Curtain Torn in Two

Many of you who know me know that one of my absolute favorite if not favorite song is "The Power of the Cross" by Keith and Kristyn Getty. The most powerful stanza for me is

"Curtain torn in Two
Dead are raised to Life
"Finished" the vict'ry cry

When Kristyn comes to this part of the song her voice raises more and more and just becomes so powerful. It comes across so incredibly strongly that a huge victory has just been accomplished. The first few stanzas are about Christ and His walk to Calvary, enduring the suffering of the mocking and beating of humankind. He endured all of that suffering to accomplish the ultimate victory because He loves us so much.

It was not until college that I understood some of the more intricate details of the incarnation and I can tell you now.... I have so much more still to learn. One of the biggest things for me, though, was realizing what it meant for the Temple curtain to be torn in two. Up until then Jews had priests who would intercede and offer up sacrifices on their behalf. Christ came as the ultimate sacrifice - He is the ultimate "Mediator" between us and Christ. When that curtain tore got direct access to God. Growing up in a Christian family, I always knew that it was because of Jesus that my sins were forgiven. But now that I am older and have had the exposure to first rate Bible Classes, attend a Bible-centered church and have grown to love Christian hymns - old and new - I have come to notice and appreciate so many more of the details of what happened on Calvary, the time leading up to it and the time after it that. I have gained so much of a deeper understanding of the Cross.

The Curtain ripping in Two is just so incredibly powerfully symbolic. Can you imagine: standing there in the Temple as suddenly this curtain that kept us sinful man from being able to come into the presence of the Lord God because of His holiness, just rip right in half. Incredible! What must that have been like?!!!..

In these last few weeks of marriage, I have had many discussions with my husband and asked him several questions. He has recently been reading some chapters from a book by Jonathan Edwards and is just loving it. He explained to me once more that it is because of God's HOLINESS and our sinfulness that we could not be in the direct presence of God until Christ died on the cross. Jesus had that same Holiness and so was in perfect communion with God the Father. When Jesus was nailed to the cross, he took all of our sin upon himself and that communion with the Father was broken. Can you imagine how incredibly painful that must have been to be outside of the presence of God?

(Once again, the Gettys have a great stanza describing this as well:

Now the daylight flees;
Now the ground beneath
Quakes as its Maker bows His head.

Powerful.)


Today in Church, the music chosen for the service just spoke so deeply to my heart, in particular a song that our head pastor Josh Moody wrote. It was sung by an outstanding vocalist. I wish you could hear it. It is so incredibly beautiful and moving. Let me just copy the lyrics to the song below.


The Curtain Was Torn in Two

The curtain was torn in tow, the rocks were broke asunder
a man did cry in anguish, He shouted, "It is finished"!
A baby treasured in heart, a mother's own soul was pierced,
A Father's face was turned away from Him, the man of sorrow.
Why would He then not come down? Why did He refuse a crown?
Why were his tears mixed with gall? Why did He die for us all?
Were miracles not enough? Did He heal just one too few?
Were his words less than beauty? Was His life just oo perfect?
Why would He then not come down? Why did He refuse a crown?
Why were his tears mixed with gall? Why dd He die for us all?
He bore the Father's frown, the sea of sin upon Him,
Each drop of wrath was bled dry that I may cry no longer.
That's why he would not come down. That's why He refused a crown. That why tears were mixed with gall. That's why He died for us all.
Three in One, mystery all! He rises to the Father's side in union eternal:
God in Him is reconciled.
That's why He would not come down. That's shy he refused a crown.
That's why tears were mixed with gall. That's why He died for us all.


Gives you something to ponder, doesn't it? Ponder and stand in awe and gratefulness for a Father/Savior who loves us so much.