Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.
Key Thought
The meaning of this event and its symbolism are powerful. The curtain in today’s scripture was the one between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place in the Jewish Temple. For the Jews, the place of atonement [1] was in the Most Holy Place, and only the high priest could go to the place of atonement on behalf of the people and only once each year, on the Day of Atonement. The tearing of the curtain from top to bottom symbolized that the cross of Christ opened up the way for us to go straight to the place of atonement at any time — go to the place of ultimate forgiveness in the very presence of God. [2] Jesus is the sacrifice for our sins that completely cleanses us and makes us right with God. Neither physical barriers nor specific time or place constraints any longer stand between us and God’s grace and mercy. Jesus opened up for us the way to the very heart of God. As horrible as the humiliation of the cross was for Jesus, it was even more glorious for us because it ushered in a new way (called the new covenant) for God to deal with his people. (Please read today’s Related Scripture Readings for more information.) What Satan, through evil men, intended for harm, God used to bring great good. Jesus became our Savior, and his sacrifice became the basis of our salvation.
[2] Exodus 30:6; Leviticus 16:2.
Today’s Prayer
Loving and sacrificial God, thank you for this gift too wonderful for words to describe and for paying the price that was too costly for us to pay. In Jesus’ name, I offer you my prayer and my life. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
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