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 15:37-39)
Today we celebrate and remember that the curtain was torn. The curtain symbolized sinful humanity’s separation from a holy God. When Christ died on the cross, the curtain was decisively, completely torn, “from top to bottom.”
All of history hinges on the torn curtain. It changes everything, forever. God has opened the way to full relationship with Himself. We are now free to enter God’s holy presence through the way made by the cross.
Yet, because we are free to enter, we are not compelled. We can choose to remain on the other side of the curtain, or look for another way through. But the cross made the way; it is a beautiful way, and it is the only way.
This Good Friday, walk through the torn curtain into God’s presence by the way made by the cross. If you’ve walked this way before, give thanks and remember how much it cost God to bring you through. If you’ve never passed through the torn curtain, step through. Leave the weight of your sin and the despair of your separation from God behind. Enter into the joy of His friendshp on the day He tore the curtain for you.