Father, I would ask for Your voice to speak loud and clear to me this evening. Lay upon my heart the word that You want to be heard. Amen.

Mark 15:35-38 (<<click to read the passage)

The latter part of this passage reads,

“…Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.”

This particular portion of Scripture has always left me in awe. This curtain to which Mark refers to is not just a piece of décor. It was not placed there to muffle sounds or to give privacy to those standing behind it. In the Jewish faith, it served as a divider. It kept the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle, originally, and eventually, the temple cordoned off. Basically, no one was permitted to enter the Most Holy Place. It was entered only once a year – the Day of Atonement – and then only by the High Priest himself. It was the one time a year that he offered up a sacrifice to gain forgiveness for the sins of all the people my Study Bible* says. It was known as the Holy of Holies, the place where the presence of God Almighty was to be found.

You might be thinking, “So? A curtain got torn in half…big deal…”

But, oh, it was so much more than that!

Jesus’ death on the cross eliminated the need for that curtain. Before His death, humanity had to wait for that one person on that one day to go before God to seek forgiveness for sins committed. Now? God welcomes every single one of us right into His presence! No need to wait…go anytime you want! No need for some earthly mediator…Jesus is our mediator and because of His death and resurrection, we can go before our Father in person!

When we accept Jesus’ work on our behalf, His blood covers over all of our sins, once and for all! No need for repeated sacrifice – He has taken care of it all! The price – which we all owe! – has been paid by our Lord and Savior…for only He is worthy to do so… We could never be worthy enough for “When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags.” (Isaiah 64:6)

Jesus, what can I say? Nothing I say is worth a hoot! Only You are worthy Lord! Only You can save me! Only You are the reason that there is no longer a curtain! Amen!

*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation

Sept 9th, 2019, Mon, 8:37 pm