Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.  Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.  And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit." -- Luke 23 :44-47 

Ever since I became a Christian 40 years ago, I’ve often visualized various Scripture either pertaining to me or how it was in real life. For instance, I often visualize myself in God’s Throne Room when praying; Jesus is with me with his Hand on my back, interceding on my behalf and bringing me to His Father.  (Oh how I love that!)

Another part of Scripture I’ve been captivated with is the account of the tearing of the veil, covering the entrance of the Holy of Holies, when Jesus died on the cross. The tearing of the veil?! How could that even happen?  It was estimated to be as high as 60 feet and as thick as 4 inches, obviously a deterrent to the Presence of God Almighty to the Jewish people. The Holy of Holies was only entered once a year, on the Day of Atonement, by the High Priest, who interceded on behalf of the Jewish people to have their sins forgiven by Yahweh. Yom Kippur is a solemn day and most holy for the Jews.  They understood that standing in the presence of God could not occur “for the blood of bulls and goats can never take away sins.” (Hebrews 10:4) Yet, that was what God commanded of them year after year…. until the Blood of the Lamb covered all our sins!  No more sacrificing, no more intercession by a High Priest for our sins! Jesus is the eternal High Priest forever interceding on our behalf!!  

What a glorious demonstration of what the horrendous death of Christ did for mankind – opened up the Holy of Holies, the coming into the presence of the most Holy God and the only mediator was Christ Himself!  But, my mind cannot begin to imagine the reaction of those watching the tearing of the veil!  If we knew we could not come to God except with punishment of death if we did, what fear, what awe, what total amazement would we behold and feel when it happened!!  At the very least, shock!!

Paraphrasing what Jeff Borkoski said many years ago comes to my recollection so very often:  “Christ’s death on the cross tore the veil apart to the very presence of God; religion has been trying to sew it up ever since!”  As we ponder the Resurrection Story, let’s humbly celebrate what happened that fateful day when the Glorious Presence of the Most Holy God came to all of us!!