Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - Mar/78

Contributor - John Moerman

Title - Apocalyptic Manifestations in Relation to Jesus' Suffering And Death

Topic - End Times

Who can fully comprehend the depth of Jesus' cry, "It is finished?" Who is able to completely grasp and explain the all encompassing meaning of Jesus' suffering and death? I believe that the fulness of it shall only then be totally comprehended when the salvation effect is being experienced in the everlasting presence of God's glory.

Peter too wrote of "a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (I Peter 1:5) Yet, this should not discourage us to even here and now endeavor to grasp the greater fulness of the meaning and impact of Jesus' atoning sacrifice, because such "searching of the scriptures" is like a stepping stone to the abundant life whereof Jesus spoke during His earthly ministry. When obediently we follow this directive, we discover that God at times speaks in a language all His own. When ordinary words fail to express the immensity of the event, God sometimes chooses to speak ' in cosmic signs to reveal the fuller meaning. Think now of the apocalyptic manifestations in relation to Jesus' suffering and death as recorded in Matthew 27:45-53. 1. A three hour darkness over all the land during the middle of day. Why is it that God withdraws the light of the sun? Now, the Son of Righteousness is covered with total darkness! Is this a fitting symbol of Him who is the Light of Life? God's first act of creation was, "Let there be light." Moreover, in John's prologue we read that "all things were made through Him (Jesus)." Is God now withdrawing the light, His gift toward life? Is the earth again to be "without form and void?"

What a contrast with the time when Jesus was born! This was during the night, but at once the light from heaven broke through the darkness on earth. Isn't this cosmic phenomena opposite to everything Jesus stood for during His Life? Had He not proclaimed Himself to be the light of the world?

Yes, but now the powers of darkness are to be judged. While Jesus agonized on the cross, in the realm of the Divine, something so immense was taking place that it could not be expressed in human tongue. Who can give full expression of God's wrath and judgement against sin? The author of "Lord of the Dance" tried when he wrote:

"I danced on a Friday when the sky turned black, it's hard to dance with the devil

on your back."

Many others have tried too, but who can wholly explain this substitutionary atonement accomplished there on Golgotha's cross? The darkness was the sign of this vicarious suffering and death, bringing us pardon, peace, and full salvation. "For our sake God made Him to be sin, who knew no sin, that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (II Corinthians 5:21)

2. The moment Jesus died, the curtain that separated the holies from the holies of holies, was torn in two, from top to bottom. This strong and heavy curtain was as important in the arrangement of temple service as the walls itself. No person was to enter behind this veil except the high-priest. on the Great Day of Atonement, first sprinkling blood for the forgiveness of his own sins and thereafter for the sins of the people.

"Torn from top to bottom" signifies that the ripping of the curtain was caused by God Himself. This is also indicated by the grammatical structure of the Greek language. Now all temple workers can look within the all holy shrine. Was the holy chamber no longer forbidden ground?

In and through this supernatural occurrence, God was revealing things in "words" all His own. Israel's God said that no more animal sacrifices were required for the atonement of sin. The perfect Lamb had now been offered. Also, God had accepted the supreme sacrifice. This was the Great Day of Atonement in perfection! No more special priesthood was required. This was the beginning of the priesthood of all believers! In Jesus there now was full and free access to God. Christ had brought an end to the old order (law) of ceremonies and rituals. In Christ a new communion and fellowship was established, for all people everywhere. cf. Hebrews 9 and 10:19-22.

3. During the moment of Jesus' death God also caused the earth to shake and rocks to split. How God revealed His greatness and power! God said that He was intervening in behalf of men. This is how in many instances earthquakes were interpreted during old testament times. Exodus 19:18, I Kings 19:11, Psalms 68:8, 114:4, Haggai 2:6. Also during new testament times, earthquakes were understood that way, cf. Acts 4:31, 16:26.

Other times earthquakes spoke of God as the Righteous Judge in His wrath. Read here: II Samuel 22:8, Psalm 77:18, Isaiah 5:25, 13: 13, 24:18, 29:6, Jeremiah 10: 10, 49: 21, Joel 2:10, Nahum 1:5, Haggai 2: 6. When we turn to the book of Revelations, earthquakes reveal God in the same manner, cf. 6:12, 8:5 and 11:13.

The shaking of the earth the moment Jesus died was an apocalyptic manifestation of God's presence and power, righteousness and judgement. Jesus was being judged for the sin of the world. Who will understand the immensity of this to the full? All we can say in the face of such judgement is that His Hell became our heaven, His pain our peace, His agony our redemption, His death our life.

4. Simultaneously, with the tearing of the temple curtain and shaking of the earth, God caused many bodies of the saints to rise from their graves. Those who were risen from their graves were all saints, i.e., believers in the fulfillment of God's promises about the Messiah. We could call these glorified saints the "advance guard." Their special purpose was to manifest themselves in the holy city on the day of Jesus' resurrection. Thereafter, God must have taken them to heaven's glory.

In and through this "early" resurrection God revealed that Jesus' death had conquered death for all God's children. This was the living proof that all was indeed finished, just as Jesus had cried from the cross a little while before. Death would no longer be able to keep its victims in Hades forever. When the great trumpet call will sound, Hades will give up all its dead, those who were believers and those who were unbelievers. Jesus' death and resurrection opened the door to life everlasting.

When we meditate on these accounts, we must keep in mind that these supernatural occurrences were subordinate to the sacrifice of Jesus Himself. God brought them about because of Jesus' suffering and death. When immense events defy human expression, God at times speaks in a language all His own. Jesus' suffering and death involved heaven and earth, God and men.

And, as God raised Jesus from the dead, so He will raise every soul from the grave. Jesus' sacrifice even points to the restoration of all of God's creation, cf. Romans 8:19-21.

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