But Isaac Watts, the writer of
that hymn, verse 3, says, Well might the sun in darkness hide,
and shut his glories in, when Christ, the mighty Maker, died
for man, the creature's sin. Well might the sun And that he's
referring to when from the sixth hour till the ninth, it was darkness
over all the land. The sun was blotted out. And you remember that, Ian. I'm
going to try to, as we look at this message in Matthew 27. There at the cross I saw the
light. Look at verse 54 with me. This
is what we'll dwell on in a moment. Matthew 27, 54. Now, when the
centurion and they that were with him saw,
watching Jesus, saw the earthquake and those things that were done,
they feared greatly. Say truly, this was the son of
God. The title of this message is
a soldier saved at the foot of the cross. Now, I've never really dwelt on this
one verse, but it certainly did catch my attention. But let's
look beginning with verse 50. We looked at this Sunday when
Jesus when he had cried again with a loud voice after he cried,
My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? He cried again with
a loud voice. And we know the scripture says
in John's gospel, he said, it is finished with a loud voice. It is finished. And then he also
cried in Luke's gospel is recorded that he cried father into the
hands. I commit my spirit. And it says
in verse 50, he yielded up the ghost. He died. Now, the scripture says great
is the mystery. of godliness. God was manifest
in the flesh. God became a man. And that's
a great mystery that we cannot fathom. We read how that he said, My God, why hast thou
forsaken me? God forsook God in the words
of Martin Luther. Martin Luther said, I can't grasp
it. And then the sinless one, he
who knew no sin, yet was made sin. That's a great mystery, but perhaps
the greatest mystery of all is he died. John said we beheld
him alive, but he died. He died. That's a great mystery,
isn't it? Verse 51, it says, And behold,
and we looked at this Sunday, the veil of the temple was rent
in two, from the top to the bottom. And we saw, I believe, why that
happened. The way into the Holy of Holies,
into the heaven itself, into the presence of God, was opened
because Christ died. And the old covenant, he taketh
away the first that he may establish the second. And all those old
things are done away with. The beggarly element, shadow,
done away with for the substance, Christ. And it says the earth
did quake. Not that there was an earthquake,
but the earth did quake. And I have written under that.
Psalm 18. If you've never seen this, look
at it with me. Psalm 18. This is a marvelous prophecy
of Christ being crucified in Psalm 18. In verse five, well,
verse four, Psalm 18, it says the sorrows of death compassed
me. Floods of ungodly men made me
afraid. Sorrows of hell encompassed me
about, the snares of death prevented me. In my distress I called upon
the Lord, cried unto my God. He heard my voice out of his
temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears. Then the earth shook and trembled. The foundations also of the hills
moved and were shaken, because he was wroth, the wrath There
went up a smoke out of his nostrils, fire out of his mouth devoured.
Coals were kindled by it. He bowed the heavens also and
came down. Darkness was under his feet,
and on and on is that marvelous passage. But it says the earth
did quake. The whole earth shook. And in
our text it says the rocks rent. The rocks did rent, were split,
broken rocks. Massive stone, but not our rock. I thought, Brother Stan, not
our rock. He stood firm. And there he stands. And all because Christ died,
look at verse 53, verse 52, because Christ died, the graves were
open and many bodies of the saints which slept arose. Many that
were dead lived. And after his resurrection came
out of the graves and went into the holy city and appeared unto
many saints which slept. You notice again, it doesn't
say they were dead or who had died, but those who slept. Because
he that believeth in Christ shall never die, the Lord said. They
slept. And it says they appeared unto
many. Now that's a marvelous miracle
that some of you We've talked about that, how that was undeniable. Another undeniable fact or proof
of who it was that died on that cross, that the dead or those
who slept in Christ lived and came into town and appeared unto
many. What a miracle that was. Irrefutable,
undeniable proof of who it was that died there and his power. But just as miraculous, and now
later on Sunday, we're going to look at how they try to cover
this thing up. They're going to try to keep
this thing under wraps. They're going to try to keep
this story quiet. But just as miraculous, that
would be hard to cover up, wouldn't it? People coming out of graves. But just as miraculous, people
is dead sinners to this day, dead in trespasses and sin, live
and appear unto many. Those who were once dead appear
unto many, believing, loving, believing, rejoicing in the Lord
Jesus Christ, whom they once denied and rejected and hated. And we see some of them, don't
we? We see them appear unto us, come in here, and we say, well,
they're so and so. What a miracle, undeniable miracles and proof
that truly this was the Son of God. This is what now the centurion,
verse 54. Now, when the centurion, the
centurion, that is a title. He's more than just a common
soldier. He's a captain. He's an officer. He's head over
many soldiers. When the centurion, And they
that were with him, centurion and other soldiers, I believe,
perhaps some of his officers or some other men underneath
him, centurion and those that were with him, it says they were
watching. They saw the things that were
done. They watched Jesus and they saw
the earthquake. And those things that were done,
it says, they feared. They, not only the centurion,
but the others with him, feared greatly. And not only the centurion,
but whoever and however many it was that were with him, they
all said, truly, this was the Son of God. Now, here's a miracle. Would you go with me to Mark
chapter 15? This account is given. In all the gospel, but in Mark
chapter 15 is another account similar, but something in addition. Mark chapter 15. Now this Roman
soldier. Took part in the crucifixion
of our Lord. He may have ordered them to beat
him. He may have taken part in it.
The actual. Torture of our Lord, he may have
ordered the nails to be driven or took part in it himself. And I'm sure he mocked him along
with the rest of them. But this soldier, this centurion,
was saved by the very one he helped kill. Mark 15 verse 39
said, when the centurion which stood over against him. After
all was done to him, he stood over to the side and watched
this whole scene. And when the centurion, who stood
over on the other side, saw that he so cried out, or that he has
heard the Lord say, It is finished, with such power and dignity and
authority and force, and the things that happened. and saw
him give up the ghost in. Well, go to Luke twenty three
and Luke's Gospel chapter twenty three. This is where it is written
in verse forty seven. Look at this. Verse forty six, when Jesus had
cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into. By hands, I commend
my spirit and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. Now, when
the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, certainly
this was a righteous man. How do you know this man was
saved? He glorified God. He saw the
sun lifted up and he confessed it. Gloried in Christ crucified. Now this Roman soldier He saw
what was done, he heard the Lord cry out in such a fashion, and
saw the Lord bow his head, and in the other gospel it says the
Lord bowed his head, I think it's John's gospel, that he bowed
his head, his head didn't drop, didn't fall because he all of
a sudden died, but he bowed his head solemnly and with dignity
and still with his own will and his own life force in him, bowed
his head and just died. Gave up the ghost. He took it
and gave it up. Gave up the ghost. And this man
cried out, truly this man was the son of God. The son. He didn't
say a son. He said the son of God. And he
glorified God and over there we read he said certainly this
was a righteous man. Now this soldier was no different
than the thieves who hung on those crosses beside our Lord.
Was it no different whatsoever? The ones who he probably helped
to kill also gave the orders to anyway. He was no different
than they were. He's a murderer. This soldier
is a violent, murdering, God-hating, Christ-hating, mocking, scoffing,
jeering, unbelieving sinner is what he is. And he hates this
one hanging on the cross here. He hates it. And with malice. And envy, it says in another
place. And even pleasure. Jeered him and mocked him and
inflicted great pain and tortured him. But it was all according to the
purpose of God. And this soldier, according to
the electing grace of God, we ever thought about the fact that
You know, there are many soldiers, and they were people like us,
and they worked a job. It was a job to them. And different
ones had different shifts. Different ones worked the day
shift and the evening shift and the night shift, had time off
and so forth. Rome was a civilized so-called
society at the time. And this man, today was his day
to work. in God's good problem. And God's
sovereign problem is the Lord had him working that shift. And the Lord had him at the foot
of the cross when it was all over under the shadow of the
cross. We sing that song knowing under the shadow of the cross
beneath the cross of Jesus is where he stood over against him. Scripture said and God in his
sovereign mercy and sovereign electing saving purpose and power. God Almighty had this man there
that day in order to see the sun lifted up as our Lord said. This is the will of the father
that everyone that see it the sun. And believe it in him. I'll raise
him up. I'll save him and raise him up. And God Almighty had
this man there this day and had him here. The first thing this
man did was The first thing that happened was he heard the Lord,
what the Lord was saying on the cross. Faith cometh by hearing. I know it says that when he saw
the things that were done, but he heard, first of all, our Lord
uttered seven sayings from that cross. Seven sayings. Brother Arthur Pink wrote a book,
well, just a commentary years ago, back in the fifties, with
that title. little book on the seven sayings
of the crop. And here are those seven sayings,
and this centurion heard all of those sayings. And in each
saying is something marvelous and something powerful and something
effectual. The first words that our Lord
uttered from Calvary's tree when they finally hung him up there
were. Now, these soldiers had just
driven those nails in his hands. The centurion, one of them. And
they lifted that cross up, you know, with whatever means they
did in order to get it up and drop it down in that hole. And
every joint of his body, you know, came out. And then a little few minutes
or however long. The Lord cried out the first
words out of his mouth, Father. Forgive them. But they know not what they do. And those are the words the Lord
used to break this soul, God hating, Christ hating rebel.
And that centurion was standing there and he heard these words. And they were meant for him.
Because whoever Christ prays for that the Father will forgive,
they're forgiven. Because the Father always hears
him. That's what he said at Lazarus' tomb, didn't he? I know that
you hear me. You always hear me. But I say this for them that
stand by me. Father, forgive me. That was
for that centurion. The next thing our Lord uttered
were words to that thief on the cross. The one on his right hand. You remember the one on his left
hand and the one on his right hand. who turned out to be a
sheep on his right hand. Remember, the man said to him,
Lord. First, they were both cursing
Christ, just like everybody else. And all of a sudden, this one
on the right hand, his mouth was stopped. He began to loathe
himself, and he began to realize, this man's done nothing amiss.
This is the righteous one, the sinless one. He was looking at
him, he was observing him. The thief on the cross heard
the Lord say that, that first utterance. And that was for him. Father, forgive him for cursing
me just now. He knows not what he does. And
that thief turned and looked at that bloody man on that tree
and said, Lord, remember me when you come into
your kingdom. The centurion is watching this.
The centurion is listening to this. And the Lord said, Verily,
I say unto thee, Today shalt thou be with me in paradise. And the centurion is listening
to this. And then the Lord, and a little
while later, the Lord looked down from his cross and there
stood John, the beloved disciple, and Mary, his supposed mother. And he said unto the woman, Mary,
he said, woman. Now, he's not thinking of himself,
though he's enduring indescribable pain and suffering
beyond pain. He's not thinking of himself
because he's given himself completely. for the sins of his people. And
he looks down at this woman thinking of her care and her provisions.
He's going to see to her needs and her care after he's gone.
And he says, Woman, behold, thy son. He puts her into the care. She's going to be apparently
she's a widow and. And he tells her, this is your
son now. He's going to take care of you,
and then he says, Behold, my mother, you take care of. What what words of affection,
what words of care, what words of compassion from one who's
suffering, so. This is not the way of man, is
it? And then the center is for the centurion heard this and
then. We saw a couple of weeks ago. And the Lord cried to the
father. The Lord had forsaken him. God
had forsaken him. He was alone. And he cried, My
God, my God, why has thou forsaken me? Words of anguish, because
this is a substitute. And then he cries in his suffering,
and he had been suffering a long time, and endured it much longer
than any one else had or would these soldiers had crucified
quite a few fellows. They'd seen quite a few fellows
endure pain. Pilot had inflicted pain and
suffering upon quite a few big brawny men and saw them reduced
to mere shriveling or sniveling babies. And even pilot was amazed
at his Self-possession and his dignity and his power. Over himself
and over pain and suffering and didn't didn't defend himself
when he was reviled reviled not again oh now there's a man. And
that's what I would say. They hold the man he said that
there's soldiers and centurion heard that. And so he had suffered a long
time the Lord. You know six hours on the cross
and he had his hands and feet pierced. And. An average human being would
have died from loss of blood very shortly after not him. He
didn't die from loss of blood. Gave up the go. But he uttered these words I
first. And he didn't say this. I know
he didn't. Knowing what else he said, I know he didn't say
this in a way as to appeal for help. He didn't say this in a
way that I want to die of thirst. No, no, no, no. He's saying this,
that the scriptures might be fulfilled. Because it says he would say
I thirst, and in his thirst they gave him vinegar to drink. And
he said this also with a clear voice. Barbara, he didn't say
this with a raspy voice that was part Eating water but he
said it with the voice of the Lord now was never weak. And
he said it with power and again with dignity I first. That the
scripture. The centurion heard. And then he heard those words
were the Lord. Cried out so that all heaven
and earth would hear. It is. Words of finality, words of victorious
words, as if something were absolutely accomplished. As a victor, as
one who has vanquished his foes, and he said with a loud voice,
as one who had conquered a world, if you will, it is finished. Oh man, and the centurion heard
this. And then those last word that
seventh say in our Lord uttered when he said father and again. And total control. Father into the hands I. Commit
my spirit. Centurion heard. Heard all this. You did too. And this is. what he heard the
voice of powerful voice of the son of God and the voice of the
son of God will make the hands and the cedars to break and it
will also break the hardest heart a man who come in to inflict
pain and torture and out of hatred and resentment. A wicked violent
man who hated this man in front of him the Lord God took that
very man who hated him and turned him into a lover of him. It came
to to jeer him and taunt him, wanted him dead, and when it
was ended, he wanted to bow at his feet. That's power. And the Lord had him behold standing
at the foot of the cross, had him behold the crucified one,
because this is life. Behold the crucified one. And
he had the very blood of the Son of God on his hands. And
blasphemies and insults have just come out of his mouth, but
God. Rich in mercy for this man and grace quickened it by his
grace. Rich in mercy. I love that Psalm
71.3 says, Thou gave us commandment to save me. This was his time,
wasn't it? This was this man's time and
the Lord gave commandment. That song Brother Parks sang,
Almighty love arrests that man. Now this soldier, this centurion,
has been apprehended, been arrested by almighty love, by the Spirit
of God. The Lord Jesus Christ, even then,
hanging on that cross, gave commandment to save that man right there
and his buddies. All of a sudden, according to
the working of God's mighty power, that once hateful, murderous
rebel sees the sun, believes the sun, glorifies God, and with
the heart, out of the heart of the issues of life, see, he's
been given a new heart. Life has been given for a look
at the sun. out of a new heart and faith
from the heart because out of the abundance of the earth with
the heart man believe it and out of the abundance of the heart
when something's in the heart it's got to come out the mouth
out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaking and so he
had to. Truly. He confessed him right
there and there for all to hear and so did the rest of them truly
this was the son the son of God. whosoever confesses that Jesus
is the Christ, the Son of God, is born of God. This is the Son of God, truly,
certainly, and he gave glory to God. Now, isn't this salvation? It's a salvation, seeing the
Son, seeing the crucified one, seeing the substitute, hearing
his voice, hearing his powerful voice. Having a heart broken.
Seeing one's own sinfulness. Seeing Christ's glory. Glorifying
God through Christ the Son. And say, he said this too, this
is a righteous man. Not me. Not anybody here. This one. This one. And he says, this is not just
Jesus, this is the Lord Jesus. This is not just Jesus, this
is the Lord, my righteousness. This is not just Jesus, this
is the Lord Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Most High God.
My God, my Lord, my Savior, my all. Yes, when Christ died, many
lived. And this man is one of them. The Lord had purposed
him to be there that day. He purposed him to be there,
to sit, to stand at the foot of the Lord's cross and behold
His glory. Aren't you glad? And he did the
same thing for me one day and for you. Okay, stand with me. you Thank you.