Paid In Full: An In-depth Look at the Defining Moments of Christ's Passion (27 page)

At the exact moment Jesus was breathing His last breath on the Cross at Golgotha, Caiaphas the high priest was standing at his station in the inner court of the temple, finishing the sacrifices of the spotless Passover lambs. In the same instant that Jesus exclaimed, “It is finished!” — miles away from Golgotha inside the temple at Jerusalem — an inexplicable, mystifying supernatural event occurred. The massive, fortified veil that stood before the Holy of Holies was suddenly split in half from the top all the way to the bottom!

The sound of that veil splitting must have been deafening as it ripped and tore, starting from the top and going all the way down to the floor. It was as if invisible, divine hands had reached out to grab it, rip it to shreds, and discard it.

Imagine how shocked Caiaphas must have been when he heard the ripping sounds inside the temple and then watched as the veil was torn in half, leaving the two sides of the once-massive curtain lying collapsed to his right and his left. Just think what must have gone through this evil high priest’s mind when he saw that the way to the Holy of Holies was opened — and that God’s Presence was no longer there!

You see, when Jesus was lifted up on the Cross, that Cross became the eternal mercy seat on which the blood of the final Sacrifice was sprinkled. Once that Sacrifice was made, it was no longer necessary for a high priest to continually make sacrifices year after year, for Jesus’ blood had now settled the issue forever!

For this cause, God Himself ripped the veil of the temple in half, declaring that the way to the Holy of Holies was now available to everyone who came to Him through the blood of Jesus! This is why the apostle Paul wrote that Jesus “…hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us” (Ephesians 2:14).

Jesus’ death was such a dramatic event that even the earth reacted to it. Matthew 27:51 says, “…The earth did quake, and the rocks rent.” The word “earth” is the word
ges
, which describes
the whole earth.
The word “quake” is the Greek word
seiso,
which means
to shake, to agitate
, or
to create a commotion.
It is where we get the word for a
seismograph,
the apparatus that registers the intensity of an earthquake. It is interesting to note that Origen, the early Christian leader, recorded that there were “great earthquakes” at the time of Jesus’ crucifixion.
¹¹

I find it so amazing that although Israel rejected Jesus and the Roman authorities crucified Him, creation
always
recognized Him! During His life on this earth, the waves obeyed Him; water turned to wine at His command; fishes and bread multiplied at His touch; the atoms in water solidified so He could walk across it; and the wind ceased when He spoke to it. So it should come as no surprise that Jesus’ death was a traumatic event for creation. The earth shook, trembled, and shuddered at the death of its Creator, for it instantly felt its loss.

The earth shook, trembled, and shuddered at the death of its Creator, for it instantly felt its loss.

The earth shuddered so violently when Jesus died that even “…the rocks rent.…” The word “rocks” is
petra
, referring to
large rocks
. The other word that could have been used for “rocks” is the word
lithos
, which meant
small stones
. But Matthew tells us that
huge, large rocks
were “rent” by the shaking of the earth. The word “rent” is
schidzo
, meaning
to rend, to tear, to violently tear asunder
, or
to terribly fracture.
This was a
serious
earthquake! It makes me realize all over again the incredible significance of the death of Jesus Christ!

When Jesus’ blood was accepted at the Cross as final payment for man’s sin, the need to habitually offer sacrifices year after year was eliminated. The Holy of Holies, a place limited only to the high priest once a year, has now become open and accessible to all of us! As “believer-priests,” each of us can now enjoy the presence of God every day. This is why Hebrews 10:19,22 says, “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.… Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience….”

The way into the Holy of Holies has been thrown wide open to us. Now it’s up to us to take a few minutes each day to enter into the presence of God to worship Him and to make our requests known. Jesus died for us so we could “…come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). He has done His part. Now it’s up to us to come with boldness before the throne of grace to receive the divine help God has already provided for us.

God Himself ripped the veil of the Holy of Holies in half from top to bottom. In so doing, He declared that man could now come freely to stand in His holy presence. Furthermore, God demonstrated that sin no longer separated Him from man. Once He had walked with man in the Garden before Adam sinned. Now that the penalty for sin was paid through Jesus, God would once more walk freely among those who chose to walk with Him.

How can you take full advantage of your opportunity to experience ongoing fellowship with the Father? What do you need to do differently?

The earth and its elements have always recognized and responded to the voice and the presence of the One who created them.

How readily do
you
respond to the voice and the presence of the Holy Spirit who resides within you?

God personally removed all barriers that blocked man from His holy presence.

Are you tolerating any unnecessary hindrances in your life that prevent you from coming boldly before the throne of God?

Chapter 28:
A Burial of Love

When it was time for Jesus’ body to be brought down from the Cross, Pilate received a surprise visit from a high-ranking member of the Sanhedrin who was a secret follower of Jesus. His name was Joseph, from the city of Arimathea; thus, we know this man as
Joseph of Arimathea
. Another high-ranking member of the Sanhedrin accompanied Joseph — also a secret disciple of Jesus. This second man’s relationship with Jesus began with a secret visit in the middle of the night, recorded in John 3:1-21. The second admirer’s name was
Nicodemus
.

Let’s begin with Joseph of Arimathaea and see what we know of him. To obtain an accurate picture of this man, we must turn to Mark 15:42 and 43, which says, “And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counseller, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.”

This verse tells us that Joseph of Arimathea was an “honorable counselor.” The Greek word for “honorable” is
euschemon
, a compound of the words
eu,
meaning
well
or
good
, and the word
schema
, meaning
form,
often referring to
an outward appearance
. When compounded together, the new word means
a good outward appearance.
It refers to
people who have a good reputation; people who have a good standing in society;
or
people who are prominent, influential, and wealthy
. The word “counselor” is the Greek word
bouleutes
, the word for
a member of the Sanhedrin.
This is the same word used to describe
Roman senators
. By using this word
bouleutes
, Mark tells us that Joseph of Arimathea’s position in the land of Israel was one of great honor and respect.

The above verse also tells us that he “waited for the kingdom of God.” The Greek word for “waited” is
prosdechomai.
Other examples of this word are found in Acts 24:15, where it describes
a hope
or
an expectation
. In Romans 16:2, Paul uses this word to tell the Roman church
to receive
Phebe, suggesting that they
fully receive
and
embrace
her. In Hebrews 10:34, it is translated
to take,
and it means
to fully and completely take something without reservation of hesitation.
So when Mark 15:43 tells us that Joseph of Arimathea “…waited for the kingdom of God…,” this doesn’t refer to a do-nothing, “hang-around-and-see-what-happens” kind of waiting. Joseph was earnestly looking for and anticipating the Kingdom. He was inwardly ready
to take it, to fully receive it,
and
to embrace it without any reservation or hesitation.

This explains why Joseph was attracted to the ministry of Jesus. Because of Joseph’s deep hunger and longing to see the Kingdom of God, he ventured out to see this Jesus of Nazareth.
Spiritual hunger is always a prerequisite to receiving the Kingdom of God
, and Joseph of Arimathea possessed that hunger. His willingness to think “outside the circle” of how others in the Sanhedrin thought no doubt made him unique in the supreme council. However, it appears that the other members of the council shut their eyes and tolerated Joseph due to his prominent position and extreme wealth.

Next, Mark tells us that Joseph of Arimathea went “boldly unto Pilate.” Although he was undoubtedly known for his spiritual hunger, John 19:38 informs us that this Joseph had never publicly announced that he was a follower of Jesus “for fear of the Jews.”

As a member of the Sanhedrin, Joseph was well aware of the exultation the supreme council members felt over Jesus’ death. If it became known that Joseph was the one who took the body and buried it, it could place him in considerable jeopardy. Therefore, going to Pilate to request that he might remove the body of Jesus before the Sabbath began was an act of bravery on Joseph’s part.

Joseph’s desire to take the body of Jesus and prepare it for burial was so powerful that Mark 15:43 says he “craved the body of Jesus.” The word “craved” is the Greek word
aiteo,
a word that means
to be adamant in requesting and
demanding something
. In the New Testament, the word
aiteo
is used to portray
a person addressing a superior
, as in this case when Joseph of Arimathea appealed to Pilate. The person may
insist
or
demand
that a need be met, but he approaches and speaks to his superior with
respect
. Therefore, although Joseph showed respect toward Pilate’s position, he also presented a strong demand to the governor, adamantly insisting that Jesus’ body be released to him.