The darkest day

Although Pilate could find no fault with Jesus, he allowed his soldiers to take Him away to be crucified. The soldiers made Jesus carry a heavy wooden cross. A large crowd followed them to a hill outside the city.

When they came to a place called The Skull, the soldiers nailed Jesus’ hands and feet to the wooden cross and then raised it upright. They also crucified two criminals, one on His right and one on His left.

Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

The soldiers divided His clothes among themselves, throwing dice to decide who would get each piece.

At midday, the sun stopped shining, and darkness covered the land for three hours. Then Jesus cried out, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.” And with those words, He died. At that very moment, the thick curtain that hung in the Temple was torn in two.

Why did the Temple curtain tear?

There was a special curtain in the Temple that separated the area where the priests could go from the Most Holy Place behind it (see Exodus 26:33). Only the high priest could enter the Most Holy Place, and only once a year. No one else was allowed to enter. The curtain separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the Temple, showing that sin separated people from God and kept them from coming freely into His presence.

When Jesus died, He took the blame and punishment for our sin and opened the way for us to draw near to God. God Himself tore the curtain from top to bottom to show that, through Jesus, we can now come into His presence. When we ask Jesus to forgive us and trust Him to save us, He cleanses us from sin and makes us right with God.

Verse for today

Since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, … let us draw near to God. Hebrews 10:19-20

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