The Veil, the Holy of Holies and the Cross of Christ

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Copia desde la Crucifixion dibujada hacia 1540...
Copia desde la Crucifixion dibujada hacia 1540 por Miguel Angel Buonarroti para Vittoria Colonna. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. [Luke 23:45b]Just before Jesus breathed his last, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom (Mark 15:38). This was an amazing event, both physi-cally and in its spiritual meaning. The curtain covered the golden doors that led into the Holy of Holies. It was about eighty feet high and twenty-four feet wide. Because of its great size, it was very thick and strong and consisted of several layers of drapes. Anything layered like this is virtually impossible to tear by natural means.
The veil prevented people from entering or seeing the Holy of Holies, the innermost chamber of the throne of God. In the Old Testament God had slain those who approached him inappropriately. The veil protected sinful humans from the consuming fire of God’s holiness. Until the problem of sin had been dealt with, men and women were barred from personal, individual access to God.
Jesus, our Great High Priest, now makes unnecessary any human priesthood. The completed atonement and new access to the Father was symbolized in the torn veil.
Jesus had earlier cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matt. 27:46). Now, however, the work was completed, and Jesus gave his victory cry: “It is finished!” (John 19:30). The atonement had been made and the ransom had been paid. And now that it was finished, God no longer turned his back upon his Son, and Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”
The exaltation of Jesus began immediately. The Roman centurion in charge of the crucifixion was moved to praise God, something only a regenerate person can do. Luke tells us that he stated for all to hear, “Surely this was a righteous man” (v. 47). Once again Jesus is declared innocent by a government official, just as Pilate had found him innocent. Mark tells us the centurion also said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!” (15:39).
It seems that the first trophy of grace given to Jesus after his death was the Gentile soldier who had crucified him.
Some people vainly attempt to add to the finished work of Christ through works of their own. They do not understand that the debt has been fully canceled, the ransom paid, satisfaction made, and the substitute accepted. Do not mingle your unacceptable works with the finished work of Christ. If you are unwilling to trust him to provide fully for your salvation then Christ cannot be your Savior and Lord.

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