Dear friends
Perhaps the falling of barriers is one of the greatest causes for celebration. Berliners certainly felt so on the historic evening of 9 November 1989. When the commander of the Bornholmer Straße crossing allowed the gates to be opened, Eastern Berliners flooded through. They were met by westerners armed ready with champagne for celebration. The youngsters—of course—took the party onto the top of the wall, fallen in effect that night, even if not yet demolished.
In the Good Friday accounts, at the moment of Jesus’ death, three of the gospel writers report the breaking of another barrier: “the temple curtain was torn in two from top to bottom” (Mark 15:38). Like the Berlin Wall, this barrier represented total restriction barring relationships across it. But in the case of this Jerusalem temple curtain, it is God and human beings who were kept apart. The curtain was embroidered with cherubim (warrior angels), depicting those who guarded the border of the Garden of Eden preventing the disobedient Adam and Eve from coming close to God. This curtain blocked the way into the Most Holy Place of the temple making it clear that no-one was free to approach the Holy One.
An historian from Jesus’ time, Josephus, tells us that this temple curtain was 18 metres (60 feet) tall and 10 cm (4 inches) thick. That it was torn from the top, tells us what Jesus’ self-sacrifice achieved. God has torn the wall down because the way is now open. Our response should emulate that of the Berliners when the Berlin Wall fell. Through Jesus, we are free to enjoy a close relationship with God. Now that’s certainly worth a champagne celebration!
May you have a joyful Eastertide
Daniel
