This curtain hung between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place in the Temple. It’s function was to separate all men, even the Priests, from the presence of God. Only the High Priest was able to go beyond the curtain, and that was only once a year, on the Day of Atonement. The moment that Jesus breathed His last breath on the Cross this curtain was torn in an instant from above, downwards. The barrier that separated us from God was suddenly…gone! We no longer needed someone else to inquire of God for us…the middleman now was no longer needed. That open curtain had made a way for us to go confidently into the Most High Place…and to have intimate access to our Lord. That ripped curtain hung as a memorial to the Old Covenant, and the shed Blood of Jesus.
Tag: THE WORD
John 19: 23-24 ” When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. ‘Let’s not tear it,’ they said to one another. ‘Let’s decide by lot who will get it.’ This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, ‘They divided My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing.’ So this is what the soldiers did. “
This inner tunic was extremely well made by someone highly skilled in weaving. The construction so far superior, that all the guards saw it as a prized possession, not to be torn into pieces. They decided instead to cast lots for it, which meant that they would all place a marked lot into a vessel which was shaken by one of them with his face turned away…the first lot to fall out would indicate the person chosen. This game of chance that the guards took part in was foretold of in Psalm 22:18, which is considered a Messianic Psalm…one pertaining to Jesus. Those guards had no idea they were fulfilling Messianic prophecy that day at Golgotha.
John 12:7 ” Leave her alone, Jesus replied. It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial.”
When Mary had learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s home she knew this was her chance to meet this man everyone was talking about. She looked around her room for something to take as a gift…her eyes settled on a beautiful alabaster jar of nard. It was an extravagant indulgence she had treated herself to, but now it sat there as a symbol of her vanity and pride, and all she was ashamed of. She slipped it under her cloak and set off silently moving through the side streets. The servant girls were all busy when she arrived at the home, no one barred her from entering. Mary moved quickly, drawn by the men’s voices, then she heard Jesus speak and the tears started to well up in her eyes. Now was her chance, but fear and panic stopped her from interrupting the dinner, so instead she stood crying behind Jesus as He reclined on the couch. Mary’s eyes fell on His feet, they were dirty and dusty, and she was suddenly indignant that none of the servants had washed His feet before the meal. But then a quiet voice within her spoke…”But you can.” For a moment her haughtiness took over…”Me?! Wash someone’s feet?! The lowliest of the servants do that! I am far too important to get my hands and clothes dirty!” But again the quiet voice spoke…”Look where your importance has gotten you. You are no better off than the servant girl who forgot to wash His feet…you are both lost.” Struck by the stark truth, Mary began to sob. All pride and vanity inside her broke and she fell to her knees in front of Jesus’s feet. Her tears flowed from her bowed face onto His feet, washing away the dirt. Transfixed, Mary watched as Jesus’s feet became clean. She quickly undid her hair and dried them…ever afraid that Jesus would stop her, she hurriedly broke open the jar of nard and poured the perfume onto His feet. She signed deeply , and as the fragrance filled her head she felt her old life melt away…she felt…free. Free from all that had held her captive in the past. The guilt and shame gave way to a wonderful peace…. A Peace she had never experienced before. Suddenly Mary realized that Jesus had turned towards her and was speaking to Simon the Pharisee. Mary and Jesus eyes met as He said, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house and you did not give me water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not put oil on My head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins are forgiven- for she loved much. Then Jesus reached out and touched Mary’s face and said, “Your sins are forgiven, your faith has saved you, go in peace.” He then smiled at her and Mary’s heart was filled to overflowing with gratitude and love. “Thank you,” was all she could murmur as she slowly got up. A new Mary stood…the old Mary had died at the feet of Jesus.
Luke 22:31 ” Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”
Just like Job, Satan was asking permission to test Peter’s faith…wanting to prove him unfit for God to use. Satan wanted to sift him like grain in a sieve and see what would be left. But because of Jesus’s intercessory prayer on Peter’s behalf he didn’t lose faith…but he did have to return back to it after denying Jesus. Peter’s faith wavered, but was not broken…his faith was questioned…but never crushed. And this is why Jesus added those last words of affirmation and encouragement to Peter…”And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.” Seeing the resurrected Christ cemented Peter’s faith into something that no one or thing would ever shake again… and as Jesus had said to him, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church.”
Hebrews 13: 11-12 ” The High Priest carries the blood of animals into the Most High Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through His own blood.”
The Law specifically dictated how the body of the sacrificed animal was to be disposed of…it was to be burned outside the camp. And so it was with Jesus, who was taken by the guards outside the city gate to the place of the Skull…Golgotha. There, God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement…not only appointed as the place to come with our sins, but He Himself being the very means by which this atonement was made. The Church was now sanctified and made holy by the shedding of Jesus blood.
Matthew 16:21 ” From that time on, Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the Elders, Chief Priests, and Teachers of the Law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”
Jesus had just asked the disciples who they thought He was, and Peter had answered…”You are the Messiah, the Son of God!” So now Jesus was proceeding with the next aspect of His journey towards the cross. He started to make very plain to them the horrific experiences He would have to undergo at the hands of the Jewish Leaders…but on the third day He would be resurrected from the dead. I can only imagine that His disciples had a very difficult time wrapping their minds around the things He was telling them…not wanting to believe Him, but also remembering Isaiah’s prophecy…”He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces He was despised and we esteemed Him not. Surely He took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered Him stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted. But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.”
Hebrews 10: 9-10 ” …Here I am, I have come to do Your will. He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”
Unlike the other priests, Jesus didn’t have to keep offering sacrifices day after day for the people. He sacrificed for their sins, once for all when He offered Himself. He willingly gave Himself up as the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf, and by doing so destroyed the power of Death and the grave. As it says in I Peter 2:24 ” He bore our sins in His body on the tree so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed.” Jesus came to do His Father’s Will…once, for all.
Matthew 26:31 ” Then Jesus told them, ‘This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ “
For three years Jesus had lived, laughed, worked, and traveled with His disciples, but now they couldn’t believe their ears when He told them they were all going to abandon Him. The scripture Jesus is quoting comes from Zechariah 13:7 ” Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, against the man who is close to me! declares the Lord Almighty. Strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered, and I will turn My hand against the little ones.” He was using Old Testament prophecy to foretell what was about to happen…even if all the disciples insisted otherwise. As they sat around the table, none of them could imagine what He was telling them would come true in a few short hours…none of them could envision deserting Jesus…but they all did.
Isaiah 52:7 ” How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, your God reigns.”
The watchmen on the city wall kept their eyes fixed on the horizon for the lone messenger running from battle bringing good news. In your young walk with the Lord did you have a similar person who proclaimed good news to you? They mentored you as you grew in the Lord… instructing, exhorting, encouraging, but always sharing the Good News. Now it’s your turn to be that messenger in someone elses life. Before you say,” I can’t do that”… What has the Lord done for you in your own life?… That’s Good News! What are stories of how the Lord saved you, delivered you, and brought you peace?… That’s Good News! Can you proclaim that your God reigns in the world and in your life?… That’s Good News! See, I knew you were a Messenger of God!
Hebrews 12:1 ” Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everthing that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Many races are sprints…many more are marathons. God gives each one of us unique races to run, but it’s our decision how we run them. Sometimes we see the goal clearly and sprint to the finish…other times we allow fear and indecision to drag us down, making the race a very long, exhausting, marathon. I will give you an excellent example…for probably 15 years the Lord had been speaking to me about sharing His Word with others. For a long time, I was frozen in place by fear, unable to even begin my race. Six months ago today, the Lord kicked me off the starting block, and today, by His grace alone, this Blog is being read in 25 countries around the world. My regret is that I didn’t put aside my fears, and run my race sooner. Has the Lord marked out a race for you that you haven’t started yet? I encourage you today to get rid of all that stops you from running your race, and receiving your prise.
Safetypinlove 