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

Lift The Veil!

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 2 Cor 4:3-5 NIV

It is sad thing when loved ones cannot see the light of Jesus the Christ; when they cannot catch a glimpse of his glory. I am often asked, "why?" Why can they not hear? Why can they not see? If only they could know the joy that comes with knowing our Lord and Savior! We yearn for our loved ones to know the love of God through Jesus the Christ. Yet, it does not happen. The god of this age; the world, itself, seems to have blinded their minds and we hope and we pray that God would open their eyes, their ears, their hearts, and their minds.

Be persistent in prayer for those who live in darkness and proclaim the gospel that reveals the glory of Christ. I have heard way too many sermons that preach about the preacher's life. That is not to say we cannot talk about the journey that God has brought us on. But, our proclamation can never be about us. It must be about what God has done for us and for you. When we preach about our own works we hide the work of Christ with a veil so that others cannot see the true light who is Jesus the Christ. When we proclaim our own good works; others will see only our egos, which only enshrouds the truth with darkness.

We are not the light; although, the light (hopefully) shines through us as we are the servants of God. Jesus Christ is the light and it is him alone whom we are to proclaim. No one can go to the light if they do not see it. Pray for those who live in darkness and do not hesitate to proclaim the Kingdom of God through Jesus the Christ that the veil might be lifted and all might live in the light and the glory of God.

God's Peace - Pr. J