Holy Week Day Seven: The Curtain is Torn!

Holy Week Day Seven: The Curtain is Torn!
Passage: Mark 15:33-38

"Make a curtain of blue, purple and scarlet yarn and finely twisted linen, with cherubim woven into it by a skilled worker. Hang it with gold hooks on four posts of acacia wood overlaid with gold and standing on four silver bases. Hang the curtain from the clasps and place the ark of the covenant law behind the curtain. The curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place."
Exodus 26:31-33

"The Lord said to Moses: "Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover."
Leviticus 16:2

"With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom."
Mark 15:37-38

Only one man could enter the Most Holy Place: the high priest. He was only allowed on one day every year: the tenth day of the seventh month, or the Day of Atonement. And he had to bring blood of an atonement sacrifice for himself and for the people of Israel, as well as a burnt offering, to enter even then (see Leviticus 16).

The penalty for entering God's presence without blood is death. This curtain separated the Most Holy Place from the rest of the temple in order to protect the people from that death. This is the same curtain that was torn in two from top to bottom at the exact moment that Jesus died on the cross.

I love picturing what might have happened to tear the curtain like that. It's not like someone sneaked in with a pair of scissors and cut a little bit off the bottom, and then ripped it up from there. If it had been done by a human, they would have died. I like to picture a huge angel (invisible to people) stepping up to the curtain from behind, grasping the middle, and then rrrriiiiiiiiiiip! Imagine the shock on the faces of the people who saw the curtain being torn by itself! The stark fear they felt at the realization that God's holy presence was not contained any longer!

So what does this mean? What does it signify? Why was the curtain in the temple torn?

1. Jesus' death caused a shift in God's relationship with people. Humanity no longer needed the protection of the old covenant, because through Jesus' sacrifice God had made a new and better one. Jesus' blood offered better protection from sin than the blood of bulls and goats. So the curtain was no longer needed. Jesus' blood protects us once and for all, and perfectly. As long as we are under its protection, there is no longer the risk of being killed by entering God's presence.
2. God was establishing a new dwelling place for his presence, and was leaving the old one behind. "Look, your house is left to you desolate." (Jesus speaking to Jerusalem in Matthew 23:38). Just like we spoke about on Day Two (clearing the temple), God's Holy Spirit--his presence--has entered our hearts, making them his new temple. Through the Holy Spirit, God now dwells in our hearts (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Jesus' death cleared the way for this to be possible. And once God had established his new covenant with his new perfect sacrifice, the old temple became obsolete.

So you see, even though it was not easy for Jesus to give his life, the fruit that his sacrifice bore was all the reward he could have asked for!

"For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

Hebrews 12:2

Jesus' great love is what drove him to make a way for us to dwell with him forever. His reward--his joy--was his success in that endeavor. He so longs for a deep, intimate relationship with every person on earth. Including you! 

Right Response

Take a look at this parable found in Matthew 13:44-46:

"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it."

You are the treasure God found. You are the fine pearl. He sold everything he had just so he could have you. And just like the parable says, selling everything to purchase you was a joy!

The curtain is torn! Jesus got all the technical details out of the way of having this relationship, and so now everything else is left up to you. 

So here is your challenge for today:

• Are you going to choose to have a relationship with him? Can you feel the longing he has to spend time with you, and live with you forever?
• How deep and intimate are you willing to go? You are not ever going to reach a point where God is the one satisfied! There is always a deeper level he longs to take you to.
• That parable about the treasure and the pearl can go both ways. God's love is the most precious treasure you will ever find! Just like we spoke about on Day Five, it is worth giving up everything for. It may not always be convenient, and it may not always be easy, but it can still be a joy! Jesus was willing to do whatever it took to make this amazing relationship happen. Are you?