You’re Dead to Me!

In Matthew 27:50-51 we are told, that as Jesus breathed his final breath, the Temple Veil was suddenly torn from top to bottom.


The Temple in Jerusalem had an inner room called the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place.  It was a sacred room that no ordinary person could enter, as it was God’s special dwelling place in the midst of His people. A thick curtain separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple. This curtain, known as the “veil,” was made of fine linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn.

The Jewish custom called Kriah, means “tearing one’s clothes” in Hebrew. This was done to mourn the death of a loved one. (It was also done as symbolic death for someone whose relationship you would consider dead;  Essentially saying "You’re dead to Me!”

Kriah is a tradition found throughout the Old Testament: When Jacob believed that his son Joseph was dead, he tore his garments (Gen. 37:34). Likewise, in 2 Samuel 1:11 we are told that King David, and all the men with him, took hold of their clothes and rent them upon hearing of the death of King Saul and Jonathan.   Job, in grieving for his children, stood up and rent his clothes (Job 1:20)

After questioning Jesus to see if he was the Messiah, the High Priest Caiaphas tore his garments in response to Jesus’ answer.  (Matthew 26:65 and Mark 14:63)  (Caiaphas and the whole cabal of priests were symbolically saying to Jesus “You’re a Dead Man!”)

In response, at the moment of the Jesus' death, God tore the veil of the Temple from top to bottom.  He was symbolically saying “You reject my Son! So I Reject You! YOU ARE DEAD TO ME!" (Matthew 27:51 and Luke 23:45)

God ripped the veil in the temple as a prophetic act demonstrating that the Old Covenant priesthood, temple, and it's ceremonial form of worship were forever dead, and rejected by God.  With the Old Covenant now voided, the New Covenant (paid for by Jesus' bloody death) was in effect going forward.

The many Herods of the Bible

It was customary in biblical times for rulers to take the name of historical predecessors.  (This practice even continues in current day monarchies:  There have been several "Edwards", "Georges" and "Henrys" in the British royal lineage over the centuries.)

Unfortunately for students of the bible, the recycling of names can create confusion.  There are five rulers named "Herod" mentioned in the New Testament:

1. Herod the Great ruled Palestine at the birth of Christ. He ordered the killing of male babies in Bethlehem and built the Jewish temple in Jerusalem.  (Matt. 2:16-18)

2. Herod Archelaus, son of Herod the Great, was the Herod from whom Mary Joseph, and their child withdrew to Galilee to avoid his presence in Judea (Matt. 2:21-23).

3. Herod Antipas ordered the death of John the Baptist (Mark 6:17-28).

4. Herod Agrippa I imprisoned Peter (Acts 12:1-19).

5. Herod Agrippa II was the ruler before whom Paul made his defense. (Acts 25:13)

Without paying close attention, it could accidentally be assumed that one king lived several generations.  

Easter is the most important holiday.

Children everywhere naturally become excited when the Christmas and Easter seasons roll around each year.

These holidays celebrate the beginning, and end, of Jesus's time on Earth.  Unfortunately, the materialism of the secular world has trained most children that these holidays are mostly about Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, gifts, and candy.

Children will naturally be excited by the "freebies"; less so by the message.  As parents we have to walk the fine line between total secular "fun stuff" and educating our children about the true significance of these holidays.

The two themes are not mutually exclusive, but it is important that we stress the Resurrection (and it's significance) more than the Easter Bunny, egg hunts and gorging on candy.