Access Denied

But Jesus let out a loud cry and breathed His last. Then the curtain of the sanctuary was split in two from top to bottom. When the centurion, who was standing opposite Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, “This man really was God’s Son!” Mark 15:37-39 HCSB

I volunteered at the Senior PGA golf tournament. The identification badge they gave me allowed me to be on the grounds and to get into many of the venues, but there were some places that were provided by sponsors that only those with special credentials were allowed to enter. My access to those areas was denied because I lacked the proper identification badge.

A heavy curtain that hung in the Temple separated the main area from the Most Holy Place (2 Chronicles 3:8-14), a place reserved by God for Himself. Symbolically, the curtain separated a Holy God from the sinful people. Only the high priest entered the Most Holy Place annually on the Day of Atonement to make the sacrifice for the sins of the people. When Jesus died, this curtain was torn in two, indicating that His death was the final sacrifice that needed to be made for our sins. Of note, the curtain was torn from top to bottom illustrating that God had done the tearing and He had opened the way for all men to have access to God.

Challenge: Thank God for providing the perfect and final sacrifice for your sins. Praise Him that you now have direct access to God and do not have to go through a priest or other medium to talk with Him.

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