The Curtain Tore in Two

Today is a holiday (Araw ng Kagitingan) as the country celebrates the brave souls of the old who fought hard for this country’s freedom. I took this time off from work to sleep, rest, watch movies and ultimately to have some quiet time and contemplate on God’s goodness in my life. In one of my readings, I came across the subject of our sins’ forgiveness through the sacrifice Jesus has done on the cross.

Just several days ago we celebrated the Holy Week, a contemplation of the death to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I have not really paid attention to this celebration. I was too pre-occupied of going home to my hometown to spend the rest of the holidays with my family. I didn’t spare any time to reflect and I am not proud of it. So when I read about the forgiveness tied to Jesus’ dying in the cross for our sins, it’s just now that I truly realized, understood and appreciated the tearing of the curtain in the temple as a sign of Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for me – a sinner.

In one of my Bible readings I came across God’s commands in Leviticus. At first glance, I honestly think that the commands are unreasonable demands - sacrificing of animals, eating of unleavened bread, giving of different forms of burnt and sacrificial offerings to cleanse sins. But I like one commentary which said that “we may be tempted to dismiss Leviticus as a record of bizarre rituals of a different age. But its practices made sense to the people of the day and offer important insights for us into God’s nature and character... God used the form of sacrifice to teach his people about faith. Sin needed to be taken seriously. When people saw the sacrificial animals being killed, they were sensitized to the importance of their sin and guilt…” It was further discussed that “animal sacrifice accomplished two purposes: 1) the animal symbolically took the sinner’s place and paid the penalty for sin, and 2) the animal’s death represented one life given so another life could be saved. This method of sacrifice continued throughout Old Testament times… But in the New Testament times, Christ’s death became the last sacrifice needed. He took our punishment once and for all. Animal sacrifice is no longer required. Now any person can be freed from the penalty of sin by simply believing in Jesus, acknowledging Jesus’ in his or her place, and accepting the forgiveness Jesus offers.” (Life Application Study Bible, pg. 154)

In connection to this, the importance and symbolism of the ‘Tent of Meeting’ and ‘Tabernacle construction’ discussed in Exodus dawned of me. I admit that I didn’t pay much attention to these things when I first read them. But I now understood and appreciate this great symbolism upon reading this article today where it said “Jesus opened the way for forgiveness and entry into the presence of God. The curtain of the temple (see also Leviticus 24:3), which was what separated people from the presence of God, was torn in two supernaturally by God from top to bottom. This symbolized the fact that through the death of Jesus we are given access to God, because our sins are forgiven. God credits us with righteousness and allows us the immense privilege of an intimate relationship with him.”

In Leviticus it was written that Lord commanded that no one is to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark which are inside the Tabernacle, or else the person will die. Before one can enter, Aaron the priest has to make sacrifices and offerings and other meticulous offerings described in the Bible. But because of Jesus’ death on the cross, He waived all these rituals for the forgiveness of sins. He became the ultimate sacrifice in replacement of animals with no defects. He is the best sacrifice, of no defect, blameless, without sin and holy. Forgiveness of sins in the Old Testament required a perfect, without defect lamb as an offer of sacrifice (Lev. 23:12). Jesus as our ‘Passover lamb’ became the perfect offering as he is perfect, without defect. “In Hebrews 10:1-18, Jesus Christ is portrayed as the ultimate sacrifice.” “When Jesus Christ died on the cross, the curtain in the temple (which had replaced the tabernacle) tore from the top to bottom (Mark 15:38), symbolizing our free access to God because of Jesus’ death. No longer did people have to approach God through priests and sacrifices.”

The death of Jesus on the cross allowed us the “immense privilege of an intimate relationship with God.” Jesus’ death opened the way into the presence of God where we can enter with boldness and confidence showing deep respect and reverence.

The curtain tore in two symbolized our access to God thru the perfect sacrificial lamb. No longer do we have to go through anybody else to access God. We have the direct access through our Lord Jesus Christ. Grab this opportunity and seeks God’s forgiveness.

But as we seek God’s forgiveness let us be reminded that “forgiveness is not a reason to sin again. It is in fact an incentive not to sin.” We should stay in God’s paths and refrain from taking lightly Jesus’ sacrifice for the cleansing of our sins.