The core message of the COVID – 19 pandemic has been one of separation, isolation, and social distancing. This is the complete opposite of the message of Jesus Christ, which is all about fellowship, communion, and connection.

When Jesus came to earth people were living in separation, isolation and social distancing, not because of a virus, but because of religious elitism. The religious leaders saw themselves, as “holy” and “righteous” and they believed that they had to separate themselves from “sinners” in case they caught their disease. This is why they couldn’t understand why Jesus refused to social distance from “sinners” and was spending so much time with them.

What the religious leaders failed to realise was that God’s original plan for humanity from the beginning was for all of us to live together with him forever, but sin ruined this and separated us from him. This is why Jesus came to earth so that we could be connected with God again.

During Jesus’ time, the Temple in Jerusalem was a vivid picture of the huge separation that sin had caused between God and us. God’s holy presence resided in the Most Holy Place in the Temple, which was only accessible to the High Priest on one day of the year, the Day of Atonement. After that you had the Holy Place and the Court of the Priests, which was restricted to just the priests. Then there was the Court of the Israelites, which was only accessible by Jewish men, and the Women’s Court followed this, which was limited to the Jewish women. On the outside of the Temple structure was the Court of Gentiles, and this was the section for New Zealand-Samoans like myself, and all other non-Jewish people.

Being in this section was like sitting in the cheap seats in a sports stadium, you were a long way away from where God was in the Most Holy Place. But Jesus changed all of this when he died. We read in Mark 15:37-38: With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last. The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

When Jesus died, the curtain between the Most Holy Place and the Holy Place was ripped in half, representing that all of the barriers separating us from God had been destroyed, and that we now had direct access to him through Jesus.
This is what we read about in Hebrews 4:16: "So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most".

As we continue to face the many challenges caused by the COVID – 19 crisis together, may we find hope and strength in the absolute certainty that we have direct access to God because of Jesus.

God bless,

Roland Talamaivao-Amituanai