If Only There Was an Earthquake
“When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”” (Matt. 27:54, ESV).
In the biblical narrative of Christ’s crucifixion, following the death of Jesus, supernatural occurrences disrupted the supposed victory of the Jewish priests, the scribes, and the crowds (Matt. 27:20-23; Matt. 27:40-41). After strenuous torture, the Son of Man “yielded up His spirit” with a final, piercing cry (Matt. 27:50). However, as the crucifiers reveled in His death, various miracles suddenly occurred. The miracles that they thought would cease with His death did not. Instead the curtain of the beloved temple was ripped and the ground quaked (Matt. 27:51).
Reading this account, we often overlook the response of the spectating centurion and his company, who felt the earthquake and stood appalled at the supernatural occurrences. Matthew recorded that “they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”” (Matt. 27:54). Struck by the miraculous nature of the phenomena flashing before their eyes, they confessed Jesus as the Son.
This Easter weekend, reflect with me on this passage and its implications. Like the centurion and his company, how many of us are waiting for another display of God’s power before we can believe in Jesus? During His earthly ministry, Jesus claimed to be the Son of God and worked miraculous signs to authenticate His message. Why did it take yet another miraculous sign for these onlookers to get it? While we are 2,000 years removed from this event, how many of us are not satisfied with Jesus’ promises and what He has already done in our lives? Are we any different from the centurion?
While these displays of power accompanied His death, the greatest miracle was still to come. After three days, the Son of God was raised to life (Matt. 28:5-6). What greater sign could be shown to man than God resurrecting the promised Messiah from death? In light of the great miracle of the resurrection and the many miracles surrounding the life of Jesus, we must not fall into the trap of constantly waiting for God to prove Himself to us. He already has. God lovingly sent His Son, and Jesus showed Himself to be who He claimed through His miracles and resurrection. In 2022, let us not fool ourselves into having a “if only there was an earthquake” mentality. Let’s not miss what God has already done, much like the centurion and the other spectators. Trust in the power that He has already displayed. Instead of wishing for God to show up and prove Himself, let’s look back at how God already has. Don’t miss Jesus in waiting for God to work another miracle; rather, remember the signs that He has already given and rest in the truth of a risen, authenticated Messiah.