That Veil Was A Really Big Deal

 

"Jesus, when He had cried out again with a loud voice, yielded His Spirit. And, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, and the earth quaked and the rocks were split"(Matthew 27:50-51).

No small miracle occurred when that veil was split.

The temple veil was a significant feature of the temple. It was a thick curtain separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies.

The priests could enter and serve in the Holy Place, but only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies, but only once  a year on the annual Day of Atonement.

The Holy of Holies housed the sacred Arc of the Covenant, the abiding place of God's shekinah glory, which signified God's dwelling place among His people.

The veil was massive: about 60 feet in height and 30 feet wide. It was quite heavy, requiring 300 priests to move it when it needed cleaning. It was about 4 inches thick.

With the curtain torn and open, all the old ways of worship were transformed. 

The mercy seat covering the top of the Arc could now be seen by everyone with the glory of God gleaming above it. 

With the death of Jesus we now have an unhindered revelation and pathway to God. Direct access to God is now permitted and is the privilege of every believer in Christ. We may now come with confidence to the throne of God and receive His heavenly grace. And call Him "Father"!

      "Let us now come boldly to God's throne of grace so that we might           receive mercy and receive grace to help in our hour of need"                           (Hebrews 4:16).

And with His death, since He was the perfect and final sacrifice, all other sacrifices were finished forever.

"It is finished," He said. He paid the final price. Our owed invoice says, "Paid in full." We are free!

He wore the crown of thorns so we could receive His crown of life! He took our punishment so we wouldn't have to. He was treated as a criminal so we could be treated as Sons of God -- Princes and Princesses and heirs of God!

Look back at the cross -- every day -- and marvel with the soldiers, "Truly this was the Son of God"!

"He took our pain and bore our sufferings...He was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our iniquities. The punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:4-5).