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Luke 23:44-46, By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last.

Today is Good Friday. It may seem odd that we would call the day that Jesus was crucified and died “good.”  Apparently, the term came into common use in the 1200s because for us, it was a truly good day, as Jesus became the final sacrifice for all sin for all people for all time.  As the full expression of God’s love for us, Jesus voluntarily gave his life so that we could be reconciled to holy God.  It is very much good.  Join us at New Hope for our Good Friday service today in the sanctuary at 7:30pm.  It’s being led by our Spanish-speaking congregation and will be a time of celebrating the “goodness” of what Jesus did for us.

I do hope you will read through both of today’s chapters, Luke 22 and 23.  They are somewhat long but well worth the extra time.  These are the last few days of Jesus’ life.  They are deep with meaning.

I want to point out just one aspect of today’s focus verses.  Right before Jesus breathed his last breath on the cross, the curtain in the Temple was torn down the middle.  This is the curtain that separated the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place (the Holiest of Holies) where the ark of the covenant was kept and the presence of God remained.  When the curtain tore, it was a sign that the New Covenant was instituted.  Because of Jesus’ sacrifice (the final sacrifice for sin), those who believe in him can now go directly to the throne of God’s grace.  When holy God looks at us, he doesn’t see our sinfulness but the blood of Christ.  Thus, there are no more barriers that can separate us from God.

I’d like to make our closing prayer today an adaptation of Hebrews 10:19-25:

Thank you, Lord, that we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water.

Lord, help us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.  Amen.

Just a reminder… Starting Monday, April 18, there will be some changes to the Daily SOAP.  I will be writing/reading the SOAP on Monday-Thursday and we will have various guest writers on Friday.  Saturday and Sunday will be off days.  You can use the weekend to reread some of the week’s chapters, catch up as needed, and spend extra time in prayer.  If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me.  Blessings to all of you, Pastor Vicki.