A Cheap Temple Curtain
As Jesus gasped His final pained breath on the Cross, the Father tore the temple's dividing curtain downwards.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. (Mark 15:38)
Traditionally the Jewish temple was divided into sections.
As the Temple precincts were entered courtyards for the Gentiles and then women were met. Further into the Temple a mid section was only available to priests. Finally a third section was entered once per year by the High Priest. This last section, the inner sanctuary was called the Holy of Holies. It was separated by a massive curtain (veil) from the remainder of the temple and the worshippers. Suspended from the roof, it provided a twenty metre tall barrier between a holy God and sinful men.
The Temple's curtain consisted of many cloth layers. Their thickness was over a metre. These cloths overlapped and created a small maze through which the priest would move.
To enter the Holy of Holies was moving into God's presence. No-one, not one - except the High Priest, could ever enter and enjoy God's presence. Annually, at Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement) the High Priest would enter.
But Jesus changed all this.
This is why at that first Easter the divisive curtain was torn and Jesus was nailed, so we could freely move into God's presence. A recapturing of Eden, where Adam and God walked unhindered as companions.
brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, His body (Hebrews 10:19-20)
Today, unthinkingly we take for granted this ability to move into and out of the Lord's presence at will.
The cost to our Lord for our presence was expensive - beyond human imagination, yet sadly it is now so cheap for us. We only need to chose for Him and stop, but who will?
Easter is God's unquenchable longing to share His presence and life with you now, then forever.
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"LISTENING to JESUS" ... 2016 Lay Ministry Convention - Book Here