It has been torn in half!

Reflecting on the dramatic passage in Matthew 27:50-52, I stumbled upon a brilliant observation from Charles Spurgeon. The scripture speaks of the work of God, as Jesus dies on the cross:

"And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split, and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.

Spurgeon then went on to comment about the curtain (veil) and this is what he wrote:

“For believers the veil is not rolled up, but rent (torn). The veil was not unhooked, and carefully folded up, and put away, so that it might be put in its place at some future time. Oh, no! But the divine hand took it and rent it front top to bottom. It can never be hung up again; that is impossible. Between those who are in Christ Jesus and the great God, there will never be another separation.”

God has paved a way for all of us to enter into the inner sanctuary of his presence. The work of Jesus can't be undone - the curtain is torn, thus making a way for us to enter in. However, we can refuse to enter in, but God still longs for us to commune with him.

Living in Grace

D3LM3

27b - When we don't know how it ends!

So what did the discples really think and feel on the day after Jesus' cruel death? As I read
Matthew 27:61 I picture a distraught group of ladies sitting and staring at Jesus' tomb, through the mist of their tear-stained eyes.

"Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb." 

What else is there to think at a time like this? Your friend and Rabbi lies a few meters from you, hidden behind a huge Stone boulder. You are so close to him, but still so far away.  Remember that they hadn't quite understood what Jesus meant by being raised to life. Perhaps if they had, then they would have been dealing with their sense of loss in a totally different way.

I always feel that we are so privileged to encounter the Easter story knowing how the whole week ends up. When you know the story has a 'Good News' ending you are much happier to go through the painful parts first. 

It is hard not to draw a parallel with Covid-19 at this point. As a planet we find ourselves on the "Saturday" of the Easter story. There is death, depair and disappointment all around us. 
We don't know how long lockdown will be. 
We don't know if the virus will impact our homes, schools, churches. 
We don't know if we will get salaries at the end of the month.
We don't know how many people will get sick.
We just don't know! 

Of course, decades from now, people will be reviewing history and they willl experience Covid-19 with different eyes - they will know how it ends and when it ends. This doesn't help us at all, except it puts us right back in the shoes of the first disciples. How will we react to the uncertainty of our futures? How will we trust in our Saviour, when he seems far away?

Friends, I do not have neat answers for us, execpt to note that this story has played out before. Darkness will be overcome by light.
Hope replaces despair.
Courage suppresses fear.

All we are asked to do is this: "Trust in the Lord your God. Lean not on your own understanding. In all our ways acknowledge God and he will direct our paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Living in Grace
D3LM3 

27 - Seeing but not understanding

 ^"After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” - Matthew 27:35-37

It struck me today that the soldiers we so close to Jesus that they could almost reach out from where they were sitting and touch him. That is close! So, so close. The tragedy is that even though they sat at the feet of the Messiah, Jesus meant nothing to them. They saw Jesus, but didn't understand who he was.

The soldiers had their own gods - Jupiter, Mars, money, power and position. Who needs a revolutionary as a Saviour, when you can have the whole world in your hands? 

Unless of course, Jesus offers you a new Life, Kingdom and Future! #JustSaying

Living in Grace
D3LM3