“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.” Matthew 27:50-51
“And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed His last. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood facing Him, saw that in this way He breathed His last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” Mark 15:37-39
The veil in the temple. From what I’ve read it was 45 feet tall (at one point extended to 60 feet) and four inches thick. That’s a substantial piece of fabric! I have volunteered backstage for community theater and have been seen professional theaters with the curtains that separate the stage from the audience and they are quite large and sturdy. But this veil was even bigger and thicker than any of those. Certainly tough to rip or tear. This veil was a barrier in the temple between the Holy of Holies (God’s dwelling) and the rest of the temple. Once a year the high priest, after much preparation, would go in and offer atonement for the sins of the people.
But then Jesus came to earth. He died and paid the price for our sins. When He died, the veil in the temple was torn in to two pieces. This incredibly large and thick cloth was ripped from top to bottom! Only God could have done that! Can you imagine being in the temple when that happened? Jesus’ sacrifice put an end to us having to be separate from God. A priest no longer had to offer sacrifices and act as the go between for God and men. Jesus now is the only mediator between us and God. (I Timothy 2:5-6a).
The barrier is gone. We can come to Him! Praise God for providing His Son as our atonement for our sin.
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man[ Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all…” 1 Timothy 2:5-6a
Photo from a theater in Milwaukee
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