Leading up to Jesus' death on the cross, here's what Matthew 27:45-46 say, 'Now from the sixth hour (12 pm) until the ninth hour (3 pm) there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour JESUS CRIED OUT WITH A LOUD VOICE, saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"... Matthew 27:50 then says, 'And JESUS CRIED OUT AGAIN WITH A LOUD VOICE, and yielded up His spirit'.
Interestingly, at the time Jesus cried out with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit, the sound of ram's horn was also heard from the temple not far away! For the record, the ninth hour was an important time in Jerusalem, because it was the time for evening sacrifice. As it was also the Passover week, the Passover lambs were being sacrificed in the Temple as well.
Therefore, these happened at the SAME time:
- the Passover lambs being sacrificed in the temple;
- the Lamb of God (Jesus) being sacrificed on the cross!
What then is the significance of blowing the ram's horn?
Jesus crying out with a loud voice is synonymous with the blowing of the ram's horn! On the cross some two thousand years ago, JESUS CRIED OUT IN AGONY (and the ram's horn sounded); but when He comes again, HE WILL CRY OUT IN VICTORY (and the ram's horn will sound again)! (see 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 15:51-57)
The ram (male sheep) is a 'picture' of our Lord Jesus Christ. As a matter of fact, the ram has to be killed in order to get the horn. There's no other way around it. In other words, the ram has to die. 'Horn', by the way, is a symbol of 'strength and power', and Jesus is the strength of our lives. Psalm 73:26 says, 'My flesh and my heart may fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever (i.e. mine forever)'.
On the cross, He (who is the strength of our lives) laid down His life for us, and carried all our sins, cross, and shame with Him. He who knew no sin became sin for us (2 Corinthians 5:21), hence became weak and died; so that we might become the righteousness of God through Him (2 Corinthians 5:21), hence become strong and alive! You see, sin always weakens; whereas righteousness always strengthens! Jesus (who is strong and mighty) gave Himself up for our sake, so that we can have the forgiveness of sins and a new life! (Ephesians 1:7)
And you know what? When this happened on the cross, the veil that separated us from God was TORN! Matthew 27:51-54 says, 'Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, "Truly this was the Son of God!"'
'Joshua' ('Yehowshua' in Hebrew, meaning 'YHWH saved') is a 'type' of our Lord Jesus Christ. How about 'Jericho'? This city was known those days as 'the city of palm trees', and 'palm trees' symbolize 'triumph, victory, prosperity, peace, and eternal life'.
When the ram's horn was blown, and with a great shout from all the people, the wall (that separated God's people from entering 'the city of palm trees') crumbled! In other words, the wall that separated God's people from walking in triumph, victory, prosperity, peace, and eternal life was BROKEN; just as the veil in the temple was torn!
On the third day after the death of our Lord Jesus Christ, Matthew 28:1-10 says, 'Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, came and ROLLED BACK THE STONE from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for HE IS RISEN, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that HE IS RISEN from the dead, and He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you." So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word'.
People of God, as we celebrate the life and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, this is your time to shout out aloud, and declare that HE IS RISEN, HE IS ALIVE, EVERY STONE HAS BEEN ROLLED AWAY, and YOU TOO HAVE BEGUN WALKING IN TRIUMPH, VICTORY, PROSPERITY, PEACE, AND OF COURSE, ETERNAL LIFE! AMEN!
