The moment Jesus’ spirit leaves His body there are amazing signs. Earth shaking! Tombs opening! The veil of the temple ripping in two!
When the soldiers crucifying Jesus saw what happened - they were terrified and exclaimed, “Surely He was the Son of God!”
First there was darkness for three hours and now all this! No wonder they believe! Anyone would lose their skepticism under these circumstances.
It is doubtful; however, these Roman soldiers understood the significance of the torn curtain.
This large thick curtain - 50 feet high and 4 inches thick - hung inside the temple in front of the Holy of Holies. Here was the very presence of God on the earth!
Traditionally, only the high priest was allowed to go past this veil and only one day in each year. The Day of Atonement! On this day the priest would sprinkle the blood of an animal there as a sacrifice for the sins of the people.
Did you notice? The curtain was quickly torn from the top down. Not as a man might have done, only with incredible difficulty from the bottom up. The historian, Josephus, wrote that two horses could not provide sufficient power to rip it. Clearly, God is making a statement!
And there is powerful symbolism here. God is physically removing the barrier between Himself and humanity.
There is now direct access to the presence of God. The death of His Son on the cross has opened a new way for us!
God rips away the veil because this is the final Day of Atonement! Jesus sacrificed His life’s blood for our sins.
He is our new High Priest. It is to Him we now come for cleansing and access to the Father.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound!
ReplyDeleteDiamond Gem
Too little, too late?
ReplyDeleteIt always amazed me that the Roman guards declare what they do AFTER they have crucified Jesus. Too bad they didn't figure that out beforehand!
Or... maybe not. That's how my human eyes might see it. God had different plans. Was it too little too late?
NO. They came to the understanding - or at least a common sense statement of belief after seeing what happened - "Surely he was the Son of God!"
While we may think it was too late, it was not a bad time to become a believer in Jesus. He just died for their sins! As well, He would later instruct his disciples to preach to all nations, not simply the Jews.
I suppose the only time that would be too little too late, would be after death - when every knee will bow and every tongue confess. But as long as we're alive - there's never a bad time to believe in Jesus.