'At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?" which means, "my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"......with a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard his cry and saw how he died, he said, "surely this man was the Son of God!" Mark 15:33-38
It was a busy and atmospheric Shabbat evening at the Western wall. The crowds were praying, dancing and singing and generally celebrating the coming of the Sabbath. There were tourists like ourselves wandering around and being told off for taking photos which is considered 'work' and so forbidden on the Sabbath. Friday night at the wailing wall, on the eve of Shabbat, (the Jewish Sabbath), is a place like no other. The crowds come and keep coming, the noise of celebration is everywhere and the place feels alive with emotions. We decided to find an area amongst the houses that crowd the old city, where we could watch the excitement below. The western wall, or wailing wall as it is also known, is the remaining part of the temple that stood here 2000 years ago when Jesus was walking the earth. Standing in its place today is the extravagant Golden Dome of The Rock mosque. It is a melting pot of tension, this piece of land, where two religions meet and battle it out for ownership.
We stood watching the scene play out below, overlooking the crowds and waiting patiently for the sun to melt into the mount of Olives which sits behind the temple mount. As we observed this fascinating scene, we were joined by others, some being orthodox Jews avoiding the crowds below but still singing their prayers to God. It was during this evening that the Lord brought the scripture to mind, 'the curtain of the temple was torn in two'. I remembered that as Jesus breathed his last, the curtain of the temple, which had prevented people from entering the Holy of Holies, the place where God dwelt, was literally ripped apart, opening up a new way for people to enter into God's holy presence. The entire temple was destroyed some years later by the Romans, except for the remaining wall which today provides a place for those still living in the old covenant to congregate and offer their worship to God.
The Lord reminded me again of his wonderful plan of salvation, for the Jewish race and for all mankind, due to the sacrificial death of his beloved Son. You cannot go anywhere in Israel without constantly being reminded of Jesus and the cross. At every turn, the Lord seems to be there, invading your thoughts and showing you the scriptures which always point to Jesus and his mission to overcome man's sinfulness and reconcile us back to God.
'When Christ came, as of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man made, that is to say, not part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats or calves; but he entered the most holy place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve this living God! For this reason, Christ is a mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance-now that he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.' Hebrews 9:11-15
What a plan of salvation that God would send his perfect and Holy Son to become sin for us, that he would die in place of the animals and instead of us, and take for us the punishment that we should really receive. The old covenant of animal sacrifice leads so wonderfully to the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, who without spot or blemish could become sin for the world and offer a new covenant for all mankind. It was a reminder of the depth of love that God had for me, and for all his children. What kind of God would love us so much that he would lay the punishment that we justly deserve on his beloved Son? Surely only a God of love would do that? What a plan of salvation! How the law led the way for that day 2000 years ago. How we are so so privileged to be able to enter the most Holy place, that is God's presence, because of Jesus. How we must never forget this, always keep the cross and Jesus central to our praise and our lives, because he is so so worthy of it.
'Therefore brothers. since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the faith we profess, for he who promised is faithful.' Hebrews 10:19-23
Amen!
