Luke 23:32-49
Prior to Jesus coming to the earth and dying on the cross for our sins, God's people lived under the law and through that law their access to God was accomplished through the priests. (We'll read about this in detail tomorrow in Hebrews 9:1-14). God's dwelling place was a tent or temple (depending on the time in history) and the temple was divided into sections with the innermost section being the most holy place to which only the high priest had access once a year. The high priest would enter and offer a blood sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people. The divider, or barrier, between the most holy place and the outer section was a veil or curtain. Luke 23:32-49 is about Jesus' crucifixion and when we get to verse 45 it tells us that "the curtain of the temple was torn in two." That tearing, which was from top to bottom, was the result of Jesus death on the cross. The moment that took place, we were given access to God through Jesus Christ. He (Jesus) made the final sacrifice and is now our mediator. The days of sacrificing the blood of animals are over.
We've never lived under the law and the requirement of making blood sacrifices. So even though we can read and understand what these requirements were, we've never experienced them. So for a lot of years, I didn't' fully grasp the symbolism and significance of the tearing of the veil. And then at some point, I fully got it, the light bulb came on, and I was amazed, humbled and so thankful for what Jesus did for me.
So would you take some time today to thank Jesus for what he did for you? Then, think about the full and free access we have to God through Jesus. What can we do to take full advantage of it? Tami W.
Thank you so much for this explanation I never understood or got it either , now I understand why the people realized at the time of his death who Jesus was.
Tami, in reading today's scripture, I found that the word "Paradise" stood out to me. I got to thinking, what the word meant to me and then went and looked up the word in Greek. It means "a park, a garden"
With this, I see the symbolism of Paradise and the Garden of Eden, since that was where we first walked with God. It is awesome to know that we will be walking with God and studying HIs word forever.
Like you it took me some time to realize the symbolism of the tearing of the curtain. The thing that struck me was that it was torn from the top down to show us that God did it and not man. We are truly blest of God to live in a time that we are not under to the law that required sacrifices.
Thank you for all you do and may God bless you!
Lynn
Thank You Lord for Your perfect mercy and grace. You allow us, as imperfect people, to worship at Your feet- we have open and immediate access to You, God the Father and the Holy Spirit. We are so blessed to have You standing for us!
Teaching my little ones the love of Jesus and modeling Christ in my home is how I plan to ensure that the next generation trust God in all things...
Lord i am amazed at what You have done, are doing and what You are going to accomplish. i am blessed to know i can come directly to You . i picture the Father reaching down from heaven and tearing the veil into with His own hands . we should remain holy before our Lord to honor Him . repent of sin in our lives as He points it out so our access to Him does not become hindered.
Tami, and dear P4 bloggers, I've been walking with Jesus since I was 4 years old, and I'm still overwhelmed and overcome! I absolutely understood the decision I was making (as completely as anyone in with human mindset could understand) as I walked down the little mission-church isle, a little curly-haired girl folks called Susie.
I knew there needed to be confession and repentance; and, for me, this would be my life FOREVER, a life decision, no going back! I was settling my account early, THEN and FOREVER! Little Susie wanted to get this done and move forward down the right path, step by step, inch by inch, as they say. I'd be His and He'd be mine. I understood my sins would be forgiven and forgotten because of what Jesus did for all who would receive His gift of grace. Oh, and yep, at 4 years old, I understood there would be "a cross", at times for me, and suffering on His behalf. But, I also "got it", that I'd found the "fountain of youth", eternal life, a way to never die. Sounded to me like "THE PLAN!"
Truly, after all these years, I'm still overwhelmed and overcome everytime I realize that I'm able to approach our Holy God, the One True and Living God....that He hears ME....that HE cares about ME. I was just a little 4-year old sinner, about to be saved FOREVER by HIS grace.
Dear Ones, if any one of you is going through the valley of decision, let me say: I've NEVER been sorry for my decision long ago. I've NEVER been alone. HE HAS BEEN ALL TO ME (the father I never knew, the mother who let me down, the brother who let me down, and friends I might have missed had HE not been there for me.)
God put that little girl in the perfect place where she would grow in grace, learn about Him, and have the opportunity to serve Him in ways I cannot describe! He put music in heart and soul, that I'd play for His glory for many years....and the thing is, the music I played and sang hoping to bless God's people, well....IT BLESSED ME!!!
God knows how to make us happy. Want to be happy? Give Him your life, give Him everything you are. HE will be ALL to YOU. And there will always be more grace for another day,
HE'S NEVER CHANGED! How totally cool....this perfect HOLY GOD knows US. What a privelege to be able to go to Him, approach Him in prayer, to look to Him, and to know He hears, He cares, He responds. Yep, I'm still overwhelmed and overcome.
Almighty Father, we thank You for Your Grace and Your mercy. We thank You for the love You have for us that You sent Your only begotten Son on the cross to die for us sinners who do not deserve mercy. He who did not sin - but Lord we thank You even more for what this means for us. That for those of us who believe in and obey Him can have eternal life is unbelievable but You have done this for us and we thank You Lord.
I pray Lord that You will give us the strength and courage to walk with you each day, caring for others in your name and giving all the praise and glory to You, our Redeemer. Heavenly Father, without Your help I cannot do it and I know You will be with us because You have promised you will never leave us nor forsake us. Thanks for including us in your blessings. This I pray in the name of Your Son, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thank you for praying and telling your testimonies. I am blessed. It would be wonderful to have friends like you near. I confess my sins and am sorry for crucifing the Son of God. I thank Him for saving us and making the way to live here on earth through His Holy Spirit. The wonderful way God has knitted His plan throughout the OLD testament is amazing and awe inspiring. We are blessed to have a loving RULER and Intercessor in Who no sin is found. Now we need to keep praying for others to know this. Thank you Back to the Bible. I hope the word gets out and more people join in the Law of GRACE.
Susie, I loved reading your testimony. I was eight years old when I accepted Jesus into my heart at a Vacation Bible School. There aren't many of us around (at least that I'm aware of) that can say we meant Jesus at a young age. I am so grateful for God's grace and mercy. I was raised in a Christian family. That does not mean perfection, but it means Godly parents who model for you the Christian life the best they could.