The Cross

Luke 23:26-49, Hebrews 9:1-15

Jesus suffered immensely on His way to the cross. He experienced a pain we could never understand - the pain of sin upon His shoulders. The Son of God, perfect and blameless, took on God’s wrath deserved for us. More than Jesus's physical pain, he experienced separation from His Father. We deserve that separation, but out of his great love for us, Jesus took our place.

“The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle.” - Luke 23:45

This curtain separated the high priest from the ark of the covenant. Only once a year, the high priest would enter this holy of holies to atone for the sins of the people. Humanity could not be in the direct presence of God because of our unholiness. We had fallen short; God can not be in the presence of sin.

On that day, when Jesus bore humanity's sin, the curtain was torn in two. Representing that Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. The curtain is no longer there because there is no more separation between God and his creation. God can dwell amongst his people because of the perfect sacrifice.

As a believer in Jesus, God now sees Jesus’ perfection when he looks upon you. Your record has been washed clean in the eyes of God. Jesus took your place! How beautiful is this picture that God sent his son to reconcile his creation to himself? We cannot forget the cost. The cost was Jesus himself on that cross. Let us be grateful for the length God was willing to pursue his creation.

Take some time to think about the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross. The implications it has for your life, the love of God shown in this incredible act. The greatest act of love ever shown in the history of the world. Let's remember what Jesus went through so that we could have a relationship with the Father.