Then Jesus shouted out again, and he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart…
Matthew 27:50-51Matthew 27:50-51
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
50 Once again Jesus shouted, and then he died. 51 At once the curtain in the temple q curtain in the temple: There were two curtains in the temple. One was at the entrance, and the other separated the holy place from the most holy place that the Jewish people thought of as God's home on earth. The second curtain is probably the one that is meant. was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and rocks split apart.
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Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
Mark 15:37-38Mark 15:37-38
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
37 Jesus shouted and then died. 38 At once the curtain in the temple a curtain in the temple: There were two curtains in the temple. One was at the entrance, and the other separated the holy place from the most holy place that the Jewish people thought of as God's home on earth. The second curtain is probably the one which is meant. tore in two from top to bottom.
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By this time it was noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the thick veil hanging in the Temple was torn apart. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.
Luke 23:44-46Luke 23:44-46
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
The Death of Jesus 44 Around noon the sky turned dark and stayed that way until the middle of the afternoon. 45 The sun stopped shining, and the curtain in the temple o curtain in the temple: There were two curtains in the temple. One was at the entrance, and the other separated the holy place from the most holy place that the Jewish people thought of as God's home on earth. The second curtain is probably the one which is meant. split down the middle. 46 . Jesus shouted, “Father, I put myself in your hands!” Then he died.
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A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
The Jewish leaders didn’t want the victims hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath and a very special Sabbath at that, because it was the Passover), so they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was dead already, so they didn’t break his legs.
John 19:29-33John 19:29-33
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
29 A jar of cheap wine was there. Someone then soaked a sponge with the wine and held it up to Jesus' mouth on the stem of a hyssop plant. 30 After Jesus drank the wine, he said, “Everything is done!” He bowed his head and died. A Spear Is Stuck in Jesus' Side 31 The next day would be both a Sabbath and the Passover. It was a special day for the Jewish people, k a special day for the Jewish people: Passover could be any day of the week. But according to the Gospel of John, Passover was on a Sabbath in the year that Jesus was nailed to a cross. and they did not want the bodies to stay on the crosses during that day. So they asked Pilate to break the men's legs l break the men's legs: This was the way that the Romans sometimes speeded up the death of a person who had been nailed to a cross. and take their bodies down. 32 The soldiers first broke the legs of the other two men who were nailed there. 33 But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, and they did not break his legs.
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The final words of Christ pave the way for us to come into God’s presence with great confidence and hope. Jesus’ example – constant prayer, constant communion with God – is not just a clever pattern for us to follow. It is a reality, a privilege we have to speak openly to God, anytime, anywhere, because of what Christ did. Our sin has been addressed, so we can now go directly to God. We can do what the prophets and priests of Israel had both hoped for and dreaded – stand in his presence, and live.
Notice that Jesus’ death was willing, if not even unnaturally abbreviated. Whether Jesus’ “early” death was the result of overly-grievous beating, his own will submitting to God’s plan, or some combination, Jesus willingly gave himself to God as a sacrifice; As one who stood in our place. Death gripped his body so that he could show us that His power would ultimately overcome it. It was a guarantee that he would do the same for us.
This willing death, the full submission of Jesus’ body to the human condition, was accompanied by a miraculous act. The veil in the temple was ripped – top to bottom. This “veil” was no flimsy, shimmering piece of silk, or some beaded curtain. It was thick. Not something you would normally expect to hear closely connected with the word “rip”.
The veil represented a closed door. In the tabernacle, and then in the temple, it concealed behind it God’s glory. God was not to be approached beyond this doorway except by the high priest, once a year, to offer atonement, symbolic payment, for Israel’s sin. Coming into God’s glorious presence was something fearful, dreaded. Who could stand in his presence?
We don’t deserve it, but Jesus death, his declaration of completion, has prepared the way. We can boldly, as the writer of Hebrews tells us, come into God’s presence. We can seek his counsel, understand his character, worship at his very feet. We can know what he wants for us by soaking up his very nature. We can take on Jesus’ form; we can know his mind and see where he is going.
So what is your daily prayer life like? Is it frustrating? Is it full of trust and history? Is it joyful, or something you dread? Whatever it has been up to now, make it constant and real, just like Jesus did.
practice
This week, sacrifice something for someone you would normally overlook. Whether time, energy or money, do it remembering that Jesus willingly gave up everything for us, and we did not deserve it.
The words of Jesus, “Into your hands I commend my spirit.” come from Psalm 31:5Psalm 31:5
English: Contemporary English Version (1999) - CEV
5 . You are faithful,
and I trust you
because you rescued me.
WP-Bible plugin, in the NLT, “I entrust my spirit into your hand.” Taken alone, it is interesting to hear Jesus quote scripture from the cross. But this Psalm speaks prophetically of Jesus as he suffered. Read, thinking prayerfully about what Christ was going through as he completed His work of salvation. Here is the Psalm:
O Lord, I have come to you for protection; don’t let me be put to shame.
Rescue me, for you always do what is right.
Bend down and listen to me; rescue me quickly.
Be for me a great rock of safety, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.
You are my rock and my fortress.
For the honor of your name, lead me out of this peril.
Pull me from the trap my enemies set for me,
for I find protection in you alone.
I entrust my spirit into your hand.
Rescue me, Lord, for you are a faithful God.
I hate those who worship worthless idols.
I trust in the Lord.
I am overcome with joy because of your unfailing love, for you have seen my troubles, and you care about the anguish of my soul.
You have not handed me over to my enemy but have set me in a safe place.
Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.
My sight is blurred because of my tears.
My body and soul are withering away.
I am dying from grief; my years are shortened by sadness.
Misery has drained my strength;
I am wasting away from within.
I am scorned by all my enemies and despised by my neighbors-even my friends are afraid to come near me.
When they see me on the street, they turn the other way.
I have been ignored as if I were dead, as if I were a broken pot.
I have heard the many rumors about me, and I am surrounded by terror.
My enemies conspire against me, plotting to take my life.
But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, “You are my God!”
My future is in your hands.
Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
Let your favor shine on your servant.
In your unfailing love, save me.
Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord, for I call out to you for help.
Let the wicked be disgraced; let them lie silent in the grave.
May their lying lips be silenced-those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.
Your goodness is so great!
You have stored up great blessings for those who honor you.
You have done so much for those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence, safe from those who conspire against them.
You shelter them in your presence, far from accusing tongues.
Praise the Lord, for he has shown me his unfailing love.
He kept me safe when my city was under attack.
In sudden fear I had cried out, “I have been cut off from the Lord!”
But you heard my cry for mercy and answered my call for help.
Love the Lord, all you faithful ones!
For the Lord protects those who are loyal to him, but he harshly punishes all who are arrogant.
So be strong and take courage, all you who put your hope in the Lord!Psalm 31
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