It seems a little odd  – maybe even a little morbid – to describe a “favorite” moment from the movie “The Passion of the Christ”.  It’s not exactly the type of film where you sit around with your friends, laughing and saying, “Oh, I love  the part when…” and launch into a description of a memorable scene. 

But I have one.   It’s a very brief scene, almost at the end.  If you have your eyes closed (like I’ve been known to do during the excrutiatingly difficult crucifixion shots), you could miss it.

It’s when the temple veil  is torn in two.

I try to watch “The Passion of the Christ” every Good Friday.  It’s lengthy and epic and harsh in its reality.  But as it gets to that scene at the end when Christ’s sacrifice is complete and the earth is shaking and the sky is black and the big, heavy curtain in the temple tears apart, I lose it. 

That veil had separated the common man from God and His place of residence – the Holy of Holies. Up until that time, only the high priest had access.  At the moment Christ died, the veil was ripped in two by the hand of God and fell open, giving us access for the very first time to the throne of grace.  I love that moment in the movie because it so graphically gives us a picture of what Christ’s death did for us. 

Because of Good Friday, we have access to God.  Because of Good Friday, we can boldy approach the throne.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil. Hebrews 6:19

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16

…in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.  Ephesians 3:12

(*re-post from Good Friday, 2010)