“Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.” — Luke 23:46
It was the last sentence on the cross and after saying this, He breathed His last. Jesus himself has put His Spirit in the hands of the Father. In John 10:7-18, we read that Jesus is teaching his disciple using the Good Shepherd paradigm. He told the disciples, “But I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will, listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock, one shepherd”. In order to get the other sheep into the fold He says, “This is why the Father loves Me, because I am laying down My life so I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down on My own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from My Father. ”The good shepherd gives his life by himself and has the right to take it back and nobody takes it away. Now there is hope for the whole world, regardless of culture, country or breed and we all belong to a single fold. A series of things occurred at that hour, which we read in Matthew 27, Mark 15 and Luke 23. Three of the four Gospels narrate supernatural events that took place after Jesus’ death:
- In the noon the whole earth was in darkness because the sun’s light failed, darkness came over the whole earth.
- Suddenly, the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom.
- The earth quaked and the rocks were split. There was a massive earthquake.
- The tombs were also opened and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised.
- Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” Saying this, He breathed His last.
- The centurion who saw what happened, he began to glorify God, saying, “This man really was righteous!”.
- All the crowds that had gathered for this spectacle, went home, striking their chests.
- All who knew Him, including the women who had followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
People were amazed to see these things. Out of all the prominent thing that took place was the bridge which was created between the Father and us. This bridge was created when the curtain of the sanctuary divides got into two. Although there is no direct reference to which sanctuary, the majority of the researches and commentaries agree that it was the curtain which divided the Holy of Holies. In Exodus 26, we read that God gives instructions to Moses on how he wants the tabernacle to be created. In verses 31-35, we read about the specifications and the purpose regarding the veil given by God.
“You are to make a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet material, and fine woven linen. You are to make it with cherubim skillfully worked into it. You are to hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, which have hooks of gold, and are set on four sockets of silver. You are to hang the curtain from the clasps and bring the Ark of the Testimony there inside the curtain.”
The curtain is to separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. “You are to put the Mercy Seat on the Ark of the Testimony in the Most Holy Place.”
What was so significant about this veil can be seen in Exodus 28:35. The Robe of Aaron had gold bells woven on the lower hem. The purpose of this bill was that when Aaron, and later the High Priest, entered the Holy of Holies, the sound of the bell would indicate that the High Priest is still alive.
The robe must be worn by Aaron whenever he ministers, and its sound will be heard when he enters the sanctuary before the Lord and when he exits, so that he does not die. – Exodus 28:35
Nadab And Abihu, the sons of Aaron were burned to death by the fire as they presented unauthorized fire before God. – Leviticus 10:1
Entering Holy of Holies was restricted and only the High Priest would be allowed to do that. The veil that separated God and His people was torn from top to bottom. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. – Hebrew 4:16
Author: Dr Ajit Onawale
