Torn in two

And Jesus cried with a loud voice, and gave up the ghost. And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.  – Mark 15.37-38

Before Jesus there was a clear delineation between the Jews and the rest of the world. There were many Gentiles who were ‘saved’ before Jesus. All they had to do was to put their faith in God. But the Jews were still God’s chosen people and many of them were proud of that. Jews and Gentiles did not get along. Jews had a very low of Gentiles. The Jews thought God was theirs and theirs alone.

But something happened at the cross that would change things forever. There was a curtain in the Temple separating the area the Gentiles could go from the area Jews could go. At the time of the crucifixion that curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. God tore down the ‘middle wall of partition’ and because of that, in Christ there would be no Jew or Gentile, male nor female, slave or free. All would be one in Christ.

This torn curtain is a great visual image of this wonderful truth. The gospel was for the whole world. Everyone needs to hear it. Those of us who are saved become a part of God’s family. We are one in Him so there is no room for fighting or squabbling or division.

Here is how Paul puts in his letter to the Ephesians:

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

Fellowcitizens is how the King James translates the word. When the veil was torn all of our earthly citizenships became meaningless. The only citizenship that really matters is one we all share in heaven.