“Therefore, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” Hebrews 10:19-22
In our journey through the Bible we have finally arrived at the central event – the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. This is the moment to which everything in the Old Testament points forward and to which everything in the New Testament points backward. When Jesus breathed his last on the cross the curtain in the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth trembled as its very foundations were shaken.
There on the cross the eternal Son of God was covered in sin (2 Cor. 5:21) and experienced the full measure of God’s wrath against all the sins of mankind both before and after. The world was plunged into darkness even as Jesus was plunged into hell, being utterly forsaken by the Father, cast out of His presence and crushed under His righteous judgment.
At the height of this unimaginable torment the thick purple curtain in the temple was ripped in half from top to bottom. This rich, ornate veil was six inches thick and made of the most expensive fabrics dyed purple, the most expensive color. This was the dividing wall that separated the holy place of the temple from the most holy place. In that small cubic space the ark of the covenant had been kept, where the very presence of God rested and at times was tangible in the cloud of His shekinah glory.
Only the High Priest could enter through that curtain and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. Those who attempted access at other times were immediately struck dead. So the curtain was a protection for sinful people to keep them out of the holy presence of God. This was symbolized with cherubim woven skillfully into the fabric to remind the priests of the angel with the flaming sword who guarded the garden of Eden so Adam and Eve could not come back in after they had fallen into sin.
When the curtain was torn it was not just the symbol of separation that was irreparably damaged. The separation itself was destroyed by the blood of Jesus and the way back into the paradise of God’s glorious presence was suddenly opened. His body on the cross – that perfect, once for all sacrifice – was the “new and living way” for redeemed sinners to step directly into the most holy place!
For a detailed explanation of the meaning of the veil, read this excellent article from Desiring God: https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-veil-was-torn-in-two
Think of what this means for the prayer life of the believer! Before the death of Jesus a worshiper of God could only approach God from a distance. The glory and presence of God was always covered and access blocked by many physical structures and priestly personnel. But through the death of Jesus the curtain was torn apart and the way opened to approach God directly.
What a privilege and joy it is for us as children of God to cry out to Him and simply revel in His presence. No need for bloody sacrifices or elaborate ceremonies. Just a simple prayer in the name of Jesus – the One who opened the Way!