Journey to Jerusalem Day 20

Monday, March 8 Exodus 20:12-21
12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
13 “You shall not murder.
14 “You shall not commit adultery.
15 “You shall not steal.
16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
17 “You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's.”
18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

“Do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” How sad! God’s people were scared to hear God’s voice directly. They knew that to be in the presence of a Holy God would mean death for them. God’s people, the Israelites, are asking Moses to be the mediator between them and their God because of their sin.

When the Temple was eventually built, only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies where God dwelled. He was the mediator between God and his people. A cord was even tied around his waist so he could be pulled out if he died in the presence of a Holy God. The Holy of Holies was guarded from the people by a tall and very thick curtain signifying God’s separation from his people.

Only a new mediator sent from God could restore a direct relationship with the people. That mediator was Christ our Lord. With his death and resurrection, he opened the way to God for all men through him.

When Christ died the curtain symbolizing God’s separation from man was torn from top to bottom signifying that Jesus has restored our fellowship with the Father. “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

This Lenten season think on the significance of the torn curtain and what it cost our savior to restore a right relationship with the Father. We can now go directly to the throne room of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Praise his Holy name!

Father, we praise and worship you for sending your one and only son to open the doorway to you.
Amen.