The Curtain Was Torn

And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.

And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst.

And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.

Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man.

And all the people that came together to that sight, beholding the things which were done, smote their breasts, and returned.

And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things.

                                                                            (Luke23:44-50 KJV)

Rip! The sound of the temple curtain being torn in two. Do you recall how St. Mark described what happened after Jesus' baptism? "And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him" (Mark 1:9-12) 

I was taught, as a young person, that the tearing of the curtain temple at Jesus' death meant that we now all have direct access to God. We are free to directly communicate and relate with and to God. The High Priests are no longer needed to stand between us and God. As Jesus died on the cross for us, he freed us from our sins so that we are now worthy to come before God. That is good news!

But, there is more... When a door is open it opens both way. We are indeed free to enter through that door even as that he who was on the other side of the once closed door comes to be with us. 

Behind the temple curtain was the Holy of Holies; God's earthy dwelling place. The tearing of the temple curtain signifies that with Christ's death, God's dwelling place on earth is no longer understood to be contained to a specific place. His dwelling place; his Kingdom, rushed out into the world as Jesus breathed his last breath and as the temple curtain was torn in two.

Jesus's message and the message he instructed his disciples to share was to repent "for the kingdom of God is at hand." (Matt 4:17; Matt 10:6-8)

The Kingdom of God is truly at hand. Live in it!

God's Peace - Pr. J

As My Beloved is Dead; So am I

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. (Gen 2:24 NKJV)

Over the last couple of weeks I have commended an elderly sister in Christ into the hands of Almighty God; informed her husband of her death; and attended her funeral. It was both heartbreaking and reassuring to be with her husband and to witness his love for her. The Lord's Prayer was said many times in the last week as was the Shepherd's Psalm and many other prayers, as well. Between prayers, he lamented, "I am dead." 

This man who has lived on earth for over one hundred years knew what it meant to be one, completely one, with his wife. Assuredly, he was also an individual; but, when God joined them together as husband and wife they truly became one flesh. When she died, it was as though he died. In fact, a part of him has. This woman who was joined to him as one flesh is no longer with him in this world. A huge part of him has been ripped from his life. It is not as though he wishes death for himself; although, he might desire greatly to go home to the Lord, as well. The emptiness within him feels as though there is no life left within him as is common when we lose someone that we love so deeply. The emptiness; the grief, swallows up the breath, the life from within us. It leaves behind the emptiness; the absolute aloneness, of death.

Yet, he is not alone. He has hope. He has hope that as he was joined with his wife as one flesh; through, the gift of the Spirit of Christ, he will always be joined; he will always be reconciled to God our Father, our Lord Jesus, and to all of the people of God. "....nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Rom 8:38-39) In this lies our comfort and hope.

And, so we pray with him: 

        
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.

                                              (Psalm 23:4-6)

God's Peace - Pr. J

The Kingdom Of God Is At Hand

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. (Luke 23:44-49 NIV)

Rip! The temple curtain was torn in two. Do you recall how St. Mark described what happened after Jesus' baptism? "Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove." (Mark 1:9)  So what exactly is the significance of the temple curtain being torn in two at Jesus' death?

I was taught, as a child, that it meant that we now all have direct access to God. We are free to directly communicate and relate with and to God. The High Priests are no longer needed to stand between us and God. In the Christian church on earth, it meant that regular lay people, not just the pastors and priests could approach the altar and even go beyond the altar rail without fear of God's wrath, at least not too much fear. As a child, I was taught that it was such a holy place that it was really best not for me, a young female with no business behind the altar to dare enter that area. That was just a little too much law because as Jesus died on the cross for all of us, he freed us from our sins so that we are worthy to come before God, even at the altar in a church building! That is good news, indeed!.

But, let us rejoice for there is even more to that curtain being torn than that. When a door is opened it is open to everything and everyone on both sides of the door. Behind the temple curtain was the Holy of Holies; God's earthy dwelling place. Only the High Priests could enter and have access to God.  Just as when the heavens were opened and the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus; when the temple curtain was torn the Spirit of God rushed out upon the world. God's dwelling place on earth was no longer contained to a specific place. His dwelling place; his Kingdom, rushed out into the world as Jesus breathed his very last breath. 

The Kingdom of God has come near. It is truly at hand! (Mark 1:15) Live in it!

God's Peace - Pr. J