Then the sun was darkened, and the veil

..... of the temple was torn in two (Luke 23:45). It is not clear if the veil was torn before, at the same time, or after Jesus' words “It is finished” (John 19:30) from the cross. But the symbolism is clear. The veil in the tabernacle separated the holy of holies from the holy place, and only the high priest “went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins ..... indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest” (Hebrews 6:7, 8). But now we have a “new and living way” into the Holy place by the blood of Jesus (Hebrews 10:19, 20). The Holy place was where the presence of God dwelt (Hebrews 6:19). So then the new and living way allows us into the very presence of God. And we do not need to come trembling into His presence as the high priest did. No, we can now come there boldly (freely and fearlessly – Thayer), to obtain mercy and and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 10:19; 4:16).

It is interesting to speculate why the sun being darkened is tied to the veil being torn. Mark tells us that it was torn from the top down (Mark 15:58) indicating that it was the Lord's doing. Some have suggested that it was an eclipse, but I am told that Passover (the time of the crucifixion) is determined to be at the time of the full moon. The time the moon is on the opposite side of the earth to the sun. The darkness, the earthquake and all the other signs, are surely meant to point to it being God who is orchestrating these events. It was likely these things that caused the centurion to fear and to declare “Truly this was the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54).

Now while the finished work of Christ on the cross certainly includes the reconciliation between God and man (Romans 5:10), it includes more. Paul tells us in Ephesians that through the cross He abolished the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile (2:14, 16). But even more, it was God's primary intention that at the right time “He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth” (1:10). And in light of this, we are commanded “with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace” (4:2,3). Note that it is “all things,” and that the unity if all true believers has already been purchased by the blood of Jesus. And it strikes me in this season where we are being told by the prophetic word to humble ourselves, pray, seek His face and repent (2 Chronicles 7:14), that we need to pay particular attention to this command to preserve unity.

Father, who would dare to diminish the finished work of Christ on the cross by failing to preserve the unity in the bond of peace? Well we would, I have. Lord I repent on behalf of the Church and myself for anything that we (I) have done to do the very opposite. Forgive us Lord and cleanse us. Help us to see that for true believers what unifies us, is far, far greater than what we have allowed to divide us. Let Your Kingdom come in Your Church Lord, in Jesus Name Amen.