The Torn Curtain
We are in the middle of ‘Holy Week’. For Christians this is an important time as we head towards Easter.
The first four books in the New Testament (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) all cover this period of time, and the book of John devotes nine of its 21 chapters to the events that took place!
There is so much drama in this week as things come to ahead for Jesus. For example, at ‘The Last Supper’ Jesus turns centuries of tradition on its head by saying that it’s all about Him!
There is betrayal, denial and lies which lead to Jesus’ conviction, torture and crucifixion. The drama pauses on Good Friday as Jesus declares ‘It is Finished’! At that very moment something quite unexpected happened...
“With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
This curtain was in the heart of the Temple, the centre of Jewish religious life. It separated the ‘Holy of Holies’ from the ‘Holy Place’, and this was where God’s Spirit was believed to have lived.
Nobody could just wander into the ‘Holy of Holies’. Only the Chief Priest could enter annually on a special day, and only after a long preparation process. This had been Israel’s ritual for years!
So, when this curtain was torn apart it powerfully symbolized that the old way of doing things was over! God was saying that what Jesus did on the cross had made a way for anyone who accepted Christ to come into His presence. Also, from now on His presence was not going to be locked into that place...God was breaking out!
This is a game-changer! Your old ways can be over! God’s presence is right there for you! May you discover Him this Easter!
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Stay safe & God bless
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader