Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. – Matthew 27:50-51
The Good Friday service at St. Luke’s is my favorite service of the year. This probably seems like an odd statement, as it is such a somber, solemn time of worship. But I believe that without first reminding ourselves of the incredible pain and sacrifice that Christ went through for us on that fateful day, it is difficult to fully experience the joy of the celebration of Easter just three days later.
It can be uncomfortable for us to try to imagine the way that Christ suffered on the cross. However, if we never stepped out of our own comfort zones and allowed ourselves to be challenged and to feel uncomfortable from time to time, we would never grow into the people that God desires us to be.
As the scripture above from Matthew tells us, as Jesus took His last breath, the curtain of the temple was split in two. What is significant about these particular verses is that before this time, the curtain was used to separate the Holy of Holies – the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence – from the rest of the temple where men dwelt. Because man was separated from God by sin, only the high priest was permitted to pass beyond this curtain once each year. But by Jesus sacrificing Himself for us on the cross, the curtain was torn in two, meaning that all people can now encounter God’s presence all the time!
I hope you’ll join me for worship on Good Friday this year. Although the message remains the same from year to year, I always seem to acquire some new truth about Christ’s incredible love for us every time I attend.
Morgan Jones, Director of Welcoming Ministry
