WATCHWORD:
33 Behind this curtain place the Ark containing the stone tablets engraved with God’s laws. The curtain will separate the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place. Exodus 26:33 Living Bible
1-2 After Aaron’s two sons died before the Lord, the Lord said to Moses, “Warn your brother Aaron not to enter into the Holy Place behind the veil, where the Ark and the place of mercy are, just whenever he chooses. The penalty for intrusion is death. For I myself am present in the cloud above the place of mercy. 3 “Here are the conditions for his entering there: He must bring a young bull for a sin offering, and a ram for a burnt offering. 4 He must bathe himself and put on the sacred linen coat, shorts, belt, and turban. 5 The people of Israel shall then bring him two male goats for their sin offering, and a ram for their burnt offering. 6 First he shall present to the Lord the young bull as a sin offering for himself, making atonement for himself and his family. 7 Then he shall bring the two goats before the Lord at the entrance of the Tabernacle, 8 and cast lots to determine which is the Lord’s and which is to be sent away. 9 The goat allotted to the Lord shall then be sacrificed by Aaron as a sin offering. 10 The other goat shall be kept alive and placed before the Lord. The rite of atonement shall be performed over it, and it shall then be sent out into the desert as a scapegoat.* Leviticus 16:1-10 The Living Bible
45 That afternoon, the whole earth was covered with darkness for three hours, from noon until three o’clock. 46 About three o’clock, Jesus shouted, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for Elijah. 48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine and put it on a stick and held it up to him to drink. 49 But the rest said, “Leave him alone. Let’s see whether Elijah will come and save him.” 50 Then Jesus shouted out again, dismissed his spirit, and died. 51 And look! The curtain secluding the Holiest Place[b] in the Temple was split apart from top to bottom; and the earth shook, and rocks broke, 52 and tombs opened, and many godly men and women who had died came back to life again. 53 After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the cemetery and went into Jerusalem, and appeared to many people there. 54 The soldiers at the crucifixion and their sergeant were terribly frightened by the earthquake and all that happened. They exclaimed, “Surely this was God’s Son.” Matthew 27:45-54 Living Bible.
Meditation:
Forgot Your Password?
Have you ever seen that question — “Forgot your password”? Probably not more than three thousand times! You want to get into one of YOUR accounts? Accessed denied! What’s your password? Forgot your password? That denial and the accompanied question causes a flicker of frustration, for me. How about you?
Why all that rigmarole just to get into MY ACCOUNT? GRRR. It’s for your own good, it’s for your own security, to protect your property, etc. etc. And you concede the point, and, like me, consult your list of passwords, and try another one. Wrong password? You will be denied!
The protocols (password) for entering that part of the tabernacle, beyond the curtain, called the Most Holy Place, were a bit more elaborate. The penalty for getting this “password” wrong? DEATH! Look at the Leviticus passage, the list that God gave Moses to give to Aaron, and the particulars, in order to enter the Most Holy Place, behind the curtain. The protocols were complex and tricky. You had to bath, most important. Wear the proper underwear (no jockey shorts), the correct outer wear, the tunic, the hat, the whole thing. AND, don’t forget the offering. And what’s with this “Scapegoat” that you let go free anyway?
After you follow all of those instructions to the letter, now you can enter YOUR ACCOUNT (and balance your checkbook, if that is what you worship!). I know I am making light of this, but think about it — In ancient times, before the Resurrection, access to God, to enter His presence, to listen to Him, and know His commandments was most reverent and most rare. Once a year, the priest could go beyond the curtain, and enter the Holy of Holies. Once a year! That all changed this side of the Resurrection.
“At the moment of Jesus’ death, that special curtain was torn, symbolically showing that all people who believe in His sacrifice for their forgiveness of sin can enter God’s presence. The tear in the tabernacle curtain is reason for our unending joy – Jesus has enabled us to draw near to God always!” (Our Daily Bread)
I am not sure what we would do, as a company of believers, if we could not come to Jesus, to God, to praise Him, to seek help, forgiveness, for love and support. Where would we turn? The way ahead would be filled with evil. For this reason alone, we are so grateful, it is impossible to express, except to praise Him forever! Amen.
Bulletin Board:
In closing, consider this question: In what ways are you aware of being drawn near to God? How does that truth bring you joy? So be it.
Closing Prayer:
How can we express to You our unending gratitude, and love for what you have done for us? We are helpless, Heavenly Father without You in our lives. Help us alway to do all we can to live our lives as you would have us live them, to imitate your son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, in all that we do. I cannot imagine what life would be like without You. Stay with me Lord, stay with me. To You all glory and honor and praise. Amen
