His Cross Our HopeSýnishorn

I remember how I felt the first time the significance of Matthew 27:51 hit me. Someone pointed out the awesomeness, and it has been my favorite verse since. Why? Because Scripture says the veil of the Temple was torn … from top to bottom.

The veil separated the Holy Place in the Temple from the Most Holy Place. Only the High Priest could enter the Most Holy Place and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement for the people’s sins. And only after an hours-long process of cleansing and sacrifice that ensured he approached God as free from sin as humanly possible. If he didn’t, he would die in the Most Holy Place.

This was also where the Ark of the Covenant, a box-like structure that had deep, covenantal significance to the Jewish people, rested and God manifested His presence. That veil was sixty feet high and thirty feet wide. Four thick inches of woven and embroidered fabric.

And it was ripped right in two. As though God Himself reached down and tore the very thing separating His people from Him. This is the physical image of what happened as Jesus surrendered His life on the cross.

You see, daily sacrifices and the Day of Atonement covered sin… but they didn’t erase it. That didn’t happen until Christ became the ultimate sacrificial lamb all other Jewish sacrifices had pointed to.

Can we talk about something else amazing? Matthew 27:46 tells us that it was about three in the afternoon when Jesus “gave up His Spirit." When His sacrifice was complete.

Guess what was happening in the Temple at that moment? Oh, how I love this.

The evening sacrifice. During Passover. As the ultimate Passover Lamb gave up his life… for us.

Many of us take for granted what it means that God tore the veil. Christ’s death on the cross, bearing our sins, made the way for us to approach God freely no matter where we were born or what we’ve done. That torn veil shows us we have access to the Throne of Grace. To God Himself through Jesus Christ.

We don’t need a priest to stand in the gap. Christ bridges the chasm between us and God.

We don’t have to go through an hours-long process before we can pray. Christ took care of that, too.

When the veil was torn, light poured into the windowless Holy of Holies. And all were welcomed in.

That ought to take our breath right away.

~Jodie Bailey

Novelist and co-host of the Faith Over Fear podcast