Strange Days In Jerusalem (Sermon 2) Series

Strange Days in Jerusalem

The Six Miracles of Calvary

Using the theme based on the book, The Six Miracles of Calvary, by William R. Nicholson

Series Begins 2/28/2010

SERIES INTRODUCTION:

17 And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 18 And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days?

Sermon 2: The Rending of the Veil

March 14, 2010

INTRODUCTION:

• In our first sermon, we laid the foundation for the series, then we began our look at the first of the miracles of Calvary, the supernatural darkness.

• Last week, we considered the meaning of the darkness.

• Christ endured for us the price that we should have paid!

• Now, we turn our attention to the second of the great miracles that make up the “Strange Days in Jerusalem.”

Matthew 27:50 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. 51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

Mark 15:38 And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 39 And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Luke 23:44 And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

I. The Design of the Veil

QUOTE: Whenever God does a work, He has a plan for that work, whether it's building the tabernacle or the temple (1 Chron. 28:11-12, 18-19), a local church (Phil. 2:12-13), or the individual Christian life and ministry (Eph. 2:10). (Wiersbe, BEC)

A. The Pattern (Ex. 25:40)

“The veil of the Temple was the veil of the Tabernacle perpetuated.” (W.R. Nicholson)

QUOTE: God warned Moses to make everything according to the pattern revealed to him on the mount (Ex. 25:40; Heb. 8:5). The earthly tabernacle was a copy of the heavenly tabernacle where our Lord now ministers to and for His people (Heb. 8:1-5; 9:1). (Wiersbe, BEC)

Exodus 25:40 And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was shewed thee in the mount.

B. The Parts

1. Colors (Ex. 26:31a; 36:35a; 2 Chron. 3:14a)

Exodus 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet

Exodus 36:35 [Tabernacle here] And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet

2 Chronicles 3:14 [Temple here] And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.

• Placing the purple between the blue and scarlet resulted in a beautiful harmony of color coordination.

2. Fabric (Ex. 26:31b; 36:35b; 2 Chron. 3:14b)

QUOTE: The curtain between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was an elaborately woven fabric of 72 twisted plaits of 24 threads each. ESV Study Bible

Exodus 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work:

Exodus 36:35 And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.

2 Chronicles 3:14 [Temple here] And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.

C. The Picture (Ex. 26:31c; 36:35c; 2 Chron. 3:14c)

Exodus 26:31 And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work:

Exodus 36:35 And he made a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen: with cherubims made he it of cunning work.

2 Chronicles 3:14 [Temple here] And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.

• Into the fabric were woven a mass of cherubim.

• It is called a cunning work (skillful, artistic work), made after the cunning work of God.

• The candlestick, placed on the south wall in the Holy Place, would cast its seven-fold light on this beautiful curtain. The smoke from the altar of incense, located immediately beside the veil, cast shadows that would play with the light.

• This would add to the mystery of what lay behind.

• Yet for all this beauty, the priests knew it for what it was … a barrier!

D. The Proportions

It was 60 feet (18 m) high and 30 feet (9.1 m) wide. ESV Study Bible