“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and gave up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. Also the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.”
Matthew 27:50-52 (NASV)
What a strange moment that must have been, when the most eerie, mysterious, and dramatic events took place, just seconds after Jesus gave up His spirit and died on the cross. It’s not often talked about in sermons or homilies, but it’s worth reading and meditating on, since Matthew gave us many explicit details to ponder.
Tombs were opened and deceased people were raised and seen by many in spirit form, throughout Jerusalem. Those deceased people were recognized as people of faith who had passed away. As eerie as it may sound, it was not a scene out of a horror movie, because their appearances did not instill fear, but faith. The death of Jesus brought new hope for salvation and eternal life for all mankind.
Matthew also describes the temple curtain which suddenly tore from top to bottom, while at the same time, an earthquake struck the ground and the rocks were split wide open. Luke described three hours of sudden darkness covering the land, from the moment Jesus was nailed to the cross at noon until His death at 3:00 pm. He describes it as the sun stopped shining, which sounds a lot like a partial solar eclipse.
(Luke 23:45)
Phlegon, a Greek historian, wrote
about an earthquake occurring in 33 AD, which correlates to some of these scriptures, but scientists cannot agree on evidence of a definite solar eclipse that day and year. Regardless, it’s still possible for God to have caused great darkness, whether astronomy supports it or not.
The point is that Jesus’ death brought very dramatic responses through nature and by direct acts of God’s power. An earthquake, a partial solar eclipse, tombs opening, raising of the dead, who were seen wandering throughout the city, drew more than enough attention.
To top it all off, the thickest curtain on earth was mysteriously torn from top to bottom. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all mention that torn temple curtain. The historian, Josephus, wrote that it was four inches thick, 30 ft long and 30 ft wide. It was the curtain that separated the public from the holy of holies, in the most sacred part of the temple. Only a priest could go beyond that curtain to offer sacrifice for sin. The torn curtain happening at the actual moment Jesus died, which says it all.
Where previously, a very thick curtain of sin, separated us from God, we now have access through the body and blood of Jesus.
These miraculous and mysterious events tell us that there is no tomb or grave that God cannot lift us out of, because Jesus paid it all. His death brought new hope for the whole world.
Paul reminds us that in this life, we must die with Christ to live in Christ. To follow Jesus we will need to die to some things, to maintain new life and a strong bond with Him. It’s all for our good, so that we may one day rise and live forever with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:3-5)
Through all these awesome events, we realize the great power of the cross, because it broke the power of sin and death forever.
Before His resurrection occurred, it was the power of the cross, that tore the temple curtain from top to bottom, and God still tears through anything that prevents us or our loved ones from coming fully into His presence, and living each day in His love.
Lord, thank you for offering your son, the perfect sacrifice for us, and for your love that tore through the power of sin and death, with the promise to live with you forever. Amen
