The Sponge and the Curtain

 Job 26-27; Mark 15-16 

“One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. ‘Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,’ he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”

Mark 15:36-38

The sponge used to deliver wine vinegar to Jesus’ lips was probably a toilet sponge taken from the waste bucket of the Roman soldiers. The Romans used sponges in their public baths. This final humiliation was followed by a loud cry as Christ breathed his last breath. Jesus bore the sin, shame, and humiliation of the world to atone for our sin. But more than that, he atoned for our sin so we could experience a “new and living way” into the very presence of almighty God (Hebrews 10:20). The curtain of the temple was torn as Christ’s final cry “It is finished” echoed over Golgotha. Sin was swallowed up in victory and death was defeated by resurrection life. Christ’s invitation to us today is to receive this sacrifice personally and by faith enter the throne room of God. Christ endured the sponge and the cross so that in life, we could know the Father.

Will we bow before him in gratitude, love, and surrender?

“Father God, thank you for your salvation plan which allows me to know you, for your glory.”