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Good Friday
The veil was opened
Luk 23 : 44 - 49
Honky Harjo – 18 Apr 2025
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Luk 23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until the ninth hour, 45 because the sun stopped shining; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” And having said this, He died.
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Luk 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “This Man was in fact innocent.” 48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, after watching what had happened, began to return home, beating their chests. 49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
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Luk 23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until the ninth hour, 45 because the sun stopped shining; and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
The world was in the dark
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Luk 23:44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the entire land until the ninth hour, 45 because the sun stopped shining; and the veil of the temple was torn in two.
The veil in the temple was torn in two
Now the veil could not prevent the people
to see what is inside the Most Holy Place
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Tabernacle
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By tearing the veil in two,
what does Jesus want people to see ?
Why is it important for Jesus to do so ?
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Heb 9:1 Now even the first covenant had regulations for divine worship and the earthly sanctuary. 2 For a tabernacle was equipped, the outer sanctuary, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second veil there was a tabernacle which is called the Most Holy Place,
The veil hide the Most Holy Place, where God is
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Heb 9:4 having a golden altar of incense and the ark of the covenant covered on all sides with gold, in which was a golden jar holding the manna, Aaron’s staff which budded, and the tablets of the covenant; 5 and above it were the cherubim of glory overshadowing the atoning cover (“mercy seat”); but about these things we cannot now speak in detail.
Inside the most holy place contains one item :
the ark of the covenant
On top of the ark is the mercy seat
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The presence of the cherubim indicates that the mercy seat is the throne of God
God sits on the mercy seat
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After the veil was opened,
now people can see that God’s throne is the mercy seat
Now people can see that God’s heart is full of mercy
So that we will be willing to approach God
That is why Jesus tears the veil into two
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After the veil was opened,
now people can also see the ark of the covenant
Now people can see that God’s heart is full of blessings
God will bless anyone who is near Him
Jesus wants people to have God’s sanctification and blessings
That is why Jesus tore the veil in two
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Heb 4:16 Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
In the new testament, the mercy seat is called the throne of grace
Anyone near God’s throne
will receive sanctification and blessings, because God is merciful and full of grace
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Heb 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
The heart of Jesus is also a heart of compassion; full of mercy and grace
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Heb 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let’s hold firmly to our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things just as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let’s approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace for help at the time of our need.
Jesus gave us the confidence to approach God with our needs
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Anyone who is inside the Most Holy Place will be made holy
Because God’s heart is a merciful
Anyone who is inside the Most Holy Place will be blessed
Because God’s heart is full of grace
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The veil was torn in two
So that we can receive blessings and sanctification from God
Jesus has brought day 7 to mankind
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What is wrong with the veil ?
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2 Cor 3:12 Therefore, having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, 13 and we are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not stare at the end of what was fading away. 14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.
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2 Cor 3:15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts; 16 but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
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2 Cor 3:14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.
The law has failed
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2 Cor 3:15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts;
The teaching of Moses (that depends on own faithfulness) has failed
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2 Cor 3:14 But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 15 But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their hearts;
The veil covers the mind and the heart of men
The veil makes men fail to know :
Religion make men become really blind
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2 Cor 3:16 but whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.
Only Jesus has the ability :
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2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
After Jesus lifts the veil :
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2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with unveiled faces, looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Only they who have accepted God’s heart, full of mercy and grace :
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Luk 23:45 because the sun stopped shining; and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into Your hands I entrust My spirit.” And having said this, He died. 47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “This Man was in fact innocent.”
Jesus has no other motive except doing what God’s heart commanded Him to do
The heart of Jesus is exactly the same as the Father’s heart
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Luk 23:47 Now when the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God, saying, “This Man was in fact innocent.”
The centurion’s eyes were opened
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Luk 23:48 And all the crowds who came together for this spectacle, after watching what had happened, began to return home, beating their chests.
The crowd’s eyes were opened
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Luk 23:49 And all His acquaintances and the women who accompanied Him from Galilee were standing at a distance, seeing these things.
The eyes of the disciples were also opened
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Thru His work on the cross, Jesus has lifted the veil
Now in Christ, the world can see God’s heart,
The veil is lifted not by man’s doing,
but only by His work on the cross
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Anyone who are willing to accept God’s heart,
full of mercy and grace, will enjoy day 7
God’s day of blessings and sanctification
From glory to glory
The veil was opened so that men can accept and see God’s heart
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God’s throne is called the throne of grace or mercy seat
God’s heart is God’s throne in the highest place
Therefore to anyone who is willing to accept God’s heart,
God will lift them up to the highest place
The veil was opened so that men can accept and see God’s great
to lift up our status
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Topic for 20 April, 2025 sermon
7th day of creation & 7th miracle in John
Sabbath has come
Blessings and sanctification
Gen 2 : 1 – 3 John 11