The Significance of the Dearth of Jesus. (Luke 24: 44-49)
Welcome to another episode of The Bible Project Daily podcast.
Today is the day we explore a pivotal event in our understanding of the Christian faith: The death of Jesus.
Join us as we uncover the meaning behind Christ's sacrifice on the cross and its transformative impact on humanity.
Through reflection on it we can discover how the death of Jesus embodies love, redemption, and the fulfilment of God's plan for salvation, meaning God’s plan for you.
Tune in as we go deeper into the scriptures and uncover the astonishing significance of this crucial moment in not just Christian history, but the history of the World.
Which is why I have called todays episode: "The Significance of the Death of Jesus" as revealed for us in Luke Ch 24, Vs 44-49.
Welcome to TBPDP.
44: Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45: Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46: And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last. 47: So when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!” 48: And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned. 49: But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
(Luke 24: 44-49)
Let’s return to the passage and work through it verse by verse.
44: Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.
(Luke 24: 44)
Now, let me explain: Bible experts say that Jesus was on the cross from 9:00am in the morning until 3:00pm in the afternoon.
This passage specifies that at this point we have reached "the sixth hour," indicating it was noon, and Jesus had already been hanging on the cross for three hours. We can discern this by combining all the passages that reference the event and piecing it together.
It's essential to note that the Jewish day didn't commence at midnight; rather, it began at sunrise (6.00am). So, when it mentions the "sixth hour," it refers to noon. However, verse 44 indicates that it was noon when darkness covered the entire land until the ninth hour, which is 3:00 in the afternoon.
So, darkness from midday to 3.00pm in the afternoon, normally the brightest part of the day.
Now some difficulty arises when considering the phrase "over all the earth." Could it mean that darkness covered the entire planet? Is that the intended meaning of the verse?
Well, not necessarily actually, because just a little earlier in the Gospel of Luke, the same word "land" is used, referring specifically to the land of Palestine.
In Luke 21:23 speaks of "great distress in the land," clearly referring to Palestine. Therefore, the darkness that covered the whole land of Israel and lasted for three hours, from noon till 3:00 in the afternoon.
It's crucial to understand that this darkness was not referring to anything like a natural eclipse. Anyway, we also know this event occurred during Passover, which is always held during a full moon, thereby making a solar eclipse during the day impossible.
So this darkness is meant to signify something miraculous happening.
Moving forward, the next verse continues, stating that.
“Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
(Luke 24: 45)
So, the sun itself is darkened, not covered implying a miraculous event, then the temple veil is torn in two.
This tearing of the temple veil holds profound significance. Allow me to elaborate:
The term "temple" refers to a vast area, approximately 35 acres in size, encompassing courtyards. To illustrate, imagine a football field. If you entered from one end, you'd encounter an altar for sacrifices.
Continuing further, you'd find a laver where priests washed. At the opposite end, you'd reach a tent known as the Tabernacle or temple.
Within this temple, there were two parts divided by a thick veil. This veil separated the holy place from the holiest of holies, where the presence of God dwelt.
The average Israelite was limited to the altar at the entrance of the temple. Only the priests were allowed to approach the laver for washing, and only the high priest could enter the holy of holies, and that only once a year to sprinkle sacrifices on the mercy seat.
In fact, there's a tradition, though not mentioned in Scripture, that they tied a rope to the high priest's leg so that if he died in the presence of God, they could pull his body out.
What Luke is telling us is that the veil in the temple was torn in two.
Other passages add the extra detail that this tearing occurred from the top to the bottom. This was another miracle, a deliberate sign from God that something deeply significant was happening.
So, what is the significance? Let's allow Scripture itself to explain. Turn with me to Hebrews Chapter 9. In this passage, the writer to the Hebrews elucidates the significance of the veil and its tearing. Starting from Chapter 9, verse 8,
The Holy Spirit was showing by this (He is talking about the veil here) that the way into the Most Holy Place had not yet been disclosed as long as the first tabernacle was still functioning.
(Hebrews 9: 8)
The writer is referring to the veil, signifying that access to God was not yet available.
Now, turn to Chapter 10, verse 19. Here, it says,
"Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Christ, a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh."
(Hebrews 10: 19)
When the veil was torn, it signified that we have direct access to the throne of God. The significance of the cross is that we have eternal life now, and in the future, and we have access to God. Hebrews 4 also emphasizes this, encouraging us to.
“Approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need”.
(Hebrew 4: 16b)
OK, back into Luke.
"Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last”.
(Luke 24: 46)
Jesus is quoting Psalm 31:5 with the added word "Father,"
With this, Jesus indicated that it was finished God salvation plan had been accomplished and fulfilled by these events.
The thief's decision and the death of Christ provide insight into the significance of the crucifixion: through it, we have eternal life and access to the Father and a place secured in heaven immediately when we make the decision to embrace that truth by trusting in him.
Now, there's one more aspect of this passage I believe we need to explore. Verses 47 through to 49 provide what I'll refer to as the discernment and understanding of the various different people present. Verse 47 states,
So, when the centurion saw what had happened, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous Man!”
(Luke 24: 47)
The centurion understood. He initially recognized that Jesus was a righteous man but also noticed the significance of what was unfolding.
He discerned, at least initially to some extent, who Jesus was, perhaps even realizing that Jesus deserved more than mere recognition as righteous.
As Christ himself hung on the cross, he uttered seven statements, two of which addressed God as "Father." Could it be that when the centurion heard these words and witnessed the manner of Christ's death, along with his forgiveness of those who crucified him and his promise of eternal life to the criminals beside him, he thought, “This is not just a righteous man; he is the Son of God who calls God 'Father'"?
It seemed so. When he called Jesus the Son of God, it signifies that the centurion grasped the whole truth.
However, consider the next verse.
And the whole crowd who came together to that sight, seeing what had been done, beat their breasts and returned.
(Luke 24: 48)
Other in the crowd it seemed didn't comprehend.
They saw a gruesome scene, felt the grief, and mourned, but they failed to discern the significance of what was happening. They reacted in the way someone might react to a sad story or a poignant film and cried but missed the greater point entirely.
Their response contrasts with that of the centurion, who understood fully.
Another group of people where nearby witnessing all of this.
But all His acquaintances, and the women who followed Him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
(Luke 24: 49)
So, all Jesus's acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee were standing by, at a distance, watching these things.
Here we find the committed ones, those who had chosen to follow him, especially the women from Galilee. It's possible that even some of the apostles were among them at this moment. This group, comprised of committed followers and acquaintances, who stood on as witness.
In all of this, what I'm emphasizing is that when Jesus died on the cross, its significance is two-fold: it brings eternal life to those who believe and grants access to the throne of grace for those who seize it. Some will understand that and others will not.
I want to conclude by making a couple of final observations. Although they aren't directly addressed in this passage, I still believe they are significant, and I know they are implied here and absolutely mention elsewhere.
Firstly, imagine placing yourself in the shoes of the thief beside Jesus. He was guilty, condemned, and crucified for a crime he admitted. He felt the weight of guilt, public humiliation, and shame, likely rejected and condemned by family and friends.
At that moment, he might have felt utterly abandoned. Yet, Jesus assured him, "Today, you will be with me in paradise." They would walk together in the garden of God.
So, I'd like to end by suggesting That one of the significances of this is that we can accept it Just imagine that, as a matter of fact Ephesians Chapter one tells us.
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, in which he hath made us accepted in the beloved”.
(Ephesians 1: 6)
So, it's not just that we have eternal life, as amazing as that is. It's not just that we have grace, it is that God wants to walk with us, God wants to have fellowship with us, and therefore God accepts us as worthy of that type of close intimate ongoing relationship with him in the future.
But there is another observation I'd like to make and that also pertains to the those who in a spsirtual sense die to ourselves at the point of accepting Him.
He thief on the cross by Jesus’ side died within maybe minutes or an hour or two of his last breath.
At the last possible moment, he comes to Christ, and he gets to go to heaven. In other words, it’s never too late.
That may be one of the greatest messages of this passage.
It's never too late.
So, above all things, surely this passage tells us that it's never too late to turn to Christ.
There are certain things in life where we might say, "The time for this has passed; I am too old now."
I used to be a bit of a runner and have a few marathons under my belt, and just last night I watched a film about an 8 day hike through the mountains of Bhutan, and I had to turn to my wife and say, “at one point I could have done that, but I suppose I have to admit that my time for such things has passed”.
But we can never utter those words when it comes to turning to Christ. As long as a person's heart beats, the invitation of Christ still stands.
Consider this truth especially applicable to everyone. If you're still breathing, it's not too late.
No matter what you've done, even if you're a convicted criminal on death row walking toward the electric chair, it's not too late. Your past actions, no matter how egregious, hold no weight compared to the grace offered by Christ.
Just as the thief on the cross turned to Jesus in his final moments and received the promise of heaven, so can anyone who places their trust in Christ.
So, if you are the sort of person who is sceptical of deathbed conversions, let this passage change your mind. This passage should convince anyone of the possibility of salvation even in the eleventh hour.
But this principle extends way beyond just the dramatic or the deathbed scenarios.
Think about couples on the brink of divorce. In my years of experience, I've noticed that couples often seek help only when things have reached a critical point. But even then, it's never too late.
I've seen couples who were already divorced as non-believers remarry each other in the church they now attend together. It's never too late to claim God's grace and find the strength to reconcile and obey His commands.
But this message isn't limited to unbelievers facing death or couples facing divorce. It applies to anyone facing any dire situation, even including those battling ill health or disease.
You know even when doctors give up hope, there is still an opportunity to cling to the throne of grace. Even in the face of a dire diagnosis, there's hope as long as there's life.
That why we are told to pray for one another, in our infirmaties, why would he ask us to pray like that, if he didn’t have the power to heal.
As a poet once wrote, many, many years ago, about a how he was thrown from his horse over the edge of a precipice, and as he fell through the air to what he felt sure was his death:
Later he was able to write.
"Twixt the stirrup and the ground, Mercy I asked for, and mercy I found."
Friends, even in the midst of tragedy, or what seems certain defeat of even death there is always hope for mercy and grace.