“And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
-Mark 15:37-38
The other day, a few of us traveled to Serbia and witnessed the veil over two women’s eyes be torn as they accepted Christ. We met them sitting on a bench outside the grocery store and our host, Ana, struck up a conversation in Romanian with them.
At the beginning of our conversation, I noticed one of the women had cataract-like, foggy eyes. They both said they believed in Jesus, and were greek orthodox. However, the further we got into conversation the more they realized they didn’t truly know why they claimed their orthodox beliefs.
We wanted to understand their relationship with Jesus and if they knew His forgiveness and grace. As we began asking questions, both women immediately opened up about something they had heard from others was a sin but did not see as one themselves. Throughout the course of their lives, one of the woman had had three abortions and the other had eight. They shared that they knew it was viewed as a sin but they had a different perception and did not feel remorse. They said they were going to heaven because they were good people who believed in Jesus.
But, how do you believe in Jesus and that He died for you if don’t understand why He needed to?
“When we underestimate the power of sin, we will underestimate the power of the cross. If we consider our sin as small or nonexistent, the redemption of Christ will be considered insignificant. God does not ignore sin, but He deals with it through the cross of Jesus.” -Deon
Which leads me to, How do you go to heaven and have eternal life without knowing Jesus?
You don’t. You have eternal life by knowing the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He sent (John 17:3).
The woman with foggy eyes told us she didn’t read her bible, and even if she wanted to she couldn’t see well enough to. Throughout our conversation I noticed her eyes getting progressively wider and clearer.
Both women began to grasp how broken they were and acknowledge their need to be saved from their sin. They felt deep remorse for their abortions and kept profusely apologizing. They understood that even the smallest amount of sin (which we all have) would outweigh and taint any amount of good they could do. We explained to them that they didn’t need to atone for their sin, because there was good news! Jesus already took care of it. He died to save them and rose from the grave. Now He was knocking on their heart, and all they had to do was open the door and say yes to receive Him.
They both excitedly said yes. They received Jesus in their hearts. After they did, I could SEE the woman’s eyes- they were wide open and completely clear! THE VEIL OVER HER EYES WAS TORN.
So I give you this verse again,
“And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
-Mark 15:37-38
What does this mean?
In order to understand the weight of this verse, we must know what the veil was and why it’s significant. Then, only because of the grace of the Lord will we comprehend the magnitude of the veil being torn.
In Exodus 26 God gives Moses instructions on how He wants the Tabernacle (where His presence resides in the Old testament) created. In verses 31-35, specifically how He wants the veil to be created:
“And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it. And you shall hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, with hooks of gold, on four bases of silver. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps, and bring the ark of the testimony in there within the veil. And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy.” (31-33)
So, the veil separates the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. Behind the veil is where God’s holy presence resides. In this time, only the high priests were permitted to enter. Even then, only once a year could they enter with a blood offering (Hebrews 9:7). God’s glory did not leave the Most Holy Place, so the veil separated man from God.
BUT, the cross of Jesus completely changes that. Like Mark 15 says, “Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom”. Jesus’ death on the cross tore the veil.
This means we have FREE access to God, but only because of the cross.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
-Ephesians 2: 8-9
Jesus didn’t just make a way. He is THE way.
I’m praying this Lou Engle quote over the nations and the body of Christ:
“The veil that covers all nations must be swept away so that the eyes of the blind may behold the glory of God in the face of Christ. Let the church beg the Lord of the Harvest to hurl forth laborers into His harvest fields; then GO! and preach the gospel.”
Just as we got to witness those women go from death to life in Serbia, I believe the Lord wants to bring some of you into the revelation of who He is. To accept Him and what He did on the cross.
You were bought with a price.
If you don’t understand the cross and why Jesus died for you, ask Him to reveal Himself to you. He will make known to you the path of life, and there you will find the fullness of joy.
If that’s you, I invite you to sit in silence and ask the Lord for humility and for Him to speak to you. Wherever you find yourself at the end of this blog, give the Creator of the universe space to speak to you. Take a risk. He wants you to hear Him. Ask Him:
Do I understand my value? Will you show me why you died for me?
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
-John 14:6
I’m still fundraising to continue my time squad leading Gap X. Please consider donating. And of course, I always need prayers!
Thanks for reading. Stay tuned for Part 2!
LOVE YOU ALL,
Olivia
