WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
BAY BRIDGE WORLD SERIES EARTHQUAKE
There are so many events in history where you may have had this question posed to you: “Where were you when…?”
One of the most recent in history is where were you when you heard that a plane had hit the World Trade Center tower(s)? We all have vivid memories of those events of September 11, 2001 and where we were when we turned on the television or had someone call us to tell us what was happening.
How about, where were you when the Challenger Space Shuttle had a malfunction and was destroyed mid-launch over the skies? For me, I was in elementary school and this was part of our morning—to watch this exciting launch of the next space mission to launch a new satellite and study Halley’s Comet. That morning 7 astronauts were killed a little over a minute into their flight. January 28, 1986
Or, what about this one? I was not alive for this one. Where were you when you got word that John F. Kennedy was assassinated on that now famous street in Dallas, Texas November 22, 1963?
It is typically these significant and sad events that we remember this way. Why? The scary and the sad things in life have an impact on us. Here is a lesser known one but one many of you may remember. Do you know what happened on October 17, 1989? The Loma Prieta Earthquake.
This may or may not sound familiar because it isn’t really described in this way. Many who remember this event, recall it as the Bay Bridge World Series Earthquake. It was October 17, 1989 and Game 3 of the 1989 World Series was getting ready to begin. This was a famous World Series for us on the West Coast (California especially) because both teams were from California and both teams were from the same part of California. The Oakland A’s were taking on the San Francisco Giants. We had the Battle of the Bay with Will Clark and Kevin Mitchell’s Giants trying to overcome the Bash Brothers Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco.
At 5:04pm PST, the rumbling began and the announcers even began to speak the words. Sportscaster Al Michaels exclaimed, “I’ll tell you what, we’re having an earth--.” And at that moment the signal from Candlestick Park in San Francisco was lost.
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake had hit. It was a violent earthquake. 63 people died and over 3700 people were injured. The collapse of a section of the double-deck Nimitz Freeway in Oakland was the site of the largest number of casualties. A 76-by-50-foot section of the upper deck fell onto the deck below. In other places the upper deck fell and crushed the cars in the lower deck.
In other places, buildings collapsed, homes were dislodged from their foundations, other bridges had been damaged, 1.4 million people lost power, many television stations were knocked off the air.
The quake caused $6 Billion (with a B) in damages.
Earthquakes are powerful and can be devastating depending on where they happen and what the infrastructure in that location is like. Many of our buildings and bridges are earthquake proof (at least for destruction—but can still be damaged).
We are going to see that even though earthquakes are powerful, we serve a mighty God who has given us Jesus. Let’s examine a different earthquake in the Bible because in the cross, we can see that there is power. That is the next aspect of the cross of Christ we are going to look at – The Cross is Powerful.
READ MATTHEW 27:45-54
45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 And some of the bystanders, hearing it, said, “This man is calling Elijah.” 48 And one of them at once ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine, and put it on a reed and gave it to him to drink. 49 But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” 50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. 54 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!”
Our scene begins with Jesus on the cross at Noon. He was well into his crucifixion and darkness fell across the land. Many people speculate that this was some kind of eclipse of the sun. But this lasted for 3 hours. It was no mere eclipse of the sun. This had to have had a supernatural hand at play. Luke’s account of this event includes the words that the “sun’s light failed.”
This was meant to be an example of who Jesus was. Observers would know that God was making a statement. The light on the land was being extinguished for a time as the Light of the World was killed on this cross.
In this scene, we witness the power of our Almighty God as He makes Himself known to the world in this sinful action. As Jesus yields his spirit, the revealing of God’s power is evident in what He does to show his power.
These people were treating Jesus as just another criminal to be executed on this device of torture. But what does God do? He rips the curtain in two, the earth quakes, rocks are split, the burial places of the long-gone friends and family are opened and those who were buried are alive and appearing to their relatives.
The cross is powerful and reveals God to those who witness this event. Let’s look closer at this passage and how the power of God through the cross is revealed.
THE POWER OF THE CROSS FILLS OUR HEARTS WITH HOPE
The events of the crucifixion are not events that anyone would see as a hopeful situation. For the disciples and for the witnesses to Jesus’ teachings and his miracles, they would see things as hopeful if he would show the power of God and come down from the cross and bring his army of angels to fight the Roman authorities and make his Kingdom known.
It would be certainly easier to be a faithful follower if we had dominion on earth right now over tyranny and sin with Jesus sitting on an earthly throne in an earthly Kingdom. Instead, we sit in a world filled with darkness.
However, what God had done at the cross now gives us hope for a future. The glory that will come with Christ’s return. In the darkness that filled that land at this time in Matthew 27 lived a hope for future glory and resurrection. This darkness was symbolic of what was happening but not what was to come. The Light of the World now lives in us and through us. We are called to be lights in this world today.
MATTHEW 5:14-16
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.
We bring the hope with us as we share the Gospel message of Jesus.
THE POWER OF THE CROSS BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS
In verse 51, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. This curtain was at least 30 feet high to separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies. Priests were allowed to minister in the Holy Place regularly, but only once a year could the High Priest pass through the inner curtain into the immediate presence of God (Ex. 26:33-35; Lev. 16:2). This curtain or veil perpetually guarded the entrance to the holiest holy place. This was a dividing wall between everyone and God. With the ripping of the curtain from top to bottom (from God down to man) God is essentially saying to us that the final blood sacrifice had been made and now we all have access to Him.
There were no longer any racial barriers. Jew and Gentile alike were welcome into God’s presence. There would be no more political or religious ruling class but all now were a priesthood of believers. To make any more of these divisions would be saying God should have kept the veil in one piece.
And now today we must not create barriers to prevent anyone from God’s presence. No racism, no division.
The Apostle Paul writing to the church at Ephesus speaks so eloquently about this change with the veil being torn:
EPHESIANS 2:11-22
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility 15 by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, 16 and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. 17 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
Have you even felt like God couldn’t love you? Like you had nothing to offer him? As though you had more sins than anyone else and felt like you had no worth? In the cross, Jesus says, “You are loved more precious than anyone.” There is nothing about you that could keep me away from you. Now that this veil is torn in two, that’s God’s way of saying, come and spend time with me. I want to see you. I am so glad I made you.
THE POWER OF THE CROSS HEALS GOD’S HOSTILITY TOWARD US
As I mentioned at the beginning there is something powerful about earthquakes. Here in this passage, we read that there was an earthquake and the rocks were split. God’s power over nature and His creation is evidenced here. If we thought God could get angry and hostile toward us and His creation, this is the proof. His power and might are shown in that nothing can withstand Him.
Earthquakes in Scripture are significant. Read about all the times God wanted our attention and used an earthquake to get it. Following the death of Jesus, there was a great earthquake at the tomb of Jesus.
MATTHEW 28:1-3
1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
At the death of Jesus was a great earthquake and at his resurrection there was a great earthquake. That will get some attention! The power of the cross of Christ comes from God. And then another significant earthquake this time in Acts.
ACTS 16:25-26
25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, 26 and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened.
Do you see the significance? In every instance I have mentioned, the power of God comes through an earthquake to release people from their bonds. In Matthew, Jesus’ bonds of death were loosed. In Acts, Paul and Silas’ bonds of prison were loosed. The doors to death were opened and people were set free.
And that’s what the power of the cross does. It sets everyone free from the bonds of sin and death.
THE POWER OF THE CROSS MAKES HEAVEN OUR HOME
Finally we read that when Jesus died, the tombs opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised and they went and appeared to many. The cross makes the resurrection possible. The power of the cross gives us access to the promise made about a heavenly home.
No more pain. No more sadness. No more suffering. No more death. Death is defeated. As Jesus yields his spirit, the spirits of all saints will also have access to that heavenly inheritance. We have been made co-heirs with Christ.
Jesus, in suffering that cross, was made the final high priest. He was the last to enter the holiest place alone. We read about this in Hebrews chapters 7-10. We won’t read that this morning…I encourage you to read Hebrews 7-10 and see how Jesus’ death accomplished what no priest before could accomplish. In Jesus, “a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God” (Heb. 7:19).
THE POWER OF THE CROSS
The power of the Cross is made clear. What men intended for torture, humiliation, pain, and death, God turned around and made it a place of honor, glory, and power. The cross of Christ is given it’s due. The plain wood that comprised this cross has no special ingredients. The power comes from God.
Let’s echo our Scripture reading this morning with what the Apostle Paul proclaimed about Good News.
ROMANS 1:16-17
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
CONCLUSION
To be fully within the shadow of the cross and to receive the power of God through the sacrifice, we must live lives of faith. Faithfully trusting in Jesus every day. Surrendering our will for God’s. Receiving the truth and believing and submitting ourselves in the waters of baptism.
Just like the power isn’t in the cross itself, the power of salvation isn’t in the water. It is in God. His healing. His redemption. His love for us. We give ourselves to submission to death to be buried and raised to new life.
It is then we rise and say, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
INVITATION
That Old Rugged Cross is powerful. We sang these words. Let us live by them.
