Matthew 27:45-56 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 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. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.” And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 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!” Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
The above verses reveal a cataclysmic event, one that would change the world forever. This day climaxes God’s eternal intention for mankind’s redemption. Through Jesus mankind would be free from the slavery of sin and death. Jesus completed the work of bringing man to God. He came in the likeness of man, dying for men and women so that they might forever exist in the presence of God. On the cross Jesus paid the full price for mankind’s sins. Men and women who were unacceptable to God, now because of Jesus’ sacrifice for them were counted as holy and perfect. The Roman soldiers and the people in Jerusalem experienced the horrific environmental effects of this dramatic day. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. (Luke 23:44-45) Not only the environment was affected on this day, we see the spiritual world react to this great event; this expectation of deliverance from sin and death even roused the dead. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. Freedom from the captivity of the grave happened when Jesus announced his complete surrender to God’s will: “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). The ransom price from the captivity of sin and death had been paid; the days of slavery to the Pharaoh of this world were over. Freedom would come to every man or woman who would place his or her trust in the work of Jesus on the cross. The plan of God to deliver man’s souls to him in complete righteousness had been realized; Christ’s sacrifice on the cross satisfied every demand that God had on men and women’s lives. Now, for all who put their trust in Jesus’ work, the eternal presence of God would abide within them forever. “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, my God.’” (Hebrews 10:5-7) This sacrifice of Jesus was the culmination of all the sacrifices that ever had been given to please a holy God. Man’s nature of sin and rebellion was an affront to God’s perfection, his everlasting holiness, his goodness and love. For man to be perfect, righteous, holy, only God could pay the price for such a transition. God’s work had to be implemented to change men and women into his nature. In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. (Hebrews 1:2-3) We see the radiance of God’s glory being placed on the cross, the altar for man’s sin. No wonder the sun did not shine. The Bright and Morning Star of heaven was being dismissed from this earth through death. Sinful man could not pay the price for sin, only the death of righteousness, purity, holiness, God himself, could pay the price for man’s lostness from God.
In our scriptural focus, we see the heavy curtain between the Holy of Holies and the Holy Place torn from top to bottom. Some say this curtain was four inches thick; nothing could tear this curtain but something supernatural. At the exact moment of Jesus giving up his last breath, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The sacrificial work of God was finished when Jesus’ flesh died. His everlasting closeness to the Father was given up willingly on the cross. This tearing of the curtain meant that men now had direct access to the Creator of all things. Man could move from the Holy Place to the Holy of Holies without being devoured by fire from being in the presence of God. If mankind refused Christ’s work and kept on with the lifestyle of the natural man, he would be consumed by God’s holy fire. If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. (Hebrews 10:26-27) The natural man in his own clothing of righteousness will never be accepted by God. The Tabernacle in the wilderness was constructed to allow man to approach God without being destroyed. The Tabernacle consisted of three areas: the outer court where the sacrifices were performed; the Most Holy space where priests performed religious ceremonies to please God; and finally the Most Holy of Holy places where God dwelled. Between man’s religious effort to please God and where God actually dwelled was a heavy curtain. In the outer court was an altar overlaid with brass, also a laver or basin full of water, made of brass. Animals without blemish were sacrifices on the altar in the outer court. These animals were tied down to the horns that were at each corner of the altar. The animals given to God were a representation of the need of blood to cover the sinful nature of men. These sacrificial animals had to be restrained, but Jesus’ willingly placed himself on the altar, doing the will of his Father. After the sacrificing of the animals, the priests would wash their feet and hands before entering the Holy Place. In the Holy Place were three articles of furniture: the table where the bread of the Presence (shewbread) was placed, the altar of incense, and the seven-branched candelabrum. The candelabrum was made of pure gold and was on the left side of the altar of incense. The altar of incense was close to the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies. This altar was overlaid with gold. On the right side of the altar was a table that held twelve loaves of bread, stacked in two piles of six loaves. These loaves represented the tribes of Israel. The Holy Place is where the priest would serve God and satisfy his demands. The rituals the priests performed there were to appease a holy God who could not look upon sin. The priest entered the Holy Place washed, wearing clean robes. The candelabrum was the only light in this sacred place. Jesus is the only light in this dark world. When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Jesus fulfilled the duty of the candelabrum. The altar of incense was where the aroma of the sweet smelling incense covered the priests and mankind’s rebellion against God. Jesus fulfilled the necessity of the aroma of the incense covering mankind. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ephesians 5:2) On the right of the altar, the table with bread stacked for the twelve tribes indicated God’s provision for all people. Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” (John 6:32-33) Jesus satisfied completely every aspect of the Most Holy place and the priesthood service. Because He fulfilled man’s effort to please God, the curtain was torn, for there was no more need for men to serve God with rituals and with implements made by man’s hands. No more shadows of the real thing was needed. God had come down to men in his image to do away with the religious services that man was required to do to please Him. Now Jesus the Son who pleased God broke through the Most Holy Place to the Holy of Holies.
In the Holy of Holies where men will always dwell because of Christ’s work and not ours, we see the evidence of God work to save a rebellious people. We see in the Holy of Holies his work for men, not the work of men for God. The Ark of the Covenant with two sculptured cherubim on the lid or mercy seat is the only furniture in this room. The Ark is overlaid with gold. In the Holy of Holies the work of God to redeem mankind is evident. There it is revealed that life originates from him and in him only. In the Ark itself we find a vessel containing manna, the life-giving bread that was given freely to the Israelites to sustain them as they walked through the wilderness. This is God’s act, not man’s act. God provided food, He provided life, not the hunters or the gathers of edible plants. We see in the Ark, Aaron’s rod or staff. His staff was the only one of the Israelites’ staffs that budded, manifesting that God is the creator of life, not man’s good intentions or desire to rule. God chooses who He will give life to, not man. Also, in the Ark we see the Tablets of stone, the Ten Commandments written by God’s hands, not derived from man’s good intentions or moral directives. God defines rightness in life; He determines how men should act to please God or to be organized into a peaceful community. The Holy of Holies reveals God’s actions for the benefit of mankind, for sustaining his life. The Holy Place revealed man’s necessary rituals or activity to please God. And the outer court revealed the absolute necessity of man to appease a wrathful God’s against the sin of mankind. On the crucifixion day, we see Jesus fulfilling every area of the Tabernacle, placing men near to God. He not only was the sacrifice; He was the high priest who performed the rituals of the priests, and He was the High Priest who entered the Holy of Holies and placed his blood of the atonement on the Mercy Seat, indicating the work of man is done. Now the work of God is the work that is necessary for eternal life in the household of God. Jesus’ work and his blood that was shed for all of mankind has brought men and women into a right relationship with God. The work is finished! Complete! No effort by mankind is needed to please God, for Jesus completely satisfies every requirement of God on mankind. Now, breakfast companions, enter into the Most Holy of Holies with full confidence that you are acceptable to God and that you are now his children clothed in righteous robes. Jesus paid the price for this wonderful, eternal existence with the Father God. Give him glory and praise, for He deserves every breath that you breathe in honor of him. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:14) Walk in his holiness today. Amen!
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