Read the story here (Matthew chapters 26-27)
With God, nothing is impossible.
Indeed, you and I can never pay for other people's sin, because we ourselves have sinned. We cannot even handle our own sins or draw near to God! No one is righteous before God, not even one (Romans 3:10-12, Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3).But the One who is sinless, who is sent by God, anointed by God, promised by God, and accepted by God can. God has already revealed to Prophet Abraham and Isaiah that God himself would prepare a lamb in substitution for His people as a sacrifice of our sin.
As revealed to Prophet Moses and Aaron (Haron), sacrifice can be accepted by God only when it is done is God's terms. Only the blood of the Anointed One chosen by God can cover our sin before God, because God himself revealed this plan.
God has also used numerous prophecies to reveal clearly to us who this Anointed One is so that we can know for sure. In human history, only one person has fulfilled all these prophecies. Believing in God's Anointed One means you believe that God's promises and prophecies are true.
Jesus was born of a virgin as a descendant of David. He lived a sinless and pure life, and atoned for the sins of the world when he died, as God had promised. He called himself the 'Son of Man', a reference to the Messiah figure prophesied in Prophet Daniel's dream:
“The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
"This is my body. This is my blood."
Where is the lamb for the sacrifice? Remember Abraham's son asked the same question. We know the answer: "God Himself will prepare" (Genesis 22:8).
Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying,
‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’
In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying,
‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you’” (Matthew 26:26-28).
This was not just a farewell dinner. This is a mark that signaled a whole new 'covenant' (relationship) between God and mankind. Jesus' body would be broken and his blood be shed for the forgiveness of sins as the sacrifice that God had promised to all the Prophets.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
Do you trust in God's Anointed One to make you right with God?
The Veil that separates us from God is torn in two!
Something strange happened the moment Jesus died on the cross: the veil inside the Temple was torn into two pieces!
What is this veil about? In God's Temple, there is a sacred room called 'the Holy of Holies' because it is where God's presence rested. Only the High Priest could enter this area, and only once a year, to make atonement for the sins of God's people (see study on Prophet Aaron).
A veil (a thick curtain) covers the entrance to 'the Holy of Holies' as the barrier that separates the people from God. It represents the consequence of sin: no one can draw near to God because of God's holiness. Any one who entered would die because no sinner could stand in God's presence.
Scriptures tell us 3 times that immediately after the death of Jesus, the veil of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45).
This means God has dealt with the problem of sin permanently. It means the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross is accepted by God. The tearing of the veil from top to bottom means we are no longer separated from God, not because of what we have done, but because of God's love, mercy and glory.
"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." (Ephesians 1:7)
Your Response: Listen to God and Pray...
- Which part of the story stands out to you?
- Why was it necessary for Jesus’ body to be broken and his blood to be poured out?
- After reading the story, do you believe you are no longer separated from God?
- How will you respond to God?
- Whom will you share this story with?
