(This passage is also referenced in Mark 15:33-41, Luke 23:44-49 and John 19:28-37)
Today’s portion ends with a reference to a significant number of women who not only travelled with Jesus and took care of his needs but also stayed to witness the whole event to the end. Their care and faithfulness was noted and honoured here in this description of the most important moment in history.
The death of the son of God was accompanied by incredible signs and wonders that must have been truly terrifying. Matthew comments that the centurion and the guards were left in no doubt about who Jesus really was! As we have seen in the last three days’ readings, it wasn’t just the believers who got a revelation - God was speaking truth about his son through the most unlikely of people.
Perhaps the most significant of the events mentioned was the mystery of the Temple curtain. Since the time of Moses, the Tabernacle, and then the Temple, were at the centre of the people of God’s worship. The Temple was the place where God’s presence on earth dwelt. It was the place where sacrifices were made and significant events marked. But the Temple layout was a picture of our sin separating us from a holy God. A series of separated courts and rooms protected the people from God’s holy judgement. The innermost sanctuary, where the ark of the covenant and the mercy seat lived and where God’s presence rested, was called the Holy of Holies. No one was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies except the High Priest and even he could only enter once a year on the Day of Atonement. On that day, the High Priest would intercede for the sins of the whole nation.
A huge curtain, sometimes called a veil, separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple. Jewish tradition states that the curtain in Herod’s Temple was as thick as a man’s hand and it took 300 priests to move it. It was 40 cubits (60 feet) long, and 20 (30 feet) wide. Whether this is completely accurate or not, it is clear that the curtain was huge, thick and very heavy. This wall of fabric was not likely to move without a great deal of effort. This veil which represented the separation between God and man—a separation caused by our sin was torn in two as the Son of Man uttered his last cry.
The wall of separation was removed and mankind could have direct access to God through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus. It was torn from top to bottom symbolising that God himself tore down the barrier and opened up the way into his presence.
“But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.” (2 Corinthians 3:16 Pray for those you know who have not yet had the veil removed from their eyes.