Today’s verses describe one of the most powerful scenes in all of Scripture. They detail what took place after Jesus released His final breath and foreshadow events to come (1 Thes. 4:16-17). His death, burial, and resurrection changed the world forever. Today, Good Friday, we remember the significance of these events.  

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When God created the world, He intended a sacred relationship between God and man. When that relationship was broken by sin, restoration was only possible through an atonement sacrifice.  

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That is why Jesus went to the cross. He became the sacrifice that paid the price for our sins in order to redeem us to Himself. 1 John 2:2 says, “He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world” (NLT).

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Because of His work on the cross, we can have forgiveness for our sins, and direct access to God through Christ Jesus.  

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He is both our sacrifice and our redemption.

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Right after Jesus’ final breath, the curtain in the Temple “was torn in two, from top to bottom” (Matt. 27: 51). The “curtain” refers to the barrier between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies (or Most High Place). The Holy of Holies was only entered once a year when the High Priest would go behind the curtain to offer a blood sacrifice to atone for the people’s sins (Heb. 9:1-8).  

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When Jesus tore this curtain, He symbolically removed barriers between mankind and God, making the Old Covenant obsolete. His sacrifice paid the price for our sins once and for all, and He became the High Priest through which we have direct access to the Father (Heb. 9:11-27).  

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In order to be covered by Jesus’ blood, we must choose to believe He paid the price for our sins with His work on the cross. Romans 10:9 says, “If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (NLT). By believing in Christ’s death, burial and resurrection, and declaring Jesus is Lord, you become sealed for the day of redemption (Eph. 1:13-14, Eph. 4:30, 2 Cor. 1:21-22).  

Is there a barrier in your life that holds you back from giving your life to God? Has the weight of your past or the heaviness of life caused you to believe God isn’t interested in you? Whatever the barrier, God knew about it before He ever sent His Son to become the sacrifice for your sins.  

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His journey to the cross proves that the heart of God is for you.  

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When Jesus’ expelled His final breath, all of creation trembled in response to His defeat over death. The curtain was torn, the ground shook, rocks split apart, and Jesus did what no one else could do – He won the victory over death and sin for all eternity.  

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That was God powerfully moving towards you before you ever took your first breath.  

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His love was the only thing strong enough to pay the price for your sin, and it’s paid. It’s finished. The only thing left is to believe…to grab hold of what you’re being offered – eternal life with the kind of love willing to defeat death for you.  

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Release the barriers in your life to the One strong enough to tear them down. The power that tore the curtain, raised Jesus from the grave, and defeated the enemy forever is inviting you to draw close. Good Friday is the powerful reminder of all God did to offer you restoration. Victory is won, and Easter is coming. Let God tear down whatever holds you back from being fully sold out for Him.  

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Let resurrection power do restoration work in you.