“Death came in by sin—and sin goes out by death!”
Edmund Staunton
The giving of the law to the Israelites was marked by many signs. One of these signs was an earthquake, a trembling of the earth, which struck fear into the hearts of the Israelites. “Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. (Exodus 19:18) God was on the move to advance his plan of redemption through the giving of the law. The Ten Commandments are coming. (see Exodus 20) The rest of the story includes the Israelites descent into idolatry, their breaking of the covenant, and the inability of each individual to keep the law. This final assertion was one of the designs of the law. It was given to show the need of each individual for a deliverer. They were to look for a prophet greater than Moses, and a king greater than David. Jesus came and fulfilled the law. He kept it perfectly. He obeyed it from his heart. He never strayed from its precepts. He never transgressed. He needed no sacrifice and so became worthy to be our sacrifice. His last few moments on the cross are carefully recorded by all four gospels:
- When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. (John 19:30)
- It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-46)
- And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. (Matthew 27:50-51)
Here again, there is an earthquake as God advances his plan of redemption. Jesus Christ gives up his own life, sheds his own blood, and becomes our Passover Lamb. What happens at that moment? The earth quakes, the rocks split, and the veil of the temple is torn from top to bottom. There is now complete access into the Holy of Holies by the blood of Christ. (see Hebrews 9 and 10) Have you come to trust Christ as your Lord and Savior and so gained the confidence that comes by his perfect, once-for-all sacrifice? If not, trust him today. Have a blessed week and we will see many of you on Sunday.
Love in Christ
Pastor Dale
