July 8, 2012 Torn Open

Torn Open Mark 15:38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” GOD created a most sacred place inside his temple called the “Holy of Holies”. The Lord’s priests of the temple could only enter into this sanctuary, symbolizing a personal presence with God, one day a year. Here one priest would make atonement, sacrificing for the sins of the Jews. To be in God’s presence was a privileged, sacred, and fearful moment that required very specific acts of repentance before the priest entered. The Law of Moses was a system God established to teach his people of his holiness. He required them to approach him in a specific way of sacrifices, festivals and worship, so they would understand they were dealing with the “holy of holy” God, the Righteous One who had no sin. Now, God has sacrificed his Son. At Jesus’ death, the holy God tore the Holy of Holies curtain to demonstrate to the Jews the final sacrifice had been offered. God made a new promise with his people that day and said in effect, “My Son’s death will tear the curtain of sin from your heart when you confess your sin and Jesus as your Lord.” When the centurion said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” he may have been the first to receive this new promise called the New Testament. On this day, the centurion recognizes Jesus as God’s son. God’s New Testament is beginning to work in him and into the world it will unceasingly go. Pause and consider: is sin’s veil torn from your heart?