Before the beginning of time, God already planned how the Israelites would worship Him. Until His Son died to pay the price for our sins, there would be a separation between man and God. We could not enter into His presence, but must be represented by the High Priest. The Veil represented the separation between God and mankind, between sin and righteousness.
The veil divided the Holy Place from the Most Holy Place. In the Most Holy Place was the Ark of the Covenant, where God spoke to the high priest above the Mercy Seat. This veil was made of heavy woven cloth. There was no separation in the middle; therefore, the High Priest had to go around the Veil to enter into the Holy of Holies. Again, we see the use of blue, purple, and scarlet thread woven together to make the Veil. It was made with designs of cherubim. It was hung on four pillars of acacia wood overlaid with gold. Four gold hooks were placed in four silver sockets.
Exodus 26:31-33 “And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubim shall it be made: And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy.”
This veil was a constant reminder of the separation between God and man. The most holy place could only be entered once a year by the High Priest on the Day of Atonement. When the Israelites reached their promised land, they eventually built a permanent Tabernacle. Over 1400 years later, Jesus was crucified, and the most incredible, marvelous thing happened. When Jesus cried out, “It is finished,” the Veil of the Tabernacle was torn from top to bottom. God’s people were no longer separated from Him. This was a miraculous thing because only God could tear such a thickly woven fabric with its height of 15 feet. Tearing it, or cutting it from the top, would have been impossible, especially at this precise time, and no Jew would have dared to cut the Veil. There was only one explanation. God did it! Everything around Jerusalem was in turmoil as some watched their Savior die, and skeptics rallied to put Him to death. I can only imagine the fear of those in the Tabernacle as this happened. They did not believe Jesus was the Messiah; therefore, fear of death would have been felt, as they were now exposed to the Holy of Holies.
Hebrews 10:19-20 “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.”
God was showing that every believer was now welcome and could approach Him through the death of His Son. Man had no offering which he could bring that would make him acceptable to God. But now the way was open. Access was free for all, so that both Jew and Gentile could come. Now and forevermore, we have direct access. No priest is needed, no human can forgive, no human can take our petitions to God. We have the Godman, Jesus, as our mediator, our intercessor, our advocate. He is sitting at the right hand of the Father as the advocate of the believer. He is a mediator, and the only one who can mediate or intercede for those who want to come to Him.
I Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus”
Hebrews 7:25 “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever lives to make intercession for them.”
Romans 8:34 “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
I John 2:1 “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
To this event I say “Hallelujah.” When I think of the Veil and what happened on the day Jesus died for my sins, I cannot help but get emotional. I am so thankful for a holy God who loved me enough to make a way for me to be acceptable in His sight. He has opened Heaven to all who will believe in His Son, repent of their sins, and live in obedience to Him. I pray I never get over this feeling of gratitude. The Veil is torn, and I have an advocate, an intercessor, and a mediator, Christ Jesus!
