A Torn Curtain

Today we continued our series on the book of Mark. We read from Mark 15:21-47. In it we find what happens after Pilate sentenced Jesus to death. Jesus is lead out with the cross, but eventually a man named Simon is recruited to carry the 30-50 pound crossbeam. They lead him up to Golgotha, which means the place of the skull. After rejecting a pain killer, Jesus was nailed to a cross and crucified. This happened at 9am.

As he hung their people mocked him. At Noon the sky darkened for the next 3 hours. At the end of this time he cired out and gave up his spirit. At that very moment the curtain that seperated the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place was ripped in half from top to bottom. A bleiever named Joseph requested and recieved Jesus' body. He took the body and placed it in his own tomb, rolling a rock in front of the tomb.





I love the part of the story that talks about the temple curtain being ripped in half. It is both dramatic and symbolic. As you look at the temple you notice that it was built in a way in order to keep people away from God, because of their sin.

Outside the temple was the world, as you went in there was a court for the gentiles, so any believer could go that far. Then there was a women's court, only Jews could go that far. Inside further was the men's court, only Jewish men were allowed that far. Next was the Holy Place, only Jewish men who were priests could go that far in. Finally there was a curtain seperating that from the Most Holy Place. Only one person, the high priest, could enter this room, and that only once a year. That was the place the ark of the covenant was kept and where they believed God would be residing. Yet, when Jesus died that curtain was torn, giving everyone a way in which they could approach God, through Jesus' death.

I give this morning a: A+
Favorite Moment of the Morning: Jared's Ah Ha Moment