Quick recap of last weeks message:
Began on Friday, with Martha serving Jesus and disciples supper, and Mary anointing Jesus’ feet in Bethany.
Jesus foretold His death.
As Jesus and the disciples approach Jerusalem, He sends a couple disciples to get a donkey, and a couple disciples to secure a room for the 12 and Him to observe Passover.
Before they entered the city, Jesus wept over Jerusalem, as He know in only a few short years Jerusalem would again be completely destroyed.
Jesus enters the city riding on a donkey to the cries of Hosanna.
He goes into and clears the temple of the den of thieves.
The religious leaders try to trick him.
He heals, and speaks in parables.
He gives His disciples one final big teaching @ the Mount of Olives.
The religious vigorously conspire to arrest and kill Jesus.
Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper @ Passover meal.
He washes the disciples feet.
He predicts the sheep will scatter and that Peter will deny Him 3 times.
Jesus and disciples go to Gethsemane where Judas betrays Him and is arrested.
He is handed over to the religious leaders.
Peter denies Jesus 3 times.
Which brings us to the trial and crucifixion of our Lord and Savior.
Although today’s message relies heavily on Matthew’s account of these events, we’ll examine how the other 3 gospels weave into this story.
Just as last week, I’ll ask that you not try to turn to each scripture referenced but rather take in the story. This is HIS story! And this is THE story for us as disciples of Christ.
Having said that, if you’d like to turn to Matthew chapter 27, this is where most of today’s message takes place.
We’ll begin in verse 1.
Jesus is handed over to Pilate.
All 4 gospels recount this event.
Matthew 27:1–2 “When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.”
John records it as this:
John 18:28 “Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, (which was Pilates headquarters) lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover.”
Matthew 27:3–8 “Then Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” And they said, “What is that to us? You see to it!” Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. But the chief priests took the silver pieces and said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, because they are the price of blood.” And they consulted together and bought with them the potter’s field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day.”
While Matthews gospel is the only gospel that records Judas hanging himself, Luke records it in Acts 1:18–19 “(Now this man (Judas) purchased a field with the wages of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst open in the middle and all his entrails gushed out. And it became known to all those dwelling in Jerusalem; so that field is called in their own language, Akel Dama (a-kell-dama), that is, Field of Blood.)”
Jesus faces Pilate
This account is found in all 4 gospels
Matthew 27:11–14 “Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.”
I’d like us to go back to Gethsemane for just a second. After Peter drew his sword and struck the Roman soldier and cut off his ear, Jesus told Peter to put away his sword, and He said this:
Matthew 26:53 “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”
So, He didn’t need to defend Himself to Pilate, He had already said everything that needed to be said about defending Himself, while back @ Gethsemane.
The leaders continue to try to stir things up:
Luke 23:2–5 “And they began to accuse Him, saying, “We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to pay taxes to Caesar, saying that He Himself is Christ, a King.” Then Pilate asked Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” He answered him and said, “It is as you say.” So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no fault in this Man.” But they were the more fierce, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.””
John 18:31–32 “Then Pilate said to them, “You take Him and judge Him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,” that the saying of Jesus might be fulfilled which He spoke, signifying by what death He would die.”
Then we see Jesus taking the place of Barabbas
All 4 gospels record this event
Matthew 27:15–20 “Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.”
But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.”
Matthew 27:21–26 “The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”
Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.”
We see that Pilate even tried to persuade the crown with these words recorded in Luke 23:15 “no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.”
Scripture describes Barabbas as a crowd inciter, a robber, and a murderer.
Soldiers mock Jesus
This event only recorded in two of the gospels
Matthew 27:27–31 “Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.”
Jesus on the Cross
All 4 record this
Matthew 27:32–37 “Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS”
Matthew 27:38–44 “Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left. And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” Even the robbers who were crucified with Him reviled Him with the same thing.”
Mark 15:25 “Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.”
Mark 15:28 “So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.””
Luke records this:
Luke 23:27–31 “And a great multitude of the people followed Him, and women who also mourned and lamented Him. But Jesus, turning to them, said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For indeed the days are coming in which they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren, wombs that never bore, and breasts which never nursed!’ Then they will begin ‘to say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ For if they do these things in the green wood, what will be done in the dry?””
Johns account adds a couple of additional verses:
John 19:23–24 “Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says: “They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.”
Jesus dies on the Cross
Recorded in all 4
Matthew 27:45–50 “Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.”
Johns account adds this:
John 19:28–30 “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”
The Veil was torn
Recorded in synoptics-all gospels but John
Matthew 27:51–56 “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!” And many women who followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to Him, were there looking on from afar, among whom were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.”
---ask others “what does your bible say---
Now that we’ve taken a chronological look at this day, I’d like to dig a little deeper into verse 51.
Matthew 27:51 “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,”
----ask others what does their bible say----
So, what’s the big deal about some veil or curtain being torn, anyway?
The book of Exodus gives us instruction with great detail what the veil is.
The veil was located in the temple in Jerusalem.
The temple consisted of a court or porch, the Holy Place, and The Holy of Holies.
Only the High Priest could enter there and only once a year on the Day of Atonement.
In order to truly grasp the magnitude of the veil being torn, we must be at least a little acquainted, with the significance of the veil in Jewish culture.
I encourage you dig a little to learn more about the temple and specifically the veil.
The veil separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.
Only a very few select people were allowed to pass through the curtain or veil to gain access to God in the Holy of Holies.
Here’s another significant aspect of the veil being torn.
Matthew 27:51 “Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,”
Let’s examine the sequence in this verse:
The veil was torn in two from top to bottom
the earth quaked
the rocks were split
For years I thought the earthquake caused the veil to be torn, but scripture tells us it was torn in two from top to bottom,
In all likelihood, the earthquake would have ripped it from bottom to top.
Also, scripture records:
The veil was torn first,
The the earthquake occurred.
So how did that veil get torn in two from top to bottom, anyway?
It didn’t just have a rip in it. It was torn in two from top to bottom.
Had it just been a slight rip, this would have very likely continued to allow only a select few to pass through it.
No, it was ripped in two, from top to bottom.
At the very moment Jesus breathed His last, the veil was torn in two, top to bottom by God.
Jesus’ death gave us full access to God.
Hebrews 6:19–20 “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
The writer of Hebrews explained that Jesus has gone “behind the veil” for us, to serve as our High Priest.
The tearing of the temple veil indicated the start of Christ’s ministry as High Priest.
We no longer need to go through a regular priest to have access to God.
We can go directly to Christ who now serves in that role.
John Piper wrote “The tearing of the curtain that separated the sinful people from the holy presence of God signifies what happened when the flesh of Jesus was torn. The tearing of Jesus’ flesh secured the reconciliation between God and his sinful people. That is what the tearing of the curtain signified.”
Stick with me now as I move into my first closing!
The title of this series is:
Were you there?
This is a metaphorical question that I am asking of you and me.
Were you there when Martha served Jesus and the disciples and Mary anointed Jesus’ feet?
Were you there when Jesus foretold His death?
Did you understand it, or did it even phase you?
Were you one of the disciples that Jesus sent to get a donkey, or secure a room for Passover?
Were you there when Jesus wept over Jerusalem?
Were you there as a thief in the temple as Jesus cleared it?
Were you there, as a religious leader trying to trick Jesus?
Were you there as He healed and taught in the Temple?
Were you there as a religious leader conspiring to arrest and kill Jesus?
Were you there as Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper?
Did Jesus wash your feet?
Were you among the sheep that scattered as Jesus was arrested and tried?
Were you there in the Garden sleeping, as Jesus sweat blood?
Were you there standing next to Judas as he betrayed Jesus, and was handed over to the religious leaders?
Were you there in Peters heart as he denied Christ 3 times?
Listen, the truth of the matter is, we were all there!
The Good News is:
The Veil was Torn for you and me!
Romans 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”
Romans 8:38–39 “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Hallelujah,
The Veil was Torn!!!
