Sounds of the Passion: Ripping Cloth :: Joel 2:13

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The sound of ripping cloth is harsh. It often comes suddenly, sharply. It is a sound of destruction. It can create feelings of stress and nervousness, anger and annoyance. And ... sometimes ... it’s oddly satisfying. 

For centuries, the ripping of cloth was a sign of mourning ... grief ... loss. Whenever the people of Israel were in great emotional pain, they ripped their clothes and mourned. Joshua tore his clothes when he realized the Israelites had been faithless while attacking the city of Ai. Jacob tore his clothes as he mourned the loss of his son Joseph, who had been cast aside by the sin of his brothers. The people of Nineveh tore their clothes when they heard their great city would be overthrown for worshiping a god other than YHWH. Even King Ahab tore his clothes when he realized how evil he had become. 

Tonight marks the start of our 40-day season of repentance, fasting, and prayer. The ashes you wear are a simple mark of mourning and mortality ... a simple expression of humility before God. In ancient times, we also would have torn our clothes and put on sackcloth. But today, it’s better to just listen.

LISTEN TO THIS SOUND OF RIPPING CLOTH, KNOWING THAT JESUS HAS BROUGHT YOU REPENTANCE AND THEREFORE THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS

I. [Rip] ... It’s the wee hours of Friday morning. 

In the hall of the Sanhedrin, Jesus’ trial is taking place. This is really much of a trial ... the conclusion is forgone. The Sanhedrin have already convinced themselves Jesus is guilty ... that is, guilty of troubling them. Their only question ... How could they make the verdict stick? 

They had tried to get him to talk. They tried bringing in people to lie about what he had said. They tried to get their stories straight. 

Finally, the high priest had had enough of this nonsense. Standing up, Caiaphus pointed at Jesus and demanded: I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are The Christ, The Son of God. Jesus said to him, You have said [so]. However, I say to you all: From now on, you will see the Son of Man himself sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven (Mt 26:63-64). 

What a confession! Not only did Jesus claim to be the Son of God, he claimed to be equal to God himself. All the power ... all the majesty of God himself was His.

II. [Rip] ... The high priest was so angry he could barely contain his rage. 

Reaching up to his ornate robes, the symbol of his office, he tore them in fury. Blasphemy, he cried! What witnesses do we still need? You have now heard the blasphemy. What is your judgment? [So the council] answered: He deserves death! (26:65-66)

With the dawning of the day, the council then took Jesus to Pontius Pilate. Pilate was surprised by this scene. What caused these men to tear their clothes? 

This man deserves to die, they began to say. We found this man perverting our nation and preventing people from giving tribute to Caesar (Lk 23:2).

If the stakes hadn’t been life and death, Pilate would have laughed. He knew the priests didn’t care about tributes to Caesar. They cared only about preserving the status quo. 

Still, the charge of treason was a serious one. Although he didn’t believe the priests, Pilate interrogated Jesus just to be sure. Taking Jesus aside, Pilate asked him, Are you a King? ... Do you not hear how many things they are testifying against you? ... Have you no answer? ... Where are you from? ... Will you not speak to me? 

Jesus did say something about truth and how those who listened to the truth would listen to him, but Pilate had no idea what he was talking about. It was plain to him ... Jesus was innocent. So he tried to set him free. But now a mob was out for blood. And the soldiers stepped in.

III. [Rip] ... Again, the sound of the passion filled the air as Jesus’ clothes were torn away. 

Then there was the rip of the whip, and the tearing was Jesus’ own flesh. 

But it wasn’t enough. Crucify him, they cried! 

After Pilate gave in to their demands, Jesus was taken to the hill outside the city, carrying his own cross. I’m certain you would have heard the sound of ripping cloth all through the city, as Jesus’ followers cried aloud. People would certainly have been tearing their clothes mourning what they saw happening ... tearing their clothes in anger at the injustice ... tearing their clothes in guilt. All they could do was tear their clothes and cry aloud to God.

When they reached Golgotha, the Roman soldiers stripped Jesus and nailed him to the tree, but this time, they didn’t tear his garment. Instead, they cast lots for it, fulfilling scripture.

Then everything changed. From noon to 3, the sky turned dark. Finally, Jesus cried out, My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Mt 27:46b) ... and he yielded his spirit (50).

IV. The next sound of tearing cloth would have been overwhelming.  

This wasn’t the short, curt sound we’ve been hearing. This was unlike any ever heard on earth before. It came from the temple. There, the heavy curtain separating the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened. And the dead were raised. The tear opened the path of heaven to all who will believe. 

Despite all evidence to the contrary, the death of Jesus is not one of defeat, but of victory. The tearing of cloth, which expressed anger and disgust ... sadness and mourning ... now brings joy! In Jesus’ death, the powers of sin have been torn asunder, and a new life with God has been made available for us all.

[Conclusion]

Brothers and sisters in Christ, tonight, there is no more need to mourn or to tear our clothes! Instead, listen to the Prophet Joel, and rend your hearts. When you know your heart has been torn in two, and you rest in the faith God gave you, you can know that your sins are forgiven now and forever. He has mourned for you. He has torn our sins from you, and now he sees only the holy people of God, washed in the blood of Christ ... united in his name. Amen.

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