…You’ll probably remember that with that cry Jesus shouted, “It is finished!” Mark only wants us to know about the loud cry, because the manner of the cry caused the centurion to see something different about Jesus. Mark doesn’t give us the words of the cry, but he gives us the actual evidence that the work God set out to do was finished. The curtain of the temple was torn in half.
When God directed Moses and the people of Israel to build the original tabernacle, or tent of meeting, where the chosen people could “meet” with God, he laid out three distinct divisions. The court of the Gentiles, or people, where all people had access. Then the Holy Place where only the priest could enter to offer sacrifices to God. And then the Holy of Holies, where only the high priest could enter, and only once per year on the day of Atonement, and only that after extensive preparations.
Because God’s presence inhabited the holy of holies. Even the chosen priests of God’s chosen people could not access the holy of holies, because God’s presence was something too holy for unholy people to see and bear. Even as much of himself that God made known to people, he reserved the fullness of his presence for a rare few. You know, people are always trying to gain VIP access, to have access to the inner sanctum. You see it on the movies. There’s some fancy restaurant. But only a rare few get chosen to go to the VIP lounge. But even fewer to the inner sanctum of the lounge. Or a concert. Some get the backstage pass. And the people with money, they get the direct band access with preshow meal. When Jesus died, God tore the curtain in the temple to show that he was making a way for humanity to have full, inner sanctum access to God. God made a way for whoever would enter by faith, to enter and have full, unrestricted access to himself and the joys of his presence. And all that it cost him, was the death of his son, and the son to bear the father’s judgment and wrath upon sin, and experience human separation from God…
