The Curtain Was Torn

King Jesus is here! The Kingdom of Heaven must be coming! As we read the gospel, Matthew brings us to stand at the foot of Jesus’ cross. That’s where it becomes clear: Jesus is king.

Jesus was crucified and the sign above his head says, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.”

The Roman governor wrote the sign to mock Jesus. Pontius Pilate called Jesus a king to mock the Jewish leaders and the Jews gathering in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover.

Ironically, Pilate’s taunting charge is true: Jesus is King. Already in the first line of his gospel, Matthew introduces Jesus as the Messiah, the son of King David.

Last Sunday, we celebrated how Jesus entered Jerusalem amid a crowd chanted psalms about the Messiah. They lay palm branches and cloaks on the road for the donkey Jesus rode to walk on. Once inside the city, Jesus entered the temple courts like the king of the Jews, the Messiah: a prophet and a king. Jesus announced that the temple ought to be a place of prayer for all nations, but the chief priests and elders “are making it a den of robbers.” It was more than the religious leaders could take.

Jesus was arrested at night and tried by the Sanhedrin. Then he was sent to face charges as “King of the Jews” before the Roman governor.

Pilate found no reason for the charges. In an attempt to set Jesus free, Pilate offers the Jews a choice: release Jesus or Barabbas? Prompted by the chief priests, the crowd chose Barabbas. When asked what to do with Jesus, they chanted: Crucify him! Crucify him!

We read Matthew’s account of Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion this morning. For those with eyes of faith, the cross is the scene of Jesus’ victory, his greatest triumph. On the cross, Jesus is revealed as the king, who opens the doors of heaven wide so we will be ushered into the heavenly kingdom as God’s people, holy and dearly loved.

Reconciliation between God and humankind was promised at the dawn of time. Reconciliation happens at the cross.

You might recall how the way to life with God was closed after Adam & Eve rebelled in the Garden of Eden. After eating the forbidden fruit, our first parents were escorted out of the garden, out of the presence of God, far from the tree of life. Mighty cherubim guard the way back and a flaming sword flashed back and forth. “You shall not pass.”

After Adam & Eve’s rebellion, there’s no way for sin-stained people to approach God in all his holiness. First in the tabernacle, later in the temple, a curtain separates the people from the holy of holies. A heavy curtain shields people from where God is enthroned in holiness on the mercy seat between the golden cherubim on the cover of the ark of the covenant.

Only the high priest can enter the holy of holies – only once a year – but he needs to carry the blood of a sacrifice to atone for his sin and the sin of the people. At the cross, Jesus does something similar, but it’s a one-time sacrifice, once-for-all.

As our chief high priest and king, Jesus steps forward on behalf of his people. He doesn’t just bring the sacrifice; he IS the sacrifice. Jesus, b/c he is 100% human can represent all humankind. As a human without sin or guilt, he can offer his own life to redeem his people.

Matthew makes a big deal of Jesus being the Son of God. He records what the centurion and guards said when Jesus died: “Surely he was the son of God!”

The Roman guards aren’t the first people to reach that conclusion. Matthew describes how Jesus calmed a storm in ch. 14. The disciples confessed, “truly you are the Son of God.”

The tempter used it as a taunt at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, while tempting Jesus in the wilderness, “IF you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from the temple.”

People passing the cross did the same, “Come down for the cross IF you are the Son of God!”

It’s precisely because Jesus isthe Son of God that he stayed on the cross. Because he is the Son of God, Jesus endured the taunting, the torture, and the terror of being forsaken.

On the cross, Jesus experienced the horrors of hell. Remember his cry?

About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Matthew 27:46 (NIV)

Jesus was forsaken by God so that you will never be forsaken.

In fact, by bearing the punishment for human disobedience – mine and yours – Jesus covers our guilt and our shame. He died the death we deserve to open the way to God’s presence; to open the way to eternal life with God and for God.

In his ministry, Jesus announced the kingdom of heaven:

His miracles gave a taste of the healing, renewal, abundance, and joy of the kingdom of heaven.

His parables gave us a way to imagine life in his kingdom.

His commands and explanations of God’s instructions teach us how to live as citizens of his kingdom.

Then at the cross, King Jesus opened the way to the Kingdom of Heaven. He made it possible for us to enter the presence of God Most High without fear and without guilt.

That’s the significance of the signs and wonders that happen when Jesus cries out in a loud voice and gives up his spirit.

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. Matthew 27:51–52 (NIV)

The curtain in the temple was torn open. Any cherubim embroidered in the curtain were dismissed. Jesus opened the way for us to come before God’s mercy seat without fear.

In his death, Jesus broke the power of sin. The blood Jesus shed atones for our rebellion and wrong-doing. The cup at Lord’s Supper and the water of baptism assure you that the blood Jesus shed on the cross cleanses you from sin.

It’s the duty of a king to fight on behalf of his people. That’s what Jesus did at the cross. He battled sin, death, and the evil one and came out victorious. He broke the power of sin and opened the way to God.

Jesus’ body is the temple of God. This temple was torn down, but, as we’ll celebrate on Sunday, Jesus rose from the tomb on the third day!

By faith in Jesus, you can enter the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ death makes it safe for those who die in the Lord; “they will rest from their labor and their deeds with follow them” (Rev. 14:13).

The holy people who rose from their tombs when Jesus died are just the first wave of those who rise from the dead. When Christ returns, all his holy people will be raised to life. The earth will be renewed and all people will experience the healing, renewal, abundance, and the deep, deep joy of the kingdom of heaven.

Jesus’ victory at the cross means victory for you. It is appropriate to be thoughtful to day. It’s proper to take time to consider the price Jesus paid to rescue you. But even the sombreness of Good Friday cannot mask the deep-rooted joy of being cleansed from sin and guilt and being welcomed as a citizen of the Kingdom of God.