torn veil

     The temple veil was torn in two when Christ breathed His last.  Why?  Was this symbolic of God’s purpose in sending Christ to die for us?  Didn’t people of that day recognize the significance, especially the Jews?  Let’s answer these but first, we must understand the veil.  The veil represents the sins of man, or what separates us from God.  

You shall hang up the veil under the clasps, and you shall bring in the ark of the testimony there within the veil; and the veil shall serve for you as a partition between the holy place and the holy of holies. – Exodus 26:33  NASB

     The veil was fashioned from material in colors of blue, purple, and scarlet and was woven into a thickness from fine twisted linen.  The veil hung approximately 60 feet high and was around 4 inches thick!  It was hung in the Jewish temple to separate man from the Holy of Holies.  The Holy of Holies is the dwelling place of God’s presence.  This place included the Ark of the covenant as well as the Mercy seat.  In the Ark was the gold jar of manna, Aaron’s staff that had budded and the stone tablets of the covenant given to Moses.   Only the high priest was allowed to go beyond the veil, into the Holy of Holies, once a year to offer blood sacrifices.  One for himself and one for the people.  The veil signified the separation of man from God because of our sin.   

Ark of the Covenant

     The first veil is found in Exodus and also mentioned by Paul in the New Testament.  When God first began to give the law to the Israelites, He did so on top of Mt. Sinai.  He sent out an overwhelming display of thunder and lightening, smoke and fire.  This was to let the people know He is a Holy God and not to be approached, or they would die!  The people ask Moses to deliver the law out of their fear of God.  Moses goes up the mountain and receives the law on two stone tablets.  When he returns the people have made a golden calf and are worshipping it.  This was in direct violation to the law they had just agreed to keep.  Moses breaks the two tablets and rebukes the people for their sin.  God then deals with the sin.

And to the sons of Israel the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a consuming fire on the mountain top. – Exodus 24:17

     God then invites Moses back up the mountain.  Moses goes up the mountain alone and receives another two tablets.   He spends 40 days and nights on the mountain.  The glory of the Lord sustains Moses.  Here is the part of narrative that connects the veil in the temple with the reason or need for a veil.  Moses comes down the mountain and his face is shining with the radiant glory of God.  We know this was frightening because his own brother Aaron was frightened when he saw Moses.  Because he and others became frightened to look at Moses, he wore a veil so he was approachable.  The veil separated people from God’s radiant glory, or, as close to His presence that they would dare to get.  We know this glory on Moses’s face faded over time.  

God’s wonderous glory

And Jesus uttered a loud cry, and breathed His last.  And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.  – Mark 15:37-38  NASB

     The veil in the temple held much more significance, as there seemed a more permanence to the veil of separation, than the face of Moses.  But thankfully, not so!  For we received the veil in the form of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  When He breathed His last at the crucifixion, that thick, long, heavy woven fabric tore in two, thus ending separation from the presence of God!  the flesh of Jesus Christ became for us, the veil between us and God.  If we believe with our hearts, minds and souls that Jesus is the Son of the living God and that He died to take away our sins, and rose from the dead, appearing to many, we are saved!  We receive God through Jesus.  The veil between us is completed and torn, yet restored in Christ.  His flesh was broken (torn) for us as the veil of the temple was torn in two.  There is no longer anything between us and God except Christ, who became the propitiation for us so our debt is paid through Him.  His blood was poured out for us for the forgiveness of sins.  The blood of the NEW and everlasting covenant.  Jesus is now the great high priest, the veil in which we now pass to be in the presence of God!  Hallelujah!

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscious and our bodies washed with pure water. – Hebrews 10:19-22  NASB  

     A last thought on the seemingly missed significance to the the Jewish people of Jesus’s day.  Those that missed it did so because they would not believe Jesus was Who He said He was.  Nor did they recognize by Whose authority He did those things.  Alas, they had Him among them.  They saw Him fulfill prophecy.  John testified to Him.  He harmed no one.  He challenged the leaders to let go of their “traditions” and reclaim God’s commands.  And, think about it, GOD’S own SON, in the flesh, stood before them, and restored hearing to the deaf, sight to the blind, and healed the lame to walk…  A torn veil just locked the coffin to those without eyes to see, ears to hear…  How does the song go?  I’m praying that one day all the ones that I love (and everybody!), will be loving my Jesus!  Praise God I am His child.  Amen.

Jesus is the veil