Mark 15:38
When Toto pulled back the curtain to reveal that the Wizard of Oz all present were surprised. The Cowardly Lion calls him a humbug. By using technology he is able to fool the people of Oz to believe that he was Great and Powerful. But that couldn't have been farther from the truth. Often, what happens behind the curtain, hidden from view, surprises us. It is not what we expected.
The Bible tells a story of a different curtain. First in the moving tabernacle and later in the Temples in Jerusalem. Deep in the center there is a room called the Holy of Holies. Within this room was the Ark of the Covenant which has a large curtain of veil covering it's entrance. Nobody is allowed to enter through this doorway with one exception. The High Priest is allowed to enter one time, on one day every year to offer a sacrifice for the forgiveness of the sins of Israel. There are times in the Bible when people besides the High Priest come into the vicinity of the Ark and they are instantly killed. The veil covering the doorway is a constant reminder of the incredible power of God. It strikes fear into the hearts of men because of what can happen on the other side.
God is not malicious. He does not want to harm any of us. However, when people violated His commands they suffered the punishment. In the days of the Old Testament, when forgiveness had to be earned through animal sacrifice, God was seen as a powerful, previsionary God. But hidden behind a curtain made it appear that the common man on any given day did not have access to Him. His power had to be experienced by a very limited number on very few days. That's not really what God was looking for. Time and time again He tells us that what He wants is a relationship with us. Not for us to simply follow a set of rules and follow the command of a priest. Somehow God needed a way to make Himself available to all of us whenever we need. Hidden behind a curtain this just was not possible.
While Jesus hung on the cross dying, He took all of our sin on Him even though He Himself never committed any. Finally, there was a sacrifice that was able to satisfy the Law so that all are able to have access of what is behind the curtain. Near the end of His crucifixion Jesus proclaimed that His ministry was finished. ALL of the sin had been laid on Him. Then, in a loud voice He said, "Father, into your hands I commit My Spirit" and He breathed His last.
Immediately, the large curtain covering the Holy of Holies was ripped in half, exposing the true nature of God. While Dorothy was disappointed at the sight of the wizard, what we now see of God goes way beyond any of our hopes. Now, today, thanks to the ultimate sacrifice from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we have direct, always available access to the Spirit, Love, Mercy, Grace and Guidance of our God. His Spirit has been poured out for us to rejoice in.
God hid His own miraculousness behind a veil until His people were ready and able to truly received it. Only through the death of His Son can we now bask in it. God doesn't want you to think He's hiding somewhere behind a curtain pulling levers and conducting the show. He wants your to pull back His veil and see all that He has to offer you. And the only thing you need to do to