I was preaching to the women’s group at the Catoosa County Jail back in November when something very rare took place. My message was on the Unparalleled Resurrection of Jesus Christ out of Mark Chapter 16. But in order to prove the resurrection of Jesus Christ, I first had to show the certainty of Jesus death. As I was reading the scene at the cross, evidently one of the women was reading along with me in her Bible. As she read from the donated tattered and torn paperback Bible’s fine print, she read something that she didn’t understand.

After the invitation had been given and the service was over she approached me with Bible in hand saying, “Can I ask you a question?” Now, this has happened to me many times and usually it is a loaded question where an inmate has found some obscure passage of scripture and has been waiting to play “Stump the Preacher” all week long. So my response to her was a quick, “Yes. I will do my best to try to answer your question, but please know that I don’t know everything about the Bible. Ok?” She assured me that she understood, then she took her open Bible and pointed to a verse and said, “What is this verse talking about?” The verse was Mark chapter 15 and verse 38. This is how it reads:

“And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”

After reading the verse, I looked back up to her face. She had a look of complete puzzlement. It was then I realized she had no idea why this verse was there, nor what this verse was talking about. She was clueless. I began to tell her that this was referring to the Temple located not far from where Jesus was crucified. I explained, “In that Temple, there was a very special room called the Most Holy Place and in that room was the very presence of God Himself. No one was ever allowed to enter that room except once a year when a priest would go in with the blood of a sacrifice for the sins of the people. This room was sealed off from being entered by a huge thick curtain (or veil as it is called here in this verse). The reason this verse is here is because when Jesus died on the cross, there was no more need to give the blood of a lamb or a cow for the forgiveness of sin, because Jesus sacrifice was forever enough to forgive anyone’s sin. It was proof that Jesus is the Son of God and is able to forgive our sins.”

She had a look of surprise, even shock on her face. She said, “Wow. I never knew that!” I said, “Yeah. And this is the best part. That veil stood for thousands of years with one job, to keep people out. In this veil, God was saying, ‘I am Holy. You are sinful. You cannot come to me without the blood of a sacrifice.’ But when Jesus bled and died on the cross, the veil was torn in two, and now instead of God saying ‘Keep out!’ by the blood of Jesus, God the Father says, ‘Come on in!’ We can come to God because of what Jesus did on the cross for us.”

I then said, “These walls may keep you out of a lot of places. They may tell you, “You can’t go hear. Or you can’t go there.” But there is nothing that can keep you from entering right into the presence of your Heavenly Father.” As her eyes filled with tears, I told her that the Bible tells us in the book of Hebrews Chapter 4 we can come boldly to the throne of God and find mercy and grace in our time of greatest need.” By then, it was time for her to file out the room with the other women. She did so holding tightly to her heart that tattered paper Bible.

I have replayed this scene over and over in my mind. This women had no idea what this little, seemingly misplaced, verse of description meant to her walk daily walk with the Lord. And what a revelation for her! What an unbelievable truth she left that room with that hour. The kicker is, I do know this. I’ve heard it a 1000 times. I’ve preached messages on the Tabernacle and talked about that veil in probably 50 sermons. But how many times have I walked right past the open door to His presence? How many times have I carried burdens to my wife or friends, when I could have come directly to my Father for help? How many times have I wallowed in my own miserable self-pity, when I could have run into His presence and found riches of mercy? How many times have I struggled in need and want, when I had an open door to call upon the God of all grace? What a lesson to my heart!

Hebrews 4:14-16  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 10:19-23  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;  And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Linkedin