“Then Jesus shouted out again, and released His spirit. At that (very) moment, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead.” (Matthew 27:50-52)
Jesus accomplished what no other man or god could do. He gave death a fatal blow.
The curtain tearing from top to bottom is significant. This signifies that Jesus is truly your Sacrificial Lamb that can take away your sins. You see, the curtain was erected way back in Old Testament times. Go ahead and read Exodus 26 and get an understanding of why this is impactful. The curtain separated God from man. Sin caused the separation. At certain times, God would allow a chosen high priest to enter behind the curtain and offer sacrifices for people’s sins. It was gruesome and extremely tedious; read Exodus 29-30 to see how.
By the curtain tearing in two, Jesus opened the way for man to find God on his own. Priests won’t be needed any longer. Man can now enter into a personal relationship with the Almighty God. Because of His death on the cross, Jesus is your liberator from sin and death. “Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Him.” (John 14:6) Because of this, “Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There, we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16)
You are uninhibited and free when you approach God. What will you find when you do? Grace. Love. Mercy.
You will not find this anywhere in the world nor with any other person. We are incapable of loving like God does. I love my husband, but the love that I have for him doesn’t even come close to the love that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit has for me as well as you. We are conditional with each other, Christ is not.
He loves you just as you are, even in your sinful state.
Take a look at what my son calls grace, “At its core, grace is unfair. It is giving something to someone who is undeserving of it. Jesus dying on the cross is the most just thing God could do. But it was not fair What is fair is for humanity to spend eternity in hell. What is unfair is for God to give us a way out.” Stop and think about this.
Disobedient man has hope. Wayward man has a chance. Selfish man can be restored.
Your identity goes from dead bones with skin on to spirit-filled on a mission. One is self-destructing while the other is continually being renewed. When you take your last breath, it will either be the end of you or the beginning of everlasting life in the presence of God, and God gives you the choice to follow the world which leads to death or His Son which leads you into eternity.
“People need Me,” says God, “I am the way out. I am the key that unlocks the way to peace and love. I am the path to unity and harmony. I am the corruption buster. Sin in the world has made it rotten to the core. I am man’s cure for everything.”
(Note: The quote above is not found in the Bible. I am giving my thoughts on what God could be saying.)
Make this Easter weekend be the start of a beautiful love story between you and Christ. Perhaps you have a relationship with Christ but you have turned away. Make this weekend of remembrance be a turn around time. In either case, God is waiting with open arms.
Because of Christ’s one two punch, death has lost it power. Death, nor Satan, can take you down when you abide in Christ. Oh, the enemy will do everything in his puny power to falter you. He knows where He is heading. He knows He has been defeated, but in his pride he is taking down as many people as he can. So, so many are being deceived, yes, even Christians.
Choose Christ and follow Him. Choose Christ and be like Him. Choose Christ and live out the Bible.
Christ lived by the words of His Father. You are called to live the same way, obedient. Christ lived with His ear tuned into His Father’s voice. You are called to stay tuned in and do what you are told. Christ loved sacrificially. You are called to give more than you think you can give. Christ depended on God for every breath. May you follow in the same fashion. Christ did not live by His feelings or wants. You cannot either.
You and I live by Christ and Christ alone. For He is our only hope.
As you celebrate this weekend, may God make His presence ever so clear to you. May your days take on a whole new look as you say yes to Jesus and give a one two punch to your love affair(s) in this world. There is nothing in this world that is worth your adoration, nothing and no one. When Jesus becomes your Lord, everything is put into perspective and God will prioritize your life.
Fearing what God will take away? Have no fear for God has the best in mind for you. If something gets removed, He will replace it with something extraordinary. You will be fulfilled, content, satisfied. God said as He was creating the world, “It is very good.” See Genesis 1 and 2. He is saying that about you with a smile on His face as He fine tunes all that He has planned for you.
Carol J German 