THE GOSPEL: Jesus' Death; God's Supernatural Response!

Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. (John 19:31-34 NIV)

This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. (I John 5:6-8) God gives the final witness as to Who Jesus is, by this unusual event and the fulfillment of more prophesies, that the bones of the "Passover lamb" not be broken. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”  [Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20] and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.” [Zechariah 12:10] (John 19:35-37 NIV)

But if that was unusual, what happened next was supernatural. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Matthew 27:51; Mark 15:38; Luke 23:45 NIV) The earth shook, the rocks split  and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. (Matthew 27:51-53 NIV) 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!” (Matthew 27:54; Mark 15:39 NIV) and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” (Luke 23:47 NIV)

Really?  Yes, really!  This is an eyewitness account from many witnesses, recorded in three of the Gospel books.  We can't just believe the things we understand, but we have to believe everything God says and does, through faith.  Why did  the curtain of the temple tear in two from top to bottom?  When God instructed Moses and the children of Israel how to construct the original tabernacle, He said, “You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. You shall hang it upon the four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Their hooks shall be gold, upon four sockets of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy." (Exodus 26:31-33)

The Most Holy area is where the Spirit of God would come, and only ...the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance; the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing. (Hebrews 9:7-8)  But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation. Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:11-12) The curtain tore because now, through faith in Christ Jesus, Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest [Christ Jesus] over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,... (Hebrews 10:19-22)

Now, through faith in Christ Jesus, we have direct access to God, because, After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many,... (Isaiah 53:11 NIV) But what about the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life?  These holy and faithful people, These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. (Hebrews 11:13-16)

This was God proving that “Abraham [and all other holy people] believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” (Romans 4:3) These holy people were saved because they believed the Word of God, even before He came in the flesh. After He came in the flesh and died, “When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.” [Psalm 68:18]  (Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:8-10)  This was the only time this supernatural event needed to happen and it was proof that For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. (Romans 14:8-9) AMEN!