Reading: Matthew 15-18
Jesus, when He had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent(Matt. 27:50-51).
Jesus Christ left the throne room of heaven for a singular purpose: for God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16). With love He entered into this world, and for that love, He died. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13). Scripture tells us that He was born into humble circumstances, the (supposed) son of a lowly carpenter and his wife (Luke 3:23). He grew up learning the trade of His earthly father, but His thoughts were never far from His Heavenly Father’s plan (Luke 2:41-52). Jesus began His public ministry at approximately 30 years of age, and in three short years, He turned the world upside down. He gathered His disciples and amassed many followers. He performed miracles and challenged established religious beliefs. Through the power of His love, he changed the hearts of many, offering them a new life that was previously unimaginable. In the end (which was, in reality, a glorious new beginning!), He fulfilled His purpose as the true Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).
All of this played out on the world stage. It was seen by the people of the day and recorded in Scripture so that all who were yet to be born could also bear witness to it. And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures (I Cor. 15:4). So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God (Mark 16:19). Jesus died, He arose, and He ascended. These three basic, unquestionable facts are the basis for our faith. Of these three, the ascension is the one that we discuss the least. We praise Him for dying for our sins in our place and for rising from the grave and permanently defeating the power of death (I Cor. 15:55-57), but many of us seem unaware that upon His return to heaven, Jesus gave to us yet another profound gift—the gift of direct, personal communication with God.
And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. Since the time of Moses in the wilderness, the high priest would walk behind the veil of the temple into the presence of God in the most holy place and make intercession for mankind with God once each year, on the Day of Atonement. Jesus’ work on the cross and His subsequent ascension into heaven changed that forever. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (I Tim. 2:5). With Jesus as our Savior, we are now free to approach the throne of God at any time, for any reason. We no longer depend on an earthly intercessor; we need only reach out to Him in faith, and we will be heard and answered (I John 5:14-15). Through the power of Jesus, we are once more connected to God's heart.
I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting(I Tim. 2:8).
Thought for Today: Through Jesus, God has removed all of the barriers between Him and us, save for the one in our hearts. That one we must remove ourselves if we are to perceive His presence.
Cross Reference: For Matt. 27:5-10: See Zech. 11:12-13. Matt. 27:34: See Ps. 69:21. Matt. 27:35: See Ps. 22:18. Matt. 27:39: See Job 16:4; Ps. 109:25; Lam. 2:15. Matt. 27:43: See Ps. 22:8. Matt. 27:46: See Ps. 22:1.
Word Studies:27:15 wont = accustomed; 27:16 notable = notorious; 27:24 tumult = uproar, riot; 27:48 straightway = immediately, without delay.
Pray for StaffTifany Parisi • Country: Denmark (5,569,077) Northern Europe • Major Languages: Danish, Faroese • Religious Freedom • 495% Evangelical Lutheran; 3% Other Christian; 2% Muslim • Prayer Suggestion: Know that God answers prayer (Ps. 118:5).