“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 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!’”
Matthew 27:50-51, 54
God’s encouragement…
As I read Matthew’s account of the crucifixion of Jesus, I am riveted to the cataclysmic upheaval of the earthquake and rocks splitting. They are visual, felt, and terrifying. Yet they pale in comparison to the eternal impact on humanity that the torn curtain imparts. A series of sermons this year, based on the book of Exodus, opened my eyes to the purpose and meaning of the curtain.
The curtain first appears during the Exodus. It was made of “fine twined linen of blue and purple and scarlet yarns” (Exodus 26:1), part of the “tabernacle of the tent of meeting” that God commanded Moses to construct. God provided him detailed instructions (Exodus 25-31). The tabernacle is how God’s presence led the Israelites as they journeyed together (Exodus 40:34-38). Per God’s decree, the ark of the covenant—holding the stone tablets with the Ten Commandments—was to be kept in the section known as the place “Most Holy” (Exodus 26:33). To keep this screened off and separated, the curtain was hung (Exodus 40:21).
It is the death and resurrection of Jesus that tore the curtain and opened the way through it (Hebrews 10:20). He paid with His life our debt, owed because of our sin against God. Jesus redeems us. Now we come to the Father through Him—His Son—who is the way, and the truth, and the life (John 14:6). Jesus is our Savior and Lord, the “true light, which gives light to everyone” (John 1:9).
Happy Easter! He Is Risen; He Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!
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Image: original color pencil drawing by Robin Lybeck: Our Way Through
