Day 39: Mark 15:21-47

The horrors of crucifixion that Jesus willingly faced for us is beyond description. In the United States we have a law that states that punishments are not allowed to be “cruel and unusual.” The Romans contrived and designed crucifixion to be as cruel and unusual as possible. Yet Jesus went willingly to the cross for us. Matthew tells us that at any moment Jesus could have called for thousands of angels to come and rescue him from what was about to happen. I can almost see the archangel Michael with all of his angelic army standing and peering over the edge of heaven with swords ready, just waiting for their Lord to say the word. Isaiah prophecies that Jesus would be like a lamb led to slaughter, but that he would remain silent, never opening his mouth to protest. So Michael and his army just stood and watched.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record that at the moment Jesus died the curtain in the Temple that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place was torn in two from top to bottom. That curtain represented the separation of God and man caused by sin. From the time the Tabernacle was built by the Israelites at the base of Mt. Sinai until the day of the crucifixion only one person, once a year, was allowed to enter into the Most Holy Place. The High Priest of the Israelites had to go through weeks of fasting and ceremonial cleansing before he could cross that curtain. But now, through the death of Jesus, that curtain had been torn apart. The separation of God and man because of sin had been bridged by the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God. “So let us come boldly into the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16)