Jesus’ death is earth-shattering, literally and figuratively.
In the OT, earthquakes are associated with the revelation of Yahweh’s glory (cf. Psalm 77:18) and His coming as the divine warrior to rescue His people.
But in Matthew, the earth quakes at Jesus’ death. It quakes when Jesus cries out and the spirit leaves Him.
That can only mean: Here Yahweh’s glory is revealed once and for all; here in the darkness of Golgotha, and in this beaten bloody corpse, Yahweh has come to fight His greatest enemy and win His greatest victory.
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