Daily Caffeination 04/08/09

No Longer on the Outside

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. . . .-Matthew 27:51

Take Me In by Kutless

Take me past the outer courts
Into the Holy Place
Past the brazen altar
Lord I want to see your face
Pass me by the crowds of people
And the Priests who sing your praise
I hunger and thirst for your righteousness
But it's only found in one place

Take me into the holy of holies
Take me in by the blood of the Lamb
Take me into the holy of holies
Take the coal, touch my lips, here I am

If I could have been present at certain moments in history, one event I would like to have seen was the veil of the temple being torn in two.

In the inner court of the temple in Jerusalem, in the Holy of Holies, was the Ark of the Covenant. That was where the high priest would go once a year to offer atonement for the sins of the people. A veil, a very thick, woven curtain, separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple.

When Jesus died on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, that heavy curtain was torn from top to bottom. It was not ripped from bottom to top, as though a man were ripping it. Instead, it was ripped from top to bottom, because God was ripping it.

God was saying, "You no longer are on the outside. You can come in. My Son has made a way for you."

The apostle Paul explained how we can now draw near to God:

Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, and having a High Priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith. (Hebrews 10:19--22)

The veil was torn. Jesus is now our Intercessor. We don't have to go through a person to reach God anymore. We don't have to go through rituals anymore. Instead, Jesus made a new and living way for us to reach God.

Jesus paid it all. And that is so important to remember.

Here I Am to Worship by Tim Hughes

I'll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross

Thank you Lord for giving us free access to you, thank you for paying the full price for our sins through Your precious blood. There is no better place to be than being in the holy of holies, in Your presence. Jesus Precious Name, the Name above every name. Amen