Finding Hope and Transformation in the Crucifixion
Summary
Today, we gathered to remember that every moment with God is as significant as the greatest moments in history—because today is the only day we have. The crucifixion of Jesus is not just a historical event to be rushed past on our way to the resurrection; it is a moment of profound transformation, not only for those who witnessed it but for all of us who live in its wake. Within the three hours after Jesus’ death, God unleashed a series of miracles that upended every expectation, showing that what looked like defeat was actually the beginning of victory.
We explored how the gospel writers—Matthew, Mark, and Luke—each tell the story of the crucifixion to different audiences, but all highlight the same truth: the power of God is revealed most clearly in the chaos and apparent defeat of the cross. The centurion, a hardened Roman soldier who oversaw Jesus’ execution, became the first to declare, “Surely he was the Son of God,” not because of Jesus’ miracles or teachings, but because of the way he died. This confession, coming from the very man who participated in Christ’s death, is perhaps the greatest miracle of all. It shows that God’s grace reaches even those who seem farthest away, and that transformation can happen in an instant—before the sun goes down.
The tearing of the temple curtain, the earthquake, the opening of tombs—these miracles signaled that God was in complete control, even when the world seemed most out of control. The crucifixion was not the end, but the beginning of everything. In our own lives, when chaos and suffering threaten to overwhelm us, we can find confidence knowing that God’s plan is never thwarted. The cross is the place where God meets us in our pain, confusion, and questions, and it is there that we discover his power and wisdom are greater than anything the world can offer.
The challenge is clear: before the sun goes down, recognize that Christ is greater than the chaos, and that you, too, can be part of the miraculous work God is doing. Like the centurion, may we have the courage to see, confess, and be changed by the crucified Son of God.
Key Takeaways
- God’s Power Is Revealed in Chaos
When life feels most out of control, God is still sovereign. The crucifixion looked like Rome’s victory, but it was actually the execution of God’s eternal plan. Even in the darkest moments, God is working out his purposes, and nothing happens outside his will or allowance. This truth invites us to trust him deeply, especially when we cannot see the outcome. [54:36]
- The Courage to Ask “Why”
Jesus himself cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” showing us that faith is not the absence of questions, but the willingness to bring our confusion to God. Honest lament is not a sign of weak faith, but of real relationship. When we ask God “why,” we are acknowledging his presence and our dependence on him, even when answers are slow in coming. [49:12]
- The Cross Is the Beginning, Not the End
The miracles that followed Jesus’ last breath—the tearing of the curtain, the earthquake, the opening of tombs—demonstrate that the crucifixion was not a defeat, but the start of God’s new creation. What looks like the end to us is often the moment God begins his greatest work. Our suffering and loss can become the soil for resurrection life if we trust God’s timing and power. [57:55]
- Transformation Can Happen Instantly
The centurion, who moments before was complicit in Jesus’ death, became the first to confess his divinity. God’s grace can break through in an instant, even in the hearts of those who seem most hardened or unlikely. We are never too far gone for God’s transforming power, and sometimes the greatest miracles are the changes God works in human hearts. [01:05:31]
- The Cross Is Our Anchor in Suffering
When we face suffering, injustice, or confusion, the cross is where we find God’s wisdom and power. It is the place where God says, “I know what it is to suffer, to lose, to be misunderstood.” The cross assures us that God is not distant from our pain, but has entered into it, and through it, brings hope and new life. [01:16:40]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[11:05] - Baptisms: New Life in Christ
[12:52] - The Urgency After the Crucifixion
[39:22] - The NFL Draft and the World’s Expectations
[42:15] - Choosing Jesus: The World’s Perspective
[43:48] - The Centurion: From Executioner to Confessor
[44:37] - Confidence in Chaos: God’s Plan Unfolds
[46:42] - Darkness Over the Land: The Miracle at Noon
[49:12] - Jesus’ Cry of “Why?” and the Power of Lament
[53:46] - God’s Control in the Crucifixion
[55:53] - The Curtain Torn: Access to God
[57:55] - The Crucifixion: The Beginning of Everything
[01:01:24] - The Centurion’s Confession: Surely the Son of God
[01:07:00] - The First to Enter: A Gentile’s Revelation
[01:13:03] - God’s Plan Includes Our Suffering
[01:16:40] - The Cross: Wisdom and Power in Suffering
[01:18:30] - The Miraculous in Our Lives
[01:20:46] - Responding to the Cross: Confession and Change
[01:21:47] - Closing Prayer and Blessing
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: “Before the Sun Goes Down: The Power of the Cross in Chaos”
---
### Bible Reading
Matthew 27:45-54 (NIV)
> 45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land.
> 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).
> 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
> 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink.
> 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
> 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
> 51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split
> 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
> 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
> 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Psalm 22:1
> My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish?
1 Corinthians 1:18-25
> 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
> ... (read as much as your group has time for)
---
### Observation Questions
1. What miraculous events happened immediately after Jesus died, according to Matthew 27:51-53?
2. What was the centurion’s reaction to witnessing Jesus’ death and the events that followed? (Matthew 27:54)
3. What words did Jesus cry out from the cross, and where do those words originally come from? (Matthew 27:46, Psalm 22:1)
4. According to the sermon, who was the first person to declare Jesus as the Son of God after the crucifixion, and why is this significant? [[01:05:31]]
---
### Interpretation Questions
1. The sermon says that God’s power is revealed most clearly in the chaos and apparent defeat of the cross. Why do you think God chose to show his power in this way, rather than through obvious victory? [[54:36]]
2. Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” The pastor said this shows that faith is not the absence of questions. What does this teach us about how God views our honest doubts and struggles? [[49:12]]
3. The centurion’s confession (“Surely he was the Son of God”) came not from seeing miracles or hearing teachings, but from seeing how Jesus died. What does this suggest about the impact of suffering and sacrifice on those who witness it? [[01:05:31]]
4. The tearing of the temple curtain symbolized a new way to access God. What does this mean for people who feel far from God or unworthy to approach him? [[55:53]]
---
### Application Questions
1. The sermon challenged us to recognize that “Christ is greater than the chaos” before the sun goes down. Is there a specific area of your life right now that feels chaotic or out of control? What would it look like to trust God’s plan in that area today, not just someday? [[01:17:45]]
2. The centurion was changed instantly by what he saw at the cross. Have you ever experienced a moment where God changed your perspective or heart in an instant? What happened, and how did it affect you? [[01:05:31]]
3. Jesus was honest with God about his pain and confusion. Is there something you need to bring to God in honest prayer—even if it’s a “why” question? What’s holding you back from doing that? [[49:12]]
4. The cross is described as the place where God meets us in our pain. When you face suffering or loss, do you tend to run toward God or away from him? What could help you turn to God more quickly in those moments? [[01:16:40]]
5. The curtain tearing means anyone can come to God at any time. Is there a barrier (guilt, shame, doubt, past mistakes) that makes you feel like you can’t approach God? What would it look like to step through that “torn curtain” this week? [[55:53]]
6. The sermon said that sometimes the greatest miracle is a changed heart, even in people who seem farthest from God. Is there someone in your life you’ve given up hope for? How might this story encourage you to pray for or reach out to them? [[01:07:00]]
7. The pastor said, “Before the sun goes down, you can be part of the miraculous work God is doing.” What is one step you can take today to respond to what God is showing you through the cross? [[01:18:30]]
---
Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to pray honestly about their chaos, doubts, or pain, and to ask God for the courage to trust him and confess Christ as greater than the chaos—before the sun goes down.
Devotional
Day 1: Sovereignty Revealed Amidst Life’s Turmoil
When life feels chaotic and out of control, it can be tempting to believe that God is distant or powerless. Yet, the crucifixion reveals a profound truth: even in moments that seem like defeat, God’s eternal plan is unfolding perfectly. The events following Jesus’ death—the tearing of the temple curtain, the earthquake, and the opening of tombs—demonstrate that God remains sovereign over all circumstances. Nothing happens outside His will or allowance, inviting us to trust Him deeply, especially when the outcome is unclear or painful. This assurance anchors us in hope, reminding us that God’s power is most clearly displayed in the midst of chaos. [54:36]
“Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27)
Reflection: In what specific area of your life right now do you feel overwhelmed by chaos or uncertainty? How can you intentionally remind yourself today that God’s sovereign plan is at work even there?
Day 2: Embracing Honest Lament as Faith’s Expression
Jesus’ cry from the cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” shows that faith is not the absence of questions or pain but the courage to bring those struggles honestly before God. Lament is a vital part of a real relationship with God—it acknowledges our confusion and dependence on Him even when answers are slow to come. This teaches us that wrestling with “why” is not a sign of weak faith but a pathway to deeper trust. When you bring your doubts and sorrows to God, you open space for His presence to meet you in your pain and guide you through it. [49:12]
“Why do you cast me off? Why do you hide your face from me?” (Psalm 88:14)
Reflection: What is one painful or confusing question you have been afraid to bring before God? Can you take a moment today to honestly voice that question to Him in prayer?
Day 3: The Cross as the Dawn of New Creation
The crucifixion is often misunderstood as an end, but the miracles that followed Jesus’ death reveal it as the beginning of God’s new creation. The tearing of the temple curtain, the earthquake, and the opening of tombs symbolize that what looks like loss and defeat is actually the soil from which resurrection life springs. This truth invites us to trust God’s timing and power in our own suffering and loss, knowing that He can transform even the darkest moments into new beginnings. The cross is not a final destination but the starting point of God’s greatest work in the world and in our lives. [57:55]
“Behold, I am making all things new.” (Revelation 21:5)
Reflection: Reflect on a recent or ongoing loss or hardship. How might God be inviting you to see this as the beginning of something new rather than the end? What small step of trust can you take today?
Day 4: Instant Transformation Through God’s Grace
The centurion’s confession, “Surely he was the Son of God,” moments after overseeing Jesus’ death, reveals that God’s grace can break through instantly—even in the hardest hearts. No one is beyond the reach of God’s transforming power, and sometimes the greatest miracles happen in a single moment of recognition and surrender. This challenges us to remain open to God’s work in ourselves and others, trusting that change can happen suddenly and unexpectedly. It also encourages us to pray for those who seem far from God, believing that He can touch their hearts at any time. [01:05:31]
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17)
Reflection: Is there someone in your life you have written off as unreachable by God’s grace? How can you pray for them today, believing that transformation can happen in an instant?
Day 5: The Cross as Our Refuge in Suffering
Suffering, injustice, and confusion are realities we all face, but the cross stands as a powerful reminder that God is not distant from our pain. Jesus entered into suffering fully and understands loss and misunderstanding intimately. The cross is where God’s wisdom and power meet us in our darkest moments, offering hope and new life. It assures us that our pain is not meaningless and that God’s presence is near, working through suffering to bring about healing and restoration. This truth invites us to lean into the cross as our anchor when life feels overwhelming. [01:16:40]
“He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief.” (Isaiah 53:3)
Reflection: When you face suffering or injustice today, how can you practically remind yourself that Jesus understands and walks with you? What is one way you can lean into the cross as your source of strength right now?
Quotes
``We can find confidence in the chaos. We really can. Because the plan of God is in the hands of God. That no matter how chaotic or upside down or thwarted it might seem, for all eyes to see up till his last breath, it looked as though Rome won. [00:45:05] (16 seconds)
And what God, I believe, was doing was darkening the entire world because Christ was now experiencing all the darkness of sin, that there truly was in those three hours no source of light. And the only source of light and hope we have was being snuffed out. He was becoming sin that we might become the righteousness of God. About three in the afternoon, you see where he dies, Jesus cried out in a loud voice, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani, okay? Which means, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? It comes directly from the 22nd Psalm, and there's a couple reasons, I believe, while Christ is quoting it. Certainly, because he comes out of three hours of being totally separated from heaven and earth. He's literally hanging, if you will, between the two. [00:47:37] (49 seconds)
And in this life, what we have to be able to embrace. Now, he doesn't immediately get an answer. Obviously, eventually with the resurrection, we know the why. We know the story. But in the depth of his humanity, this is the sinless son of God who is as confused in that moment by the circumstances he's facing as many of us would be at moments in our life, as the Jews were in theirs. [00:49:59] (26 seconds)
And when you have the courage to ask God why, that's one of the greatest, in my opinion, greatest evidences that you have faith in him, that you would enter into a conversation with him in your worst moments. [00:50:28] (15 seconds)
That in this situation, though it seemed completely out of control, he gave up his spirit. They didn't take it from him. Okay? He gave it up. They didn't take it. It doesn't say, and in that moment, Rome realized they had taken his life. It doesn't say, in that moment, the Jews, the chief priest, and all them realized they had taken his life. Not in any of the gospel accounts does it say they took his life. It's that he gave up his life. [00:52:33] (31 seconds)
It ended when Christ decided it was going to end. He took his last breath when he decided he was going to take his last breath. No one took that moment from him. And that even in the most chaotic situation ever on the face of the earth, he's still in complete control. In fact, I hope you know this, that this, what they are seeing, they think is the execution, okay, of the sinless son of God. True. But it's ultimately the execution of the eternal plan of God. [00:53:13] (34 seconds)
You need to know that nothing comes into your life unless God allows it or ordains it. And some of what you face will be ordained. It will be. And God will want that to happen for your good and his greater glory. But while you're in it, all you can see is the pain and the problems. And God's like, you just hang in there because I'm in control at this moment. It's not the world. It's not your boss. It's not your health. It's me. [00:55:18] (28 seconds)
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate. [01:14:29] (16 seconds)
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