And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.

Mark 15:37-39

In the wilderness, the people of Israel were given instructions for fashioning a meeting place for God. This was the place where God would come and dwell among his people. However, man was limited in his ability to come into that Holy presence. His sin had created a barrier to entering into communion with God. In that tabernacle, and later in the temple, this barrier was represented by a curtain. This curtain separated the Holy of Holies and the people. The barrier hangs as a reminder of how close God is, yet that thirty-foot curtain so thick two horses could not tear it apart reminds us just how far we have fallen. This separation was excepted only once a year when the High Priest would enter behind that veil and sprinkle blood on the mercy seat on behalf of the people. This was the atonement that had to be made, year after year.

Jesus Christ is lifted up on a cross in agony. A plaque above his head makes known to the world, this man is Jesus of Nazareth: King of the Jews. Those who cheered and shouted their hosanna just a few days previous now mock and jeer. Their praises are silent. The one to whom they exclaimed, “ Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” now hangs cursed on a tree. Hosanna means “save us now,” and on the cross, Jesus answers their cry, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” This is it. Healings and feedings, teachings and resurrections, and all this man is to receive is a criminal’s cross. But is that it? These people received him as their King, remember? They called him the Son of David who comes in the name of the Lord. Ah, yes. Now we see it, he is seen before his people wearing a crown. It is an unconventional crown, but there was something about this man that was never quite conventional. He is not an ordinary man. He is a King. He is King who does what is best for his people. He represents them, he bears the full burden, he is generous, and he is merciful.

A king’s responsibility is to protect his people. Jesus interceding on their behalf bears the judgment due to his people. What the sprinkling of a lamb’s blood could not do, he does. The serpent, that great enemy who invaded this King’s domain now mocks the King, stripping him of all dignity and discarding his garments to foot soldiers. That devil tempted Christ to throw himself off the temple so the Lord would preserve him, not letting his foot dash against a stone. He told him to bow down and worship to receive the nations as a gift. He told him to turn the stones to bread to satisfy his hunger. But the King on the cross knew what was best, he knew the plan, and he would execute it to the letter. He gives his body, bloody, beaten and betrayed, so his people can have life. He lifts his head to heaven and surrenders his spirit to God knowing those nations for which he bleeds are his rightful possession  And as he utters the cry “It is finished!” His heel comes down swiftly, dashed on the head of that wicked serpent.

This is the ultimate reversal. The wicked look on in victory, yet their perceived victory is short-lived. The victory belongs solely to that lifeless body on the tree. The King had sacrificed everything for his people. But glory in the highest! The rocks burst asunder, and that barrier between man and his Creator is rent in twain. His sacrifice is accepted. The kingdom is saved. The enemy is defeated. It is finished!