebuking levity.
Levity had diabolical revelry while the blessed Lord Jesus meekly suffered injustice the most outrageous, and cruelty the most refined. At its height it was rebuked—
I. BY A HORROR OF DARKNESS.
1. This was preternatural.
2. It was portentous.
II. BY THE RENDING OF THE TEMPLE'S VEIL.
1. This also was preternatural.
2. This too was portentous.
III. BY THE PORTENTS FROM THE EARTH.
1. The earthquake.
2. The opening of the tombs.
IV. THE EFFECT UPON THE SPECTATORS.
1. Upon the Jews.
2. Upon the soldiers.
(a) Luke tells us that the last utterance was, "Father, unto thy hands I commend my spirit." This he uttered with a loud or great voice. Then immediately he "yielded up his spirit." His strength was unbroken. He died as the Prince of life.
(b) The circumstance of his expiring sooner than was usual with crucified persons, as well as the loudness of his voice in the very act of his dying, showed the voluntariness of his death (see John 10:17, John 10:18).
(c) Our Lord is nowhere said to have fallen asleep (cf. verse 52), but always to have died. "Abraham, Isaac, Ishmael, Jacob, breathed their last; Ananias, Sapphira, Herod, expired; Jesus gave up the ghost, dismissed or delivered up his own spirit" (A. Clarke). In the manner of his death, then, behold the manner of his love.
(d) Christ's loud voice was like the trumpet blown over the sacrifices.
3. Upon the women.