MATTHEW 27:50-51a THROUGH THE VEIL

THROUGH THE VEIL

Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

 And, behold, the veil of the temple 

was rent in twain

from the top to the bottom.

Matthew 27:50-51a (KJV)

Having therefore, brethren, boldness

to enter into the holiest

 by the blood of Jesus, 

By a new and living way,

which he hath consecrated for us, 

through the veil, that is to say, his flesh.

Hebrews 10:19-20 (KJV)

At the very moment Jesus breathed His last on the cross, a miracle occurred. The veil that separated the Holy of Holies from the rest of the Temple in Jerusalem was torn from top to bottom. This was nothing a person could accomplish. This veil was thick enough that it was completely opaque (no one was allowed into or could even look into this holy place except the high priest once a year on the Day of Atonement). It was as much as sixty feet tall. Therefore, scaffolding would have to be built to start tearing it from top to bottom! This is an impressive miracle, but it was merely a symbol of the greater miracle Jesus accomplished by His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave on the third day. The way to the Holy of Holies in the Temple was physically exposed by the tearing of the veil, but access to the true Holiest place where God is seated upon His throne was opened to us by the tearing of Jesus’s flesh when He was scourged and then nailed to the cross. Because of the blood of the Prince of Peace, we have peace with God. Because of the sacrifice of the Lamb of God, we become the sheep of the Great Shepherd. Because God gave His Son to die in our place, we can become children of the Heavenly Father. Because the veil, Jesus’s body, was torn we can be raised from the walking death of our sin to a new, eternal, joyous life in which we can boldly approach the Holy, All-Powerful God through prayer.

Father, thank You for giving all who believe and trust in Jesus the ability to bring our cares to You, to approach You boldly as Your own children. Our redemption cost the blood of Your Son. May we be thankful each day for the miracle of Your grace.