No Longer On the Outside Looking In
Have you ever been on the outside looking in, knowing that unseen wonders lay just beyond the barred door or locked gate?
Back when I was in college, I had the privilege to study abroad. I spent most of the summer of 1991 in Israel at The Institute of Holy Land Studies, which was located just outside the walls of the old city of Jerusalem. As you might imagine, one of the many sites we visited was the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Many believe this ancient church, which dates back to the 4th century, is built over the site where Jesus Christ was crucified and buried. As fascinating as it was to visit, it was also equally frustrating. Why? Because Catholic, Greek Orthodox, Arminian, and other Christian groups which share the governance of the site continually squabble over who has rights to different parts of the church. As a result, locked doors and barred gates permeate the site. The gated passages were the most discouraging for us because they allowed us just enough of a glimpse through the bars to peak our curiosity, but we couldn’t venture any deeper!
Thankfully, sometime after my first trip to the site, an Armenian Orthodox priest joined one of our archeology seminars. A few of us struck up a friendship with him, and within a few weeks, he invited us to the church for another tour, but this time with him as our guide. Because this priest intervened on our behalf, we were given access to passages and places that the general public would never see. Because we were in relationship with the holder of the keys, doors and gates were no longer a hindrance. We now had access to many beautiful mosaics and important artifacts dating back to the early Middle Ages.
As fantastic as that experience was, a week ago today, we read of a much more glorious intervention. I hope you caught it when Daniel read Mark 15:37-39 on Good Friday:
And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood facing him, saw that in this way he breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”
Can you imagine what it must have been like that day? The torn curtain barred access to the Most Holy Place, the place where the presence of God dwelt. Essentially, men never entered there. The high priest alone dared to enter one time a year, “…and not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the unintentional sins of the people.” (Heb 9:7)
He would never venture into the Holy of Holies without completing ceremonial cleansings and bringing sacrifices…for sacrifices made improperly had cost prior priests (like Aaron’s sons) their lives. The high priest likely went behind the curtain with trepidation and fear, hoping to escape the danger zone as quickly as possible. His sinfulness was never more striking to him than in that most holy of places.
I wonder what the people of Israel must have felt on the day of Christ’s death when they heard that the curtain was torn in two. Were they frightened? Did the priests dare to peek behind the torn curtain?
If only they could have realized what Jesus had done that day. By willingly shedding his blood and giving his body up to death for all sinners who would turn to him in faith, he removed the greatest man-made barrier, the curse of sin and death that barred us from God. Through the greatest of sacrifices, Jesus purified, making the curtain of separation unnecessary. Because of Jesus, there is no longer a need for additional offerings or sacrifices for sins. We have been forgiven and can now confidently follow him behind the torn curtain! Hebrews 10:19-23 makes this clear,
19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.
What an encouragement! Because of Jesus, we are no longer on the outside looking in.
…Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades. (Rev 1:17-18)
Think about it. Because of Jesus, we will be exploring behind the curtain forever! Now that’s an exciting future!
Rejoicing and praising Him with you,
Pastor Brad
