Reflecting on Matthew 27:45-56
“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:51)
As a Jesus follower, I see Jesus as the turning point of history.
I still think in terms of BC (Before Christ) and AD (After Death).
Actually, the AD stands for anno Domini, the year of our Lord.
This is a reference to the Hebrew Year of Jubilee.
Jesus quotes Isaiah 61:1-2, calling it the ‘year of the Lord’s favour’ (Luke 4:14-21).
Ever since Jesus’s death, our experience with God has changed.
We were created in ‘very good’ fellowship with God, each other and the world.
Since Genesis 3, we have been alienated from God, others and the world.
God’s kingdom of light and life has become a dominion of darkness and death.
A barrier was placed between humanity and paradise (Genesis 3:24).
This barrier was symbolized in the temple by the curtain.
A curtain separated all people from God’s presence (most holy space).
Humanity lived in this constant state of disconnection and alienation.
Until this moment… “at that moment” everything changed.
The curtain was a symbol of something real: our alienation.
The torn curtain was also a symbol of something real: our reconciliation.
Jesus shows us that God is for us, not against us.
Jesus fulfills God’s perfect love, and thereby reverses Genesis 3.
As Son of Adam, Son of God (Luke 3:38), He refuses Satan’s lies.
He refuses to sin, He reverses the curse, He restores humanity.
In the moment it feels as if He is forsaken by God.
But the torn curtain proves that He, and we, are not forsaken.
We are loved, forgiven, and restored to ‘very good’ fellowship with God.
Do we still live as if a barrier separates us from God?
Are we burdened with feelings of not being good enough, not being loved?
This moment reveals the truth: I AM, YOU ARE, FULLY RESTORED TO GOD!
This moment changes everything, for me, for all people, for all creation!
Satan is defeated, the curse is lifted, life is restored, we are loved!
Satan does not want you to believe this or live in this reality.
He continues to hiss his lies, to keep us trapped in deception.
This reminds me of when the US declared freedom for slaves.
The slave owners did their best to keep their slaves from hearing this.
They lied to their slaves, saying it never happened, to keep them in bondage.
Don’t fall Satan’s his lies; repeat the truth of Jesus: I am loved and restored!
“Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, that moment was life-changing for me, and for all people. Help me to live in this new reality, and to remember that NOTHING can separate me from God and Your love!
In my correspondence I use the date A.D. many a time. We are all in the year of our Lord. And I also use the letters D.V. – meaning God willing. My time is in His hands and I eed reminders of that as I serve Him. How do I see His presence in my daily life? How do I see His faithfulness and power in my daiy activities? Today is another Lord’s day and I need to go forward in His strength and power knowing thaat He is with me in all I do. JesusSaviour pilot me.