Day 13 - Veil Torn In Two
- Reading: Exodus 26:31-33, Exodus 30:10, Hebrews 10:19-22, Hebrews 8:1-2, Hebrews 9:11-12
First let’s talk about what’s inside this veil. In the temple, the place of worship, you have The Holy Place. The Holy Place was where priests performed their rituals. And in the Holy Place was the Holy of Holies and it was separated by a beautiful veil that we read about in Exodus 26:31-33. In the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant and the Mercy Seat. The Ark of the Covenant symbolized the presence of God among His people. On the lid of the Ark of the Covenant was the Mercy Seat. Once a year the High Priest would enter the The Most Holy Place and sprinkle blood from a sacrificed animal to atone for the sins of Israel. (Exodus 30:10) And before the High Priest could enter into The Holy of Holies or God’s presence, he had to go through a whole bunch of rituals and prepare himself. Part of preparing himself was by sprinkling the blood of the lamb in his garments.
Kind of crazy huh?
But it’s a super important concept. The only way a guilty sinner could pass to the other side of the Veil into the Holy of Holies and live was by the sprinkling of the blood of the sacrificial lamb. It was by the blood of atonement (which will read about tomorrow) that opened the throne room of God.
But here is the beautiful part for us. When Jesus died on the cross and declared “It is Finished” the Temple Veil tore in two from top to bottom! (Matthew 27:51) And we no longer have this barrier before God.
This is no small feat. So let’s picture this. Jump into my visual side of my brain:
Jesus is hanging on the cross, it is dark and dreary and evil loams in the air. Satan thinks he has won. Maybe he even brought out the Champaign glasses. He sees Jesus in so much pain but Jesus knows when he declares “it is finished” and takes his last breath that sin and evil will be conquered for all time. And with that last breath, the earth shakes and the ground trembles. The hairs on the Israelites stand up. Power is in the air. Satan starts to freak out and cries “Noooo!” as he witnesses the temple veil tear in two and he realizes at that moment what the death of Jesus truly signifies. He has been crushed. Evil has lost and Jesus reigns. And he not only reigns he tears the separation between man and God. He brings us into His presence. He gives us direct access.
Jesus was the ultimate and final perfect sacrifice. His blood was shed and we now are made righteous to be in God’s presence. There are no more rituals to be performed. Jesus fulfilled those once and for all time on the cross. Verse 9:12 “He entered once for all into the Holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves, but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.”
Can I get an Amen?!
And there is more greatness for us. Verse 8:1-2. Jesus is now our High Priest and he sits at the right hand of his Father on the throne. He sits because his work is finished and he takes his rightful place on the Heavenly Realms next to His Father.
Go ahead. Breathe in that goodness. Because, oh… it is so good.