Thirty-second day of Lent

 

Thursday, March 25, 2021

Hallelujah!  He is risen!

A Lenten Devotional Guide

By Rayna Carlsen 

Then Jesus shouted out again and he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Matthew 27:30-31

Why was the tearing of the Temple curtain so important that God took care to record it for us in His word? 

The curtain is described in detail in Exodus 26:31-33. Specifically it says, “This curtain will separate the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place [the place where God dwells].” Man could approach in a specific way, at specified times, through a specific people.

We tend to have an Old Testament way of thinking today. We want to approach God by a specific set of rules in a place only a chosen few can enter. But when Jesus died on the cross, that curtain God had established to separate the “common man” from His presence was torn from top to bottom. The doorway to God was opened – to all of us!

I picture the hands of God tearing that magnificent curtain in half, delighted to open direct access to Himself for us. As Hebrews records, “we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. This is the new life-giving way that Christ has opened up for us through the sacred curtain, by mans of his death for us.”

God desires us to come to Him. Directly. He wants us to be in His presence, communing with Him whenever and wherever possible. What an honor! As a father loves having his children come to him to talk about their day and share their joys, sorrows, expectations and to look for advice, our Heavenly Father desires our personal contact with Him.

Dear loving Father, give me a better understanding of this marvelous privilege to be able to come directly into your presence because of Jesus. Give me the boldness to come directly to you with a trusting heart. Amen

Hallelujah! He is Risen!
prepared for First United Methodist Church of Homosassa, Florida
Spring 2011
compiled by Patience Nave, Christian Education Coordinator
reproduced and edited by Patience Fort