Unusual events happened during the crucifixion of Jesus:
1. Solar eclipse occurred for three hours with darkness felt from noon to 3:00 P.M (Mk 15:33, Lk 23:14). This was the fulfillment of Amos 8:9, “On that day – oracle of the Lord GOD – I will make the sun set at midday and in broad daylight cover the land with darkness.”
2. The veil in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Mt 27: 51). According to the design of God, two veils were there in the tabernacle and later in the Temple. The outer veil was at the entrance of the Holy Place and the inner one in front of the Holy of Holies (Ex 26:31–36). Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies and that only on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:1–18). The meaning of the sanctuary veil torn in two is that by the self-sacrifice of Jesus, who is the perfect High Priest, the heaven (Holy of Holies) is open for all who follow Jesus.
3. There was an earthquake and splitting of rocks. “Tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many” (Mt 27:52-53). All these showed the coming of the final or Messianic age.
REFLECTION
At the sacrifice of the Son, the Father showed extra-ordinary signs for the eyewitnesses to believe in the Son or affirm their faith in him. “The centurion and the men with him who were keeping watch over Jesus feared greatly when they saw the earthquake and all that was happening, and they said, ‘Truly, this was the Son of God!’” (Mt 27:54). The last words of Jesus were, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46). Only a person in communion with God could say that. Let this be our wish that at the last moment of our life, we could say the same words.