Surely he is

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW

SURELY HE IS

Matt 27:50-54

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. 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. 54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"

NIV

Although we focused on the fact that Jesus gave up his spirit and that men did not kill him, but he laid down his life for us, we would be remiss if we did not also deal with what happened when he laid his life down for us. According to ancient scholars and historians such as Josephus the curtain or veil was sixty feet long, thirty feet wide and four inches thick. It was renewed each year and it took sixty priests to manipulate it. This gives us a clue to the weight of this veil as well. The significance of the veil being torn from top to bottom is of great importance. This shows us that is was an act of God rather than of men. No one or two or three men could make such a tear. We would also have to believe no man would want to tear it. This veil was keeping the Holy of Holies separate from the rest of the temple. The Holy of Holies was so sacred that only once a year would the high priest enter to make atonement for the sins of the people and then he would have bells sown on the hem of his robe and a rope tied around his ankle so that if he was struck dead by God the other priests could pull him out without endangering themselves. This is where the Israelites considered God dwelt. So when Jesus gave up his spirit, when he laid his life down for us, God torn that veil from the top to the bottom making sure we understood that because of Jesus we now have full access to God. We can enter his presence without the fear of being stuck dead.

Heb 10:19-25

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. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

NIV

Not only did the veil get torn from top to bottom, but the earth shook with great force. No man could cause this to happen, in fact this also gives us a clue that man cannot control the earth at all. We have no say what happens to the earth, it is under the complete control of God. Those who would say we can control or have an effect on the environment do not understand God controls it all to the point he can cause the earth to rumble to quake, to shake with such force rocks split in two. Tombs were opened and dead people were raised back to life. What man could do or cause any of that? Some would say we have the responsibility to tend the garden that we have to be good stewards of the earth. Because Adam sinned he was cast out of the garden. He was told he would have to toil all the days of his life for his food. God is in control of the garden, the earth and all that is in it. Sure we should not trash it, but in all reality, we cannot destroy that which God created. For if we could that would mean we are more powerful then God, which we know for certain is not the case.  When the tombs were opened and the dead resurrected it proves how powerful God is. This also proves to us how feeble we are in relationship to God, the creator of all things. Everything he creates he sustains by his power. He has the power to raise the dead, to bring dead bones back to life. This is not the walking dead, but live people who walked back into Jerusalem. We can just imagine how terrified people must have been. Some may have rejoiced because their dead and buried loved ones are now resurrected and living once more. This also gives us the picture of what is to come. We too will not be contained by the grave, for one day will be resurrected to meet our Lord in the air, should he come after our life here is over. But in the meantime we have the right, the privilege to enter the Holy of Holies, to stand, unafraid in the presence of God because of the blood of Christ. This is how much God loves us. What is impossible for man, is possible with God. All things are possible with God. Just to think how terrified those guards were seeing all that happened to the earth when Jesus laid his life down makes us think how terrified the people of this earth will be when Jesus comes for his people and the tombs will be opened, the graves will be opened and many people will be resurrected and rise to meet Jesus in the sky. Surely just as those men exclaimed, the people of this world will say as well. “Surely, Jesus is the Son of God!” Although those guards used the past tense, saying he was the Son of God, we know there is no past tense, for surely he is the Son of God! Surely he is.