-- Mark 15:38
Mark's depiction of the crucifixion of Christ has an almost newspaper reporter feel. It is quick and straight forward. And one of the matter-of-fact details he mentions is this: at the moment Jesus gave up his life, the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
Removed by more than 2,000 years and cultural context, this detail can pass us by as strange or insignificant. It is however, a powerful picture.
The temple curtain separated what was known as the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple. No one was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies, except for the High Priest who entered once a year to offer atonement for the sins of the people.
So here is the picture: God lives in there... and we live out here. We are separated (by this thick woven curtain). And we cannot really have relationship with him. We are outsiders, because of our sin. He is perfect. We are:
Separated.
Hopeless.
But the curtain came down. More than that, it was completely torn in half - from top to bottom. Again a picture: God did what we could not.
That is the message of grace. It is the heart of the gospel. God did what we couldn't. Through Christ's sacrifice, he made a way of redemption and relationship.
The writer of Hebrews put it this way:Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh... let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...(Hebrews 10:19-22).
Note: The curtain was not torn from bottom to top. We must stop trying. We can never do enough, be enough, believe enough, pray enough - fill in the blank - to prove ourselves worthy to God. Christ took care of that on the cross. The curtain exists no more.
And only curtains of our own making can "hide" us from the presence of God.
God, thank you for torn curtains...
For now...
D
