The Veil

Saturday, October 23, 2021

44-46 By now, it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout. Finally, the Temple curtain split right down the middle. Jesus called loudly, “Father, I place my life in your hands!” Then he breathed his last.

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47 When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: “This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!”

48-49 All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home. However, those who knew Jesus well, along with the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil.

-Luke 23:44-49 The Message

Verse 44: It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until the ninth hour,

Verse 45:, because the sun stopped shining, the temple’s veil was torn in two.

Verse 46: And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” And having said this, He died.

Verse 47: Now, when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “This man was in fact innocent.”

Verse 48: And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, after watching what had happened, began to return home, beating their chests. Verse 49: All His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.

Verse 44 study: For three hours, darkness covered the entire land. All nature seems to mourn over the tragedy of the death of God’s Son.

Verse 45 study: The tearing of the veil showed a symbolizing event in Christ’s work on the cross. The temple was divided into three parts: Courts for everybody; the holy place where only priests can enter; and the holy of holies, where the high priests can only enter once a year to atone for people’s sins. It was the holy of holies, the ark of the covenant, and God’s presence with it rested. The torn veil was the one that closed off the holy of holies from view. Christ’s death is the barrier that split in two between God and man. Now everybody can approach God directly through Christ (Hebrews 9:1-4, 10:19-22).

Father, verse 48 reads: “And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, after watching what had happened, began to return home, beating their chests.” While they are beating their chests, you are already 5,000 steps ahead of them. When we feel in doubt because our enemy defeated us, let it remind us we are already ahead, it takes time to show it through your plans. In Jesus’ name. Amen!