Tuesday: Torn Veil and Rent Rocks
Each Gospel writer told the story of Jesus from various perspectives, but all focused on His death. Matthew alone, though, records the opening of the graves after the temple veil was torn.
Read Matthew 27:49-54. What is the meaning of these events? What hope do they point to for us?
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
Jesus died right after the mob, in ignorance of Jesus’ real words, mocked Him about having Elijah come to save Him. Their mockery was another powerful but sad example of how Jesus has been misunderstood by many of His own people.
Matthew then records that the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom. The symbolism is unmistakable: a new era in salvation history had begun. The sacrificial services, for so long pointing to Jesus, were no longer necessary. The old earthly type was now replaced by something so much better.
Read Hebrews 8:1-6. What do these texts say that help us to understand what happened to the earthly sanctuary system and what has replaced it?
Matthew records not only the tearing of the veil but the rocks splitting, the graves opening, and some of the dead being raised—events that could happen only because of what Jesus had accomplished by dying as our Substitute for sin. So here in Matthew, we can see things happening that the old system itself could never have caused. “For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins” (Heb. 10:4, NKJV). Of course, only Jesus could take away sins, and for us the great result, the great promise, of Jesus’ taking away our sins is the resurrection from death. Without that promise, we have nothing (see 1 Cor. 15:13-14, 1 Cor 15:19). In these early resurrections (we don’t know how many), we can see the hope and promise of our resurrection at the end of this age.
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What emptiness it would be if we did not have the assurance of the promise. Let us continue to ask the Lord, help us to have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. According to Romans 8:11 KJV -- But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you
Amen!
Amen indeed Kareen!
Jesus has set a perfect example and is our saviour. Through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, There is hope for all who walk in the righteous way.
All of the work has been done by Jesus when he conquered death for us to have eternal life with Him. Our "work" is to believe in Him and follow Him in true surrender, allowing our lives and actions to reflect this.
the ppl that were risen im guessing they were righteous. Did they go on living their lives with their families where they left off?
John, we can only speculate however if we compare the information from the Bible such as 1Corinthians 6:14 we would have to ask what reason would there be to put someone to death again, after being resurrected? Jesus as well as others, was seen by those that were resurrected. 1Corinthians`15:4-8.
John,
I suggest that the people that rose in that 'special' resurrection had been martyrs - yes, righteous martyrs. "They were those who had been co-laborers with God, and who at the cost of their lives had borne testimony to the truth." (Desire of Ages p.786)
"They were chosen and holy ones of every age [i.e. of every historical period], from creation down even to the days of Christ." (Early Writings p.184) So to me it is entirely possible that the very first martyr - Abel - was among those that were raised up.
And it is interesting, I think, that the "graves [of those people] were opened" when Jesus died, but they did not actually come to life until 3 days later, "after His resurrection" (Matt 27:52-53).
Yes Stewart, Jesus' death made life possible, but until He, who is the resurrection and the life would rise again, no voice could call them forth. He alone is given the power to raise the dead.
Hallo John, I think the following from Selected Messages Book 1 pp 304/5 should answer your question:
"When Christ cried out while upon the cross, “It is finished” (John 19:30), there was a mighty earthquake, that rent open the graves of many who had been faithful and loyal, bearing their testimony against every evil work, and magnifying the Lord of hosts. As the Life-giver came forth from the sepulcher, proclaiming, “I am the resurrection, and the life” (John 11:25), He summoned these saints from the grave. When alive, they had borne their testimony unflinchingly for the truth; now, they were to be witnesses to Him who had raised them from the dead. These, said Christ, are no longer the captives of Satan. I have redeemed them; I have brought them from the grave as the first fruits of My power, to be with Me where I am, nevermore to see death or experience sorrow.
During His ministry, Jesus raised the dead to life. He raised the son of the widow of Nain, the daughter of Jairus, and Lazarus; but these were not clothed with immortality. After they were raised, they continued to be subject to death. But those who came forth from the grave at Christ's resurrection were raised to everlasting life. They were the multitude of captives that ascended with Him as trophies of His victory over death and the grave.
After His resurrection, Christ did not show Himself to any save His followers; but testimony in regard to His resurrection was not wanting. Those who were raised with Christ “appeared unto many” (Matthew 27:53), declaring, Christ has risen from the dead, and we are risen with Him. They bore testimony in the city to the fulfillment of the scripture, “Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead” (Isaiah 26:19). These saints contradicted the lie which the Roman guard had been hired to circulate—that the disciples had come by night and stolen Him away. This testimony could not be silenced.
Christ was the first fruits of them that slept. It was to the glory of God that the Prince of life should be the first fruits, the antitype of the wave sheaf. “For whom he did foreknow, he also did pre-destinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren” (Romans 8:29). This very scene, the resurrection of Christ from the dead, had been celebrated in type by the Jews. When the first heads of grain ripened in the field, they were carefully gathered; and when the people went up to Jerusalem, these were presented to the Lord as a thank offering. The people waved the ripened sheaf before God, acknowledging Him as the Lord of the harvest. After this ceremony the sickle could be put to the wheat, and the harvest gathered.
So those who had been raised were to be presented to the universe as a pledge of the resurrection of all who believe in Christ as their personal Saviour. The same power that raised Christ from the dead will raise His church, and glorify it with Christ, as His bride, above all principalities, above all powers, above every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in the heavenly courts, the world above. The victory of the sleeping saints will be glorious on the morning of the resurrection."
How privileged we are as a people to have a 'smaller light' to guide us in our studies.
thank u..and AMEN
this profound truth is so encouraging! I had questions on this which have been explicitly answered by the hand of inspiration. May God's name be praised!
Amen!!!
Christ's death was accompanied by at least four miraculous events; darkness, the splitting of the curtain in the Temple, an earthquake, and dead people rising from their tombs. Therefore, Jesus's death could not have gone unnoticed. Everyone knew something significant had happened.. The curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies at Christ's death symbolized that the barrier between God and His people was removed. Now all people are free to approach God because of Christ's sacrifice for our sins( Heb. 9:1-14)
the veil torn so that we can approach boldly the throne of mercy c.f mercy seat and the ark of the testimony. the entire event fulfills ps 85:10 justice and mercy kissing each other
I agree with you VT Otieno, and yet when that veil was torn, it also revealed that the Most Holy Place was empty. There was no Ark of the Covenant, there was no Mercy Seat, there was no Divine Glory, in that place.
The historian, Gibbon (speaking of the time between Jesus' ascension and the destruction of the Temple in AD70) writes that the Pagans "had long wondered at the strange report of an EMPTY sanctuary". (Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, chp.15, para.7)
In 63 B.C. the Roman, Pompey, leading Imperial forces against Jerusalem, took the city, and brought Judea into the Empire. While there, this man entered into the Most Holy Place in the Temple, and to his surprise found that it was empty. But of course it had been empty for a long time - ever since the days of Jeremiah.
The other articles (the Table, the Candlestick, and the Altar of Incense,) were still there, in the Holy Place, but in the Most Holy Place? Nothing!