Unlimited Access

Scripture Reading: Mark 15:33-39, Hebrews 10:19-25

Complete Jewish Bible (CJB)

³³ At noon, darkness covered the whole Land until three o’clock in the afternoon. ³⁴ At three, he uttered a loud cry, “Elohi! Elohi! L’mah sh’vaktani?” (which means, “My God! My God! Why have you deserted me?”) ³⁵ On hearing this, some of the bystanders said, “Look! He’s calling for Eliyahu!”(Elijah) ³⁶ One ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar, put it on a stick and gave it to him to drink. “Wait!” he said, “Let’s see if Eliyahu will come and take him down.” ³⁷ But Yeshua let out a loud cry and gave up his spirit. ³⁸ And the parokhet ( the curtain)[You shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet material and fine twisted linen; it shall be made with cherubim, the work of a skillful workman. "You shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks also being of gold, on four sockets of silver. "You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies." (Exodus 26:31-33)] in the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom. ³⁹ When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw the way he gave up his spirit, he said, “This man really was a son of God!”

^{Hebrews 10:19-25} So by virtue of the blood of Jesus, you and I, my brothers, may now have courage to enter the holy of holies by way of the one who died and is yet alive, who has made for us a holy means of entry by himself passing through the curtain, that is, his own human nature. Further, since we have a great High Priest set over the household of God, let us draw near with true hearts and fullest confidence, knowing that our inmost souls have been purified by the sprinkling of his blood just as our bodies are cleansed by the washing of clean water. In this confidence let us hold on to the hope that we profess without the slightest hesitation—for he is utterly dependable—and let us think of one another and how we can encourage each other to love and do good deeds. And let us not hold aloof from our church meetings, as some do. Let us do all we can to help one another’s faith, and this the more earnestly as we see the final day drawing ever nearer.

Key Verse: The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The centurion said, Surely, this man was the Son   (Mark 15:38,39)

Meditation: Today we have unlimited access to God through Jesus our Intercessor. The people in the temple worship had not experience that openness. In fact, those who came to Passover during the week was crucified came to a place designated the Court of the Gentiles. So the Gentiles could come only that far. Those who were Jews could enter the next precinct of the temple where they could see the priests actually prepare the sacrificial lambs. But they were not permitted the Holy Place. Only the ordained priests could go into the area the special utensils stood for burning of the sacrifices, including the prepared lamb. The priests exercised other activities of worship but even they could not enter the Holy of Holies where the visible presence of God dwelt in the days of Moses. There the cherubim above  the Ark of the Covenant reminded the high priest that he was in presence of the Almighty God. Should the designated high priest have come without the complete cleansing ritual, he would have been struck dead. He wore a bell and a rope, by which he would be dragged should that happen.

God had a plan to open this place in His presence to all men: At the very moment Jesus breathed His last, the curtain split from top bottom miraculously. It was too high for anyone to have torn it. God opened, through the death of Jesus Christ, the access to His very presence. Now as Hebrews tells us, we can enter the Holy of Holies with Christ as our high priest. He has the authority to ask and power to act. Not only do we have unlimited access, but we have unlimited representation in Jesus our Advocate.

Thought for the Day: Our boldness in coming into the presence God is provided by the sacrifice of Jesus, more powerful than 15 centuries of sacrifices under the Old Testament law.