The Sacrificial Lamb

Summary

And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. | 51-53
It is often said that the Old Testament is given to us to the lay the foundation for the gospel. Nowhere is this more clear than in the death of Jesus. As He makes His way up Golgotha, Jesus is not only fulfilling numerous prophecies, but He is making sense of the Jewish ceremonial laws. We see Him taking on the sin and punishment of others as He is forsaken by God. In His death He plays the role of the sacrificial lamb. We then see the curtain in the temple tear, breaking down the separation between God and His people. We see the presence and safety of the temple obliterated as Jesus brings us into unhindered relationship with God. In earthquakes and darkness, we see the whole earth affected by this cosmic event; the death of death. As Jesus gives up His life, He gives it up in order to reverse the curse of sin and to bring full and complete redemption for His people.