FREE ACCESS! (Good Friday Message)
Introduction:
In
his book What Money Can't Buy, Michael J. Sandel states, "There are some
things money can't buy—but these days, not much." Almost everything is up
for sale, and if you have enough funds, you can buy what you want. Sandel lists
the following examples:
-The
right to jump to the head of the line at Universal Studios: $149. Vacationers
at Universal Studios can buy a special Front of Line Pass that allows them to
cut to the front on all rides, shows, and attractions.
-A
prison-cell upgrade: $90 a night. Nonviolent offenders can pay for a clean,
quiet jail cell without non-paying prisoners disturbing them in some cities.
-The
right to shoot an endangered black rhino: $250,000. South Africa has begun
letting some ranchers sell hunters the right to kill a limited number of Rhinos
to give the ranchers an incentive to raise and protect the endangered species.
-Your
doctor's cellphone number is $1,500 and up per year. Many doctors offer
cellphone access and same-day appointments for patients willing to pay annual
fees ranging from $1,500 to $25,000.[1]
There is one thing even the richest
man or woman in the world will never be able to buy. We will find out what it
is. Today is Good Friday, and many Christians worldwide reflect and meditate on
the events of that day. Why is Good Friday good? Let us explore Matthew
27:45-61.
We have been following Jesus's
journey to Jerusalem for the past four weeks. Now, let us draw closer to the Cross
and see what happened during His final hours. We will see who was with him and
who abandoned Him, and several events around the crucifixion.
I.
The Final Moments of Jesus (Vs. 45-50)
By this time, Jesus was hanging on
the Cross for several hours. He had been severely tortured beyond recognition
by the Roman soldiers. He interceded for his tormentors and offered Hope to a
prisoner. Around noontime, darkness fell across the region for about three
hours until three o'clock. Can you imagine what that must have been like for
those who witnessed the area plunging into darkness for three hours during what
would otherwise be broad daylight hours?
At about three o'clock, all who
gathered there heard Jesus shouting Eli, Eli, Lema sabachthani. This
means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Jesus uttered these
words were per the prophecy in Psalm 22:1. The crowd misunderstood and thought
He was calling Elijah for help. One of them filled a sponge with vinegar and
gave it to him to drink. Others said,
wait, Elijah might help him. Before this incident, in verse 34, "The
soldiers gave Jesus wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he
refused to drink it." Why did Jesus refuse to drink it? It seems likely
that this gesture was not one of compassion but of torment. Myrrh was used with
wine to strengthen the drink, but it tasted bitter, so he refused it. The fact that Jesus was offered
"gall" was prophesied thousands of years before Jesus was born. Psalm
69:21 records this prophecy: "But instead, they give me poison (gall)
for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst." With a final shout,
Jesus released his spirit.
Again, this was on par with what
Jesus said of his death earlier, "No one can take my life from me. I
sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want
to and also to take it up again." John 10:18. What happened after he
released his spirit changed History.
Vs. 50-53, "Then Jesus
shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment, the curtain
in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth
shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and
women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after
Jesus' resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many
people."
Have you ever heard or read about
earth-shaking, rocks splitting, and tombs opening up when an influential leader
died in the world? I never heard, and as far as I know, there are no records
indicating such events other than what is recorded here in the Bible around the
death of Jesus. The temple curtain was torn in two, from top to bottom.
Why is this so important?
II.
From the Tabernacle to the Cross (1446 B.C-AD33. Over 1500 years of History)
To understand its significance, we
need to trace back some historical trials. In the Garden of Eden, God walked
with Adam and Eve. God's presence was often manifested in the forms of a pillar
of cloud, fire, thick smoke, and lightning (Gen 13:21, Ex 19:16-19).
Along the journey to the Promised
Land, God manifested his presence in the Tabernacle.
It
would be interesting to know how everything about the Tabernacle and the things
it contained all were pointing to the Messiah. Here is a brief synopsis of the
Tabernacle.
After Moses freed Israel from
bondage under the Egyptians, the growing family of Israel renewed the covenant
of Abraham, promising to be God's people. To help the people of Israel draw
closer to Him, God revealed His law to Moses with many detailed instructions,
including directions for building a holy sanctuary, or Tabernacle, where God
could dwell among them.
The Tabernacle is divided into three
spaces: the outer courtyard, the Holy Place, and the Holy of Holies. The outer
courtyard invites one to depart from the cares of this world into a space
focused on God. The Holy Place, lit by oil lamplight, suggests one moving
closer to God.
Entering the Holy of Holies
represents returning to the presence of God. Only once a year, on the Day of
Atonement, the High Priest entered the Holy of Holies, sprinkling the blood
from the sacrifice on the Mercy Seat. It symbolizes that Israel could obtain
mercy and once again live in God's presence through the blood of the Lamb of
God.
Although the children of Israel were
not allowed to enter, the High Priest represented them. During Israel's
time in the wilderness, the Tabernacle moved from place to place as a portable
structure. Eventually, it was replaced by a more elaborate and permanent
structure called the Temple of Solomon, built after the Tabernacle's pattern. Solomon's
Temple was the crowning jewel of Jerusalem for almost 400 years until its
destruction by the Babylonians.
Seventy years later, a second temple
was rebuilt after the same pattern, which Herod the Great extensively remodeled
during the first century. It was here Jesus, the foretold Savior of the world,
was brought as an infant. He was born into the world to fulfill the law of
Moses and complete God's plan to open the way back into His presence through a
new covenant.
Remember, at the last supper, Jesus taught His
disciples about this new covenant made possible by His suffering and death. We
see the sacrifice of the ultimate Passover Lamb, Jesus, who offered his final
breath on the Cross. At that moment, something significant happened. The
curtain tore into two from top to bottom. What does that mean for us today?
III
Free Access!
Until the moment when Jesus offered
his spirit, the ritual of animal sacrifices was a very significant part of the
Temple in Jerusalem. On this day of Passover, Jews from all over that region
gathered in Jerusalem.
It must have been frightening for
the priests offering the animal sacrifices to see out of nowhere the
thick curtain tearing into two from top to bottom. What do we make of
this? What significance does this torn curtain have for us today? Above all, the
tearing of the curtain symbolized that His sacrifice, the shedding of His
blood, was a sufficient atonement for sins. It signified that now the way into
the Holy of Holies was open for all people, for all time, both Jew and Gentile.
In other words, Free Access to all people.
Can you understand how powerful this
free access to God's presence is for you and me? This entrance into the Holy of
Holies, God's presence, once was forbidden to all ordinary Jewish people. Even
the regular priests could only enter the Holy Place. The high priest, only once
a year on the Day of Atonement, entered into the presence of God and offered
sacrifices for his sins and the sins of the whole Israel nation. Now, by the
sacrifice of the perfect lamb of God, the barrier between people and God has
been removed once and for all. That is the Good News.
What is good about Good Friday is
that all those who believe in the sacrificial death of Jesus on the Cross gain
free access into God's presence for life. Remember, this access is free but not
cheap. It is a privilege of being God's son and daughter. It cannot be earned
or bought.
How does this Free Access to God's
presence work in the life of a believer? Let me clarify not all people have
this free and direct access to God's presence, but only those redeemed by the
blood of Christ. (Hebrews 9:11-12). In the Tabernacle, only one entrance leads
into the outer courtyard. Through this beautiful and colorful gate on the
eastern wall, Israelites symbolically began their ascent towards God.
Similarly, we have only one entrance
to God's presence. Jesus said, "I am the gate. Those who come in through
me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures."
John 10:9. In other words, all good things that God has promised will become
ours.
What else does this free access to
God offer to us? It allows us to be purified by the blood of Christ. It
cleanses our conscience from the sinful deeds to worship the Living God. This
access also makes us part of Jesus' New Covenantal Community of believers
worldwide.
More practically, when we come into
God's presence by faith, our hearts are filled with Joy as there is fullness of
joy in God's presence. Psalm 10:11, "You will show me the way of life, granting
me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever."
When we come into God's presence, we
will receive healing. Psalm 147:3, "He heals the brokenhearted and
bandages their wounds." Where God is, there is Hope. This Free Access
brings us closer to God. "Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can
now come boldly and confidently into God's presence." Ephesians 2:12. If
you have never gained this free access, you can come to God freely if you acknowledge
you are a sinner who needs a savior. Then, you will be saved and have this Free
and Full access to God and enjoy fellowship with Him.
