By this time, it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last. Luke 23:44-46 (NLT)
This passage is commonly referred to as the seventh of the “Last Words of Jesus” during His Crucifixion. Jesus suffered an agonizing death on the cross for you and me, and all of nature reacted to His suffering. The Bible says that the light from the Sun was gone. Darkness covered the entire land for about three hours in the middle of the day! And all of a sudden, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Sisters, let me explain why that particular detail is significant.
The Temple was composed of three parts:
- The outer court for all the people;
- The Holy Place, where only the priest could enter; and
- The Most Holy Place or the Holy of Holies, where the High priest alone could enter once a year to atone for the sins of the people.
It was in the Holy of Holies that the Ark of the Covenant, and God’s Presence with it, rested.
The Manna Chef 