veil of the temple

When the Light Went Out

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, He said,
“Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit:”
and having said thus, He gave up the ghost.                        Luke 23:44-46

This event of the darkness happened around noon. Some commentators say that this was and solar eclipse. I tend to disagree, but cannot prove or disprove either way. I think the darkness was world wide; not just a local event, thus it would be a supernatural event. The Light of the world had just became sin for us (John 9:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21). He was taking the wrath of God upon Himself, for the sins of the world.

When the veil of the temple was torn in two, and right  down the middle from the top to the bottom God was showing that the way into the holiest of all places; the very throne of God was open for all who would believe coming to Him through the death of His Son on the cross, His burial, and resurrection.

Jesus in commending His spirit to the Father is not sending the Holy Spirit (though the spirit of Jesus Christ is holy), but His own human spirit. In His living spirit throughout His life as a Man He has been faithful to do His Father’s will, being sinless, spotless, without blot or blemish; holy unto the Holy One. In His spirit He has gone all the way to the sacrifice of Himself for sin, in obedience to His Father. Now, as He is near to death of the body, He sends His eternal spirit back to the Father who gives spirit to all of Adam’s race.

When we realize our lostness, our condemnation, the guilt of our sins and realize that we need a Savior, and only Jesus Christ can save us; we can call out to Him in faith, believing Him, asking forgiveness, and He hears, He saves and gives us eternal life.

The Door Is Open…

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”  Mark 15:37-38

Jesus’s last words were spoken, “It is finished” and then something awesome and heavenly happened. The veil of the temple which was supposed to conceal the ark of the covenant, was torn in two.

It was torn from the top signifying that it was definitely the hand of God that tore it. What did this mean?

The old was being torn away, and the new was beginning. God was saying to one and to all who would hear Him, and receive the gift of He and His Son Jesus could come to Him. He is basically saying, “The door is open. Come on in.”

The door is opened by the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Will you hear His voice and enter into His peace and rest? It is your call.

Words of Jesus; Son of God, God the Son – 082320

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

“And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying,
Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?
which is, being interpreted,
My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?
And some of them that stood by, when they heard it, said, ‘Behold, He calleth Elias.’ And one ran and filled a spunge full of vinegar, and put it on a reed, and gave Him to drink, saying, ‘Let alone; let us see whether Elias will come to take him down.’ And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.  Mark 15:33-39  (KJB)

Born in a Manger Meek and Mild, But not for Long

/ Tim A. / Leave a comment

In Christian churches every Sunday the resurrection of Christ Jesus is mentioned, He is worshipped as the risen Saviour. We can say, and do say that we are His and He is ours. He is a glorious Saviour, Lord, risen Lord, and coming King.

There is an obscure set of verses in Matthew. The event; part of the events of the resurrection of Christ; is not mentioned by any of the other three Gospel writers.

There are some who do not believe in the resurrection period who classify it as myth, or merely allegory. However, if we call this merely “Allegory”, then we call Scripture a lie; and it is not.

Hear the writing of Matthew:

“And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after His resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.” Matthew 27:51-53 (KJV)

At the death of Jesus (v. 50) the veil of the temple was torn from the top to the bottom; signifying that the way to the presence and throne of God was open for all who would come through the cross of Jesus, and there was an earthquake. Notice that the graves of saints; Old Testament believers; were opened, and after the resurrection of Jesus many of these saints arose, and came out of their graves and appeared to other people.

There is much mystery in these verses. These people are mentioned nowhere else in Scripture. Let me give you a quote from the MacArthur Study Bible:

“27:52 bodies of the saints…were raised. Matthew alone mentions this miracle. Nothing more is said about these people, which would be unlikely if they remained on earth for long. Evidently, these people were given glorified bodies; they appeared “to many” (v. 53), enough to establish the reality of the miracle; and then they no doubt ascended to glory– a kind of foretaste of 1 Thess. 4:16.”

These were part of the “First Fruits” of the first resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20, 23; Revelation 20:5, 6).

There is life, and joy, and peace for all who will come by faith to the crucified, buried, and risen Saviour. He is coming again soon. When He comes again for His Church it will be in the air. It will not be secret; but only the redeemed of the Lord will be going with Him.