The Curtain is Torn!

Today is Good Friday. The day in Christian history that opened up the new covenant to believers. But not as a gift is opened, with bows and celebration (although the new covenant is worthy of that). No, it started with a walk into death, with flesh ripped and blood shed. It ended with a curtain torn. A day of horror. Yet in these painful and gruesome reminders of what Christ endured today, we find the promise of hope as well.

The day of Christ's crucifixtion marked the end of the relentless sacrifices that the Laws given to Moses and the Israelites required. These sacrifices were supposed to redeem the people of their sins against God. But could the blood of a goat given year after year really cleanse a guilty heart? Hebrews 9:9 tells us "the gifts and sacrifices being offered were not able to clear the conscience of the worshiper." Indeed, the blood and ashes that were sprinkled on the ceremonially unclean only sanctified them so they were outwardly clean (Hebrews 9:13). So, if the blood of animals and purification rituals were not enough to cleanse us inwardly, we needed more. God, in His mercy, had more in mind for us that just appearing "clean". He wanted our hearts, and He wanted them devoted to Him alone. God's plan of redemption kicks into high gear here, and this is where the new covenant comes in.

Jesus, the unblemished sacrifice, gave himself, once, for all:

"...it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Therefore when Christ came into the world he said, 'Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me...Then I said, "Here I am...I have come to do your will". Hebrews 10:4-7

"We have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body once for all." Hebrews 10:10

Why the big deal about sacrifice anyway? In God's economy, there is no forgiveness without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22). Simple as that. So how much more will the blood of Christ be able to cleanse our consciences - Christ, who was empowered by the Holy Spirit and blameless before God!

The new covenant made intimacy with God possible for everyone. Previously this was unheard of. God was only able to be approached by His elect- His priests. In the temple, there were courtyards (one for men and one for women) where the people could congregate, present their offerings and sacrifices, hear the lessons from the preists and worship. This was as far as they could go. Beyond the courtyard was the Holy Place, where priests would burn incense and place the consecrated bread before God. Beyond that, separated by a thick, heavy curtain, was The Most Holy Place. The Most Holy Place housed the Ark of the Covenant, the golden chest which held the stone tablets given to Moses, among some other sacred items. The very presence of God hovered above the ark. This place was so sacred that the priests themselves only entered it once per year, and never without blood, which he offered for himself and the people. No one else was allowed into The Most Holy Place. Ever.

What does The Most Holy Place have to do with Christ on the cross and intimacy with God? Stay with me here while we tie this together. In three of the four gospels, we find a similar account. I like Matthew's version best as we can better picture the climactic moment of Jesus' death:

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split." Matthew 27:50-51

Can you imagine the priests in the temple when they looked up after the shaking of the ground beneath their feet and noticed the curtain ripped in two, revealing The Most Holy Place for all eyes to see? I wonder if a holy fear came over them? Now, any old body could go in!

Exactly. Any old body could go in. Glory to God!

Hebrews reveals to us the amazing truth of what happened that Good Friday when the curtain was torn:

"Since we have confidence to enter The Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body....". (Hebrews 10:19-20)

Stop. Do you see it? Jesus not only made a way, through the sacrifice of his body, but He IS the Way. "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6) It is through him, our High Preist, that we are able to pass through the curtain and come into the very presence of God the Father. Wow! And this, my friends, is the very essence of the new covenant -- that intimacy with God and forgiveness of our sins is an everlasting reality.

What is the promise of hope that the torn curtain of Jesus' body offered us? God tells us himself - he doesn't want us to miss it: He will make himself known to us, he will put his laws in our hearts, we will share intimacy with him, and he will forgive our sins and remember our sins no more. (Jeremiah 31:33-34; Hebrews 8:10-13) How's that to make a Friday 'good'?

Lord Jesus, how can we ever thank you for the price you paid to open a way for us to your Father? Your blood, which you offered up freely, paid the price of our sins, forever. Father God, we thank you for your love, which knows no bounds, and your faithful mercy. You are our Redeemer and King! May we live a life worthy of what we have received from You. Amen!