“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people. When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph,[f] and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.” (Matthew 27 v 51-56)
The high priest had torn his robes but God tore the curtain of separation between Himself and man.
The religious and the rebel heaped insults from hearts harder than rocks for God split the heart of rocks.
(Matthew has probably included the earthquake of the resurrection here)
The faithful people of God whose life had ended years previously discover with God life is never over as they emerge from their graves.
A seasoned centurion who had seen many crucifixions experiences something new as God turns their darkness into a realisation of His glorious light.
(Apart from John), all the men were gone, but the women endured watching 6 hours of the most cruel and horrific deaths imaginable, this was no place for a woman, but they were there out of their love for Jesus.
God is still doing this same work today.
That what separates is removed; hearts are broken for the good; graves of disappointment are opened; resurrection life is known; declarations of faith are given and even if the unexpected walk away there are always the courageous enduring the cross of Christianity.
Missions Paul 