We can tell a narrative event in so many ways, and in fact, different people will focus upon specific details, possibly because of where they are in their Christian faith.  On the night that Jesus was crucified, many events occurred, and when the apostles were led by the Holy Spirit to record the details of Jesus’ crucifixion, we notice how the specifics align. The unique details build the entire scene so that we can see with clarity today, over two thousand years removed from that horrendous & amazingly beautiful night that displayed God’s awesome love for mankind!

Consider the temple veil & what it signifies to each believer.

In the fourth Gospel of John, written many years removed from the crucifixion, the apostle John does not mention the tearing of the veil but was led to write:

“Therefore the soldiers did these things.”

. . .

Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!”

And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”

(John 19: 25a & 30 NASB)

In the Gospel of Luke, the Holy Spirit led doctor Luke to write:

“It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour,

because the sun was obscured;

and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, INTO YOUR HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT.”

Having said this, He breathed His last.

Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent.”

(Luke 23: 44-47 NASB)

In the Gospel of Mark, the Holy Spirit led the fisherman to write these words:

“And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.

And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

(Mark 15: 37-39 NASB)

Then, finally, in the Gospel of Matthew, (the one called Levi) Jesus called as Levi to follow him, this man who sat near the port in Capernaum, collecting taxes on the wares unloaded from the ships.  Under the direction of the Holy Spirit, the one who left his very lucrative career and willingly followed Jesus was led by God’s Spirit to write these details:

“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom;

and the earth shook and the rocks were split.

The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

Now the centurion, and those who were keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

(Matthew 27: 50-54 NASB)

Today, over two thousand years removed from this most-horrendous & most-amazingly beautiful night when Jesus Christ gave His life on the cross, on the night when God displayed His awesome love for us—WE STILL SEE WITH CLARITY IN GOD’S WORD—HOW JESUS DID ALL THESE THINGS—SO WE MIGHT COME TO KNOW GOD & SO THAT WE WOULD CONTINUE TO SHARE HIS STORY WITH THE WORLD.

GOD ORCHESTRATED ALL THESE SPECIFIC DETAILS & GOD TORE THE TEMPLE VEIL IN TWO SEPARATE PIECES—SO THAT FOLLOWERS OF JESUS WOULD BE ABLE TO TALK INDIVIDUALLY WITH HIM, EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Telling the Whole TRUTH & Nothing but the TRUTH—That’s our assignment!

Therefore, in closing, let us read what the apostle Paul was led by the Holy Spirit to write about the way we are to live our lives, how we are to be about our Father’s business!

“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.

To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews;

to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law.

to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.

To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak;

I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.

I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

(1 Corinthians 9: 19-23 NASB)