Behind the Veil

“Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.” — Matthew 27:51


A great miracle happened in the tearing of the temple veil; but it was not intended merely as a display of power. Many lessons were taught to us through this divine display of power. The old law of ordinances was put away, and like a worn out curtain, was torn down the middle and laid aside.
 
When Jesus died, the sacrifices were all finished, because all fulfilled in him, and therefore the place of their presentation was marked with this evidences. That torn veil also revealed all the hidden things of the old dispensation: the mercy-seat could now be seen, and the glory of God gleamed above it.
 
By the death of our Lord Jesus we have a clear revelation of God, for he was “not as Moses, who put a veil over his face.” Life and immortality are now brought to light, and things which have been hidden since the foundation of the world are manifest in him. The annual ceremony of atonement was therefore abolished.
 
The atoning blood which was once every year sprinkled within the veil, was now offered once for all by the great High Priest, and therefore the place of the symbolical rite was broken up. No blood of bullocks or of lambs is needed now, for Jesus has entered within the veil with his own blood. Therefore, access to God is now permitted, and is the privilege of every believer in Christ Jesus.
 
There was not even the smallest space laid open through which the mercy-seat could be seen, but the tear in the veil reached from the top to the bottom, symbolizing the access we now have to the mercy seat. We may now come with boldness to the throne of the heavenly grace. Would it be wrong to say that the opening of the Holy of Holies in this marvellous manner by our Lord’s cry from the Cross was the type of the opening of the gates of paradise to all the saints by virtue of the Passion? Our bleeding Lord has the key of heaven; he opens and no man shuts; let us enter in with him into the heavenly places, and sit with him there till our common enemies shall be made his footstool.
 
Modern translation of Spurgeon devotional by Pastor FL Wilson