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The Story Behind the Veil
What image comes to your mind when you think of the gospel? Maybe you picture the cross, the tomb, a church building, or the Lord’s Supper. Perhaps you picture heaven and the Lamb of God seated on His throne. There is one powerful image though that I think we often forget about, and that is the veil or the tapestry that hung inside the temple. And like every tapestry, there is a story that lies behind it. There is message that runs deeper than what you may notice initially. And there are really three parts to the story of the veil.
The Story of Sanctity
In Jesus’ day the veil of the temple was 30 ft long, 60 ft high, and at least 4 inches thick. It was so large that it took 300 people to move it. So the dimensions alone tell how incredible it was, but it was also beautiful. It was made from blue, purple and scarlet materials. It was woven from fine twisted linen, all skillfully knit together. It was glorious and majestic because it represented the sanctity of what was behind it. Behind this veil was the Holy of Holies. Access was strict and exclusive. Only one person could enter it only one day a year, the High Priest on the Day of Atonement, and the consequence of violating this was death. It was serious and sacred. Because within that veil was manifested the honor, and glory, and power of the God of the Universe.
The Story of History
Furthermore, the history of this tapestry stretches all the way back to Genesis. Woven into the veil was a symbol, the Cherubim. And their purpose is to stand guard at the boundary between heaven and earth, like the divine secret service. The first time the cherubim are seen in scripture is Genesis three where they were standing guard to the tree of life in the Garden of Eden. After Adam and Eve sinned, the wickedness of man could not exist with the holiness of God so He deployed these spiritual beings, separating man from His presence. That is why they were embroidered into the veil. They represented power, and holiness, and separation. And for thousands of years that’s the way it was. From the tabernacle, to the temple, to the time of Jesus, the veil stood as the only way to God. It stood as the doorway to the presence of God.
The Story of Calvary
But the last part of the story behind the veil is about Mt. Calvary. On the cross, when Jesus yielded up His spirit, it happened immediately that this massive, 60ft tall veil ripped apart. Surely the priests were covering their eyes in fear as all people scrambled around trying to figure out what was going on, and news of this must have quickly spread throughout the entire city. The tapestry of God, the cherubim’s curtain, had been torn in two. And as you have this scene of the veil at Calvary in mind, consider two things for us today:
1. We are invited into the presence of God. Throughout history man was separated from God by those spiritual beings and that was replicated by this wall of tapestry, embroidered with the cherubim. But in a single moment, that age-old barrier was torn away. Now, all people have access to God’s throne. But it is not just that we have access, it is that God is inviting us there. The veil was torn top to bottom. The hands of God tore apart the symbol that separated man from His presence throughout all history. God Himself is saying come, draw near to My throne of Grace, step behind the veil and into My presence.
2. Jesus is our veil to the presence of God. At Calvary, Jesus died and in that very instant, the veil was torn in two. It happened not just immediately but simultaneously. And when the veil was torn, the people beheld the glory of God in a way never before. It was now real, and intimate, and personal. And it’s interesting that the Bible describes Jesus as “the Word” that “became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn. 1:14), and the one in whom, “all the fullness of God dwells in bodily form” (Phil. 2:9). In other words, within the body of Jesus was manifested the honor, and glory, and power of the God of the Universe. Jesus is the Veil. And when the veil of His flesh was torn at Calvary, mankind beheld the glory of God in way like never before. It is now real, intimate, and personal. Through Jesus we enter the presence of God.
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He opened for us through the veil, that is, His flesh... let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Heb. 10:19-23).
