50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
The Lord died with one last cry. Actually, He made seven statements while on the cross (not necessarily in this order):
1) “Woman, behold, your son … (to John) behold, your mother” (John 19:26-27)
2) “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34)
3) “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43)
4) “I am thirsty” (John 19:28)
5) “My God, my God why have You forsaken me” (Matt 27:46)
6) “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit” (Luke 23:46)
7) “It is finished” (John 19:30)
Matthew does not record the contents of Jesus’ final cry, but it was probably one of the last two listed here.
Upon the death of Israel’s Messiah, supernatural things took place. First, the temple veil was ripped in two. The direction of the ripping, from top to bottom, may, as many commentators note, symbolize that the new and open way into the Most Holy Place was initiated by God, not by man. In the Old Covenant, God’s most holy Presence in the temple was separated from the people by a thick veil and only the high priest could enter and then only once a year (Heb 9:7). But now, the perfect Lamb has been sacrificed, and there is no more need for sacrifice. Believers in the Lord Jesus Christ now have access into His presence, through the blood, not of animal sacrifice but through the blood of Christ, offered once as the atonement for our sin. Therefore, there is no more need of a veil to symbolize the separation. Now believers have free access into the very presence of God, apart from any physical building.
Further, seismic activity occurred as all nature groaned (Romans 8:19-21). This of course, was supernaturally induced. Then Matthew slips in that after the resurrection of Christ, some believing Jews were raised from the dead also and were publically seen. Whether these died again or went to heaven, the Bible doesn’t say. But certainly this event further validated the message of the gospel.
Lord, I praise You for allowing me access into Your Holy presence.
Thank you for bringing with clarity this most complex subject. How Christ, in His suffering took on our sins. As we remember Him in this celebrated season, we will have all of Eternity to thank and Praise Him for His Reserrection. That defeat of death to bring us His gift of life!