Midweek 4 – “The Miracle of the Splitting Rocks” – Matthew 27:51c – March 30, 2011

When I was a kid I collected rocks. Everywhere I went I picked up a cool looking rock. I was fascinated by the colors and shapes. I was fascinated by their composition and what might be inside. So, I not only collected rocks but I often tried to split them to see what was inside. I knew better than to take my dad’s good woodworking chisels, but the big flathead Craftsman screwdrivers I figured were fair game …. Lifetime warranty and all! I use to wail with all my might with hammer and screwdriver trying to spit rock. There were a lot of rocks that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t split.

Our Lenten series ponders some of the miracles surrounding the passion of Jesus – several of which are no more than mere passing phrases in the texts of Holy Scripture – miracles whose meanings often go unnoticed as we read or hear the passion story. This evening we ponder the Miracle of the Splitting Rocks. At the moment of Jesus’ death, St. Matthew writes: “And the earth shook (last week’s), and the rocks were split.” (Matthew 27:51b, c)

Today it is rather easy to split rocks…. hydraulics, heavy machinery, explosives… rocks really don’t stand a chance. But in Jesus day splitting rocks was a laborious and difficult task. The King James Version of the Bible uses the word “rent”. The word rent means to tear or pull apart. What an image – rocks pulled apart by the power of God Himself. I can only imagine the fear and terror, the awe and wonderment of the people witnessing the events that occurred on the day Jesus died at 3 o’clock in the afternoon.

I wonder what the splitting rocks sounded like. I wonder what the people standing on that hill thought. We know it all had a profound effect on the Roman Centurion. I wonder how many others had their eyes turned to the cross to see God’s glory and power revealed in the death of Jesus.

The words “the rocks were split” have been seen by some as a fulfillment of Luke 19:39–40. These words take us to the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on that first Palm Sunday. Jesus was being praised by the crowds and the Pharisees criticized Jesus and said, “‘Teacher, rebuke your disciples.’ [Jesus] answered, ‘I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.’”

Some Bible commentators believe that the crucifixion of Jesus was so terrible, so unjust, so demeaning, so disgraceful, so wrong, that praise of Jesus for what He was accomplishing for the salvation of the world was so lacking, that to compensate the rocks cried out.

There was no praise on that hill outside Jerusalem… Peter had denied knowing Jesus the night before, the disciples had fled, Mary and the other women wept, the Pharisees rejoiced, Pilate had washed his hands of the matter. But there MUST be praise, for on that cross God in the person of Jesus had died for the sins of the world – your sins and mine. So, the very rocks seemingly cry out in praise for the salvation won for all who would look to the cross and believe!

St. Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:3: “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures.” He died for our sin – the sin we are born with, inherited from Adam and Eve – the sin we commit by our thoughts, words and deeds as we do those things that are wrong according to God’s Law – the sin we commit by our failure to do what God would have us do like loving, serving, encouraging, and witnessing.

For all this Isaiah 53:5–6 tells us: “He was wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord laid on Him the iniquity of us all.”

And so St. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 2:24: “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By His wounds you have been healed.”

That Jesus Christ suffered and died for our sins is a truth that is at the very heart of the Gospel. The Good News is that the heavenly Father, in view of the blood shed on Calvary for our sins, is graciously offering to the world of sinners His forgiveness and salvation. Besides that, He is offering the services of the Holy Spirit, who works through the Word and the Sacraments to create saving faith placed in the Savior through which we receive that which is freely offered.

The splitting of the rocks was a miraculous sign that God is powerful and almighty. God signaled that He was in control of the situation from beginning to end. He could have stopped the crucifixion. But, God the Father, out of love for you and me, permitted Jesus Christ to suffer and die for our sins. The God of power and love is in control of our lives and promises to bless and protect those who are His own through the faith in Jesus Christ worked in us by the Holy Spirit. So, along with the very rocks, we cry out in praise to our God – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – for forgiveness, life and salvation. Amen.