The Earth Shook

Scripture Reading: Matthew 27:51-56

As to the nature and extent of this earthquake, we are left to our suppositions. Matthew describes it simply. Four words in the English language. “And the earth shook.” Was this a localized event, something that was felt only around Jerusalem? Or was this a global quake, shaking the whole earth? Was this a natural earthquake? Or was it some other supernatural phenomenon?

I tend to think it was a localized event. My reasoning (which I don’t consider the last word on the matter) is that this was intended by God to affect those who witnessed the crucifixion. It was directly connected to Christ’s death. It happened at the moment Jesus gave His final cry from the Cross and “yielded up His spirit” (Matthew 27:50). Therefore, someone, say for example in Corinth, who knew nothing about the crucifixion of Jesus wouldn’t have any ability to make the connection between the earth-shaking and Jesus’ death.

We see that the shaking had its intended effect on the onlookers when the Centurion says in response, “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).

That it was not a natural phenomenon is evidenced by the details. First, as I already mentioned, the timing of it shows that this was a supernatural event. It would have been highly improbable that this would have happened at just the moment Jesus died. This was a divine shaking that was intended to be one more piece of evidence that proved the Messianic claims of Jesus.

There are no contemporary historical records of a destructive earthquake in that region of the world at that time in history. There is typically some record of destructive earthquakes, the kind where cities are destroyed, and lives are lost. Someone writes about it. There is nothing recorded about this earthquake outside of the biblical account. This leads me to believe that this was a non-destructive earthquake. That supposition is also backed up by the days following the crucifixion in the biblical account. There is nothing that indicates the city was recovering from a devastating earthquake. Life seems to be going on in a somewhat normal fashion.

The supernatural nature of this earthquake is also revealed in what was broken. Again, Matthew keeps it simple: “And the rocks were split” (Matthew 27:51). The force was enough to split rocks but did not topple buildings and did not result in the loss of life.

The quake did the opposite of a natural phenomenon of earthquakes. It didn’t create havoc and death. Instead, it was a means God used to create life. Graves were opened and saints were resurrected. The centurion, and others, had their eyes opened to understand the crucified Jesus is the Son of God.

I can’t recall who first coined the word, but someone made up the word “eucatastrophe” to describe a disaster or cataclysmic event which works for good. “Eu,” the prefix means “good.” We see it in words like “eulogy,” where someone speaks good things about a deceased person. Catastrophe is the disaster part.

This is what the cross was. A cataclysmic disaster that worked for our good. The earth shook when Jesus died, but instead of destruction and death, it was a shaking that brought about resurrection life.