Soon, in our Sunday morning bible class, we will be covering the Day of Atonement, a very special day when it comes to the sacrificial system. The directions given to Aaron concerning this day, falls on the heels of the stern judgment given to his sons Nadab and Abihu. This sacrifice would be different, for he was told “not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil” (Leviticus 16:2). This would be a sacrifice to be done “once a year” (16:34), making atonement for the children of Israel. What made this so special, was when the high priest entered the Holy Place, God would “appear in the cloud above the mercy seat” (Leviticus 16:2). The thing was, though, that only the high priest could enter, and that was only once a year.
And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
Mark 15:37-38
The high priest, under the old law, was man’s access to God’s presence. God’s people could only get so close; that is, until the sacrifice of Christ. I realize that His death is the focus, but can you imagine being at the temple, witnessing the tearing of the curtain that separated God and his people for so long. The fact that it is torn from “top to bottom” reveals that God was doing this. He was proclaiming the sufficient work of His Son’s sacrifice, our “merciful and faithful High Priest” who Himself would “make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17). And unlike the high priests under the law who had to offer sacrifices “also for himself” (Hebrews 5:3), Jesus, “after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God…for by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrews 10:12, 14). Because of Christ’s work on the cross, sinful man can be made perfect, allowing him to access God.
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
The work of Christ is overwhelming if we stand back and look at it. For so many years, the temple (tabernacle) would be a place where believers would go to and someone else would enter the Holy Place for them, seeking atonement. Now, we can boldly; that is, confidently, come before God seeking His grace and mercy. We can walk daily knowing that God’s Spirit, now resides in us, for Christ has made each of us a “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1st Corinthians 6:19). The curtain was torn and God has invited sinful man to enter in once for all through His Son. Thank you Lord for everything You do for us through Christ.
Dennis
