SHARING BREAD
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in
two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy
people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus'
resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Matt
27:51-53 (NIV)
What a drama! What a
scene! What a startling supernatural
event! Access now available to the Holy
of Holies as the curtain was torn by an invisible power, the earth shaking and
the rocks crying out, even the dead raised to life as a firstfruits token of
the coming harvest when all the saints of Christ will be physically
raised. Surely these happenings had to
have left onlookers wide eyed and open mouthed!
Do you suppose any were wondering why – particularly those who had
followed our Lord to the cross? In our
verses for today we read of the miracles which accompanied Christ’s death. Our Lord had performed a myriad of miracles
in His life and it is therefore not surprising as well as fitting that we discover
miracles accompanying His death as well.
“Miracles
are the great bell of the universe, which draws men to God’s sermons.” John
Foster
37 “Do not believe me unless I do what my
Father does. 38 But
if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you
may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.” John 10:37-38 (NIV)
To be sure, the rending of the curtain from top to bottom was
no small thing. The curtain of the
temple was placed for concealment of the Most Holy Place – to separate all men,
even the priests, from the presence of God.
Only the high priest - and he just once a year - with great ceremony and
solemnity – was permitted to enter behind it on the Day of Atonement. The significance was pristinely clear, man
was separated from God because of sin and could only approach Him through blood
presented by the priest who also had to offer incense that he himself might obtain
mercy and not die.
In the rending of the curtain, the old law of ordinances was
put away, rent and laid aside. When
Jesus died the sacrifices were finished as all was fulfilled in Him. No blood of bulls or lambs remained needed
for Jesus entered within the veil with His own precious blood. This tearing signified
a new and living way to God. The curtain
prevented people from drawing near (for their own safety) but the tearing of
the curtain signified that Christ by His death – through His blood - had permanently
opened a way to God. There is now no
barrier to God’s presence in the Most Holy Place - for those who are covered by
Jesus’ redeeming blood. Christ’s death
gives believers in Him the needed access and route to God. We can come to Him in full assurance of faith
whenever we want. The writer of Hebrews
tells us:
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter
the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the
curtain, that is, his body, 21 and
since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience
and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for
he who promised is faithful. Heb
10:19-23 (NIV)
“He died, to bring us to God, and, in order to accomplish
this, to tear that curtain of guilt and wrath which interposed between us and
him. We have free access through Christ
to the throne of grace, or mercy seat now, and to the throne of glory hereafter. When Christ had overcome the sharpness of
death, he opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Nothing can obstruct or discourage our access
to heaven.” Matthew Henry
Next we see the earth bearing testimony to Jesus’ innocence
by trembling over the horrible wickedness of Christ’s crucifiers. Remember, we, too, nailed Him to the cross
with our sins. The earthquake also
signified the fatal blow given to the devil’s kingdom – Hallelujah! The hardest and firmest parts of the earth –
the rocks – were made to split – crying out - proclaiming the glory of Jesus
when perhaps no human voice uttered His praises. Remember our Lord’s Word’s to the naysayers
when he entered in triumph to Jerusalem and many were singing Hosanna:
37 When he came near the place where the road goes down
the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God
in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some
of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he
replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Luke
19:37-40 (NIV)
Lastly, we see the tombs broken open and many of the holy
people were raised to life. Even those
who lived and died before the death and resurrection of Christ gained saving
benefit from it as those who have lived since.
Jesus Christ by dying, conquered, disarmed and disabled death. These saints that arose were the present
trophies of Christ’s cross –bringing many men to glory.
What I glean from this:
· Miracles
point me to God.
· Jesus’ death
gives me access to the throne of God. I
can draw near to Him because of the blood of Jesus which covers all my sins. No other sacrifice is needed.
· Sadly, the
greatest event that happened for mankind was not cheered by human voices rather
rocks.
