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At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”

Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

​The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”

Matthew 27:45-54

Jesus Saves the World

   In the early hours of Friday morning, Jesus was led before the High Priest, who convinced people to tell lies about Jesus so that they could convict Him for blasphemy. They convinced everyone that He was guilty, and took Him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Jerusalem.

   Jesus was put on trial by Pilate in front of a huge crowd. The priests of the Temple hurled false accusations at Jesus, but He said nothing to defend Himself. Pilate, knowing that they had brought Jesus to him out of jealousy, left it up to the crowd. He offered them the option to either release Jesus or to release a known criminal named Barabbas. The people chose Barabbas, and when asked what they should do with Jesus, the crowd shouted, “crucify Him!”

   Jesus was stripped and beaten, then forced to carry a large wooden cross up to a mountain called Golgotha, where He was nailed to the cross and placed next to two criminals. Attached to a cross was a sign that said, “This is Jesus, King of the Jews.” The soldiers mocked Him while He hung there, telling Him that if He really was who He said He was, then He should be able to get down off the cross.

   Jesus cried out to God one last time, and then released His spirit into Heaven. At that moment, the skies went dark, the ground shook, and the curtain in the Temple tore down the middle.

   The people of Jerusalem believed that God’s presence was strongest behind the curtain in the temple. It was a holy place that sinners couldn’t enter into. It separated God’s holy presence from sin. But when Jesus died on the cross, He took the penalty for the sins of the entire world - there was no longer anything separating us from Him.

   Sin broke the world and separated us from God and the life that He gives, but Jesus saved the world and paid the price for our sins so that by having faith in Him, we could have a new life.
   When Jesus died on the cross, He was paying for the sins we commit every day. That means that He knew we would be committing these sins 2,000 years later, and still chose to die on our behalf. Have you ever thought about the fact that Jesus was thinking of you when He was on the cross?
  • Home
  • ABOUT
  • WEEKEND MESSAGES
    • 2020 MESSAGES
    • 2019 MESSAGES >
      • I Got You
      • Whole Notha Level
      • You Belong Here
      • Move Up Weekend
      • Last Words
      • 8th Grade Weekend
      • JHM PREVIEW
      • Asking For A Friend
      • Easter Interactive
      • JR. HIGH LIFE
      • Hopeful
    • 2018 MESSAGES >
      • Easter Interactive
      • School Wars
      • What if?
      • Words
      • Hello My Name Is...
    • 2017 MESSAGES >
      • JHM Christmas Services
      • Unwrapped
      • Thanksliving
      • When Bad Things Happen
      • Prayer Is... Campain
      • Gospel in 5 Words
      • Love Your Neighbor
      • Bold
      • We Are JHM
      • Move Up Weekend
      • Last Words
      • 8th Grade Weekend
      • 13 Reasons Why There's Hope
      • Exposed
      • Easter WTW
      • Easter Service
      • Better Together
      • School Wars
      • Churchy Stuff
      • Jr. High Life
      • Gamechangers
    • 2016 MESSAGES
  • Life Groups
  • NEXT STEPS
    • SSM Worship
    • Student Impact Team
    • Baptisms
  • PARENTS
  • LEADERS