TRYING TO MEND THE VEIL

"And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom" (Mark 15:38)

CERTAIN CLIMACTIC EVENTS took place when Jesus died. During the last three hours of His life, "there was a darkness over all the earth" (Lk 23:44). When He had breathed His last, a great earthquake took place "and the rocks were split" (Matt 27:51). It is even written that, at that time, "the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose" (Mat 27:52). After Jesus rose from the dead, these resurrected saints "went into the holy city, and appeared unto many" (Matt 27:53). Those were remarkable things that were apparent to many of the people.

HOWEVER, WITHIN THE TEMPLE, in a place not accessible to most of the people, something also occurred. At the very instant Jesus cried out with a loud voice, yielding up His spirit, a violent thing took place between the holy place of the Temple and the holy of holies – a place into which only the high priest could enter once a year. There was a great veil that was suspended from the ceiling to the floor that separated the two primary compartments of the temple. This was a tightly woven tapestry of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. It is estimated to have been about a hand's breadth in thickness, or at least four inches. The original veil was used to wrap the ark of the covenant when the ancient tabernacle was moved from place to place (Num 4:5).

THE MOMENT JESUS DIED, this great veil was violently "torn in two from top to bottom" (NIV). This was a deliberate action of the mighty God of heaven, and thus the veil was ripped in two starting at "the top." Suddenly, for the first time, the holy of holies was opened – a place into which it was formerly unlawful for anyone except the high priest to enter. By tearing this veil in two, God was showing that "the way into the holiest of all" was now "made manifest" – the way into His Presence (Heb 9:8).

REFERRING TO THIS MARVELOUS ENTRANCE, the Spirit urges us, "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; And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near . . . " (Heb 10:19-22). Just as the high priest entered the holiest place by pulling the veil aside, so when Christ's body was pulled from this world, and He Himself entered into heaven, the way into the Presence of God was opened for all who come to God through Him (Heb 7:25).

NOW THOSE IN CHRIST "have access into this grace wherein we stand" (Rom 5:2). Now, by the grace of God, both Jew and Gentile "have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Eph 2:18). We even "have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him" (Eph 3:12). That is the marvelous circumstance for every person who is in Christ Jesus. They can come into the presence of the Lord as often as they want, stay as long as they want, and get as much as they want – and that is a very conservative way of stating the case. There, in His presence, we can "obtain mercy, and find grace to help in the time of need"(Heb 4:16).

BUT, ALAS, THERE ARE THOSE IDENTIFIED within the professed church who are trying to mend the veil – to put together what God has torn apart. They are not content unless some obstacle exists between men and God – some restricting influence that blocks the way into the presence of God – the way that has been left wide open by the entrance of Jesus into heaven, to sit on the right hand of God.

THE CLERGY SYSTEM, wherein only certain specially trained men are qualified to traffic in the things of God, is nothing but an attempt to mend the veil. Such a system would make no allowance for fishermen or tax collectors to be Apostles. A herdman and gatherer of fruit like Amos could never be a prophet (Amos 7:14). A man plowing with twelve yoke of oxen would never be called to take the place of the mighty prophet Elijah, as Elisha was (1 Kgs 19:19). This professional system is an obstacle, not a help. It is an attempt to mend the veil.

THIS IS ALSO A DAY OF RELIGIOUS SPECIALISTS. They range from psychological counselors to church growth gurus, and motivational and financial wizards. The people are no longer required to inquire of the Lord, entering into the holiest place. A system of religion has arisen than provides a substitute for obtaining mercy from God and finding grace to help in the time of need – all in the name of Christianity. It is an attempt to mend the veil.

EVEN IN THE DAYS OF THE EARLY CHURCH these would-be menders were present. Some went out preaching, "Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved" (Acts 15:1). Others concocted special "ordinances" that directed the people to "touch not, taste not, handle not." They offered "the commandments of men" and special rigorous routines that offered hope to the helpless (Col 2:20-23). They also were trying to mend the veil.

WHEN THE GOD OF HEAVEN ripped the veil in two, He intended to instruct us that whosoever will may come! This is the time for drawing near to God – for pressing in close to the Source of life, grace, and truth. Those who do not come to the Lord, choosing to stand at a distance, are actually trying to mend the veil.

– Given O. Blakely