Outside of family, only a limited number of people have direct access to a world leader, such as a president, the Queen, or the Pope. Common, everyday folks, such as you and I, cannot just walk into the Oval Office or Windsor Castle to sit down and talk with the President or the Queen. There is an invisible, but very real, barrier between them and us. It is the same with other celebrities, such as movie, theater, and music stars. They often hire security guards to keep the crowds away from them, and only a select few are ever allowed backstage to see them. With the movie star, it is usually just curiosity or excitement that draws us to get close and see them. However, sometimes we might feel that we have a real or pressing need to want to see a politician or religious leader, yet because of our status, it is usually not possible. What about with God? He, of course, is far greater and more powerful than the greatest of leaders we will ever have. Can we ever have access to Him? In our Scripture today we will find an answer.
Throughout the time of the Old Testament, and on into the days of the New Testament, the Ark of the Covenant was kept within a special place or room within the Temple called the Holy of Holies. The Ark of the Covenant was an important symbol of faith and of God’s Presence. It was so sacred, that only the High Priest could come into its presence within the Holy of Holies, and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement. In order to keep people away from the Ark of the Covenant, a thick veil was hung, separating everyone from its presence (Exodus 26:33). This symbolized the holiness and sacredness of God. He was not a God to be treated lightly or casually.
That veil kept everyone away from God’s presence because of our sins and sinful nature (Isaiah 59:1-2). The only exception was the High Priest, and he couldn’t come near except on the Day of Atonement. Then, and only then, could he approach God’s presence with the sacrificial blood to make atonement for the sins of the people. That all changed, though, one Friday afternoon in springtime, on a small hill outside of Jerusalem.
On Good Friday, as we know, the Lord Jesus was crucified on the hill of Calvary, or sometimes called Golgotha, just outside of Jerusalem. Jesus hung on the cross from approximately 9 am to 3 pm. At 3 pm, when Jesus died, the veil in the Temple was torn in two (Matthew 27:50-51). This was not just some accidental occurrence. It had special significance. First, this was not just some ordinary curtain. It was quite tall, and very thick, not something any ordinary person could tear. Most importantly, though, the miraculous tearing of the veil showed that the sacrifice that Jesus had just made, the shedding of His precious Blood, was sufficient atonement for our sins, once and for all.
Another important thing that the tearing of the veil in the Temple signified, was that the way into the Holy of Holies, into the presence of God, was opened. Instead of being separated from God, all those who come into His presence through the Blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, can come boldly, without fear, into His presence. We now have personal access to God through Jesus Christ, and we can draw near to Him without any elaborate and restrictive system.
God is holy and perfect, and on our own we could never stand before Him. But because of the death of Jesus upon the Cross, He opened the way for us to be forgiven, and have a new life with God. Jesus made it possible for us to have a direct connection with God through Himself. There is no longer any separation to keep us from God. Jesus has completely eliminated any barriers that might hinder anyone seeking access to God, including our sin. Jesus’ crucified Body has torn away all obstructions to God’s presence. There is nothing that can separate a believer from experiencing the glory and love of God.
God delivers all who come to Jesus for salvation from a verdict of guilt, and removes our garments of shame. We can now approach God’s throne with boldness, not shame. We can come to God, through His Son Jesus, at any and all time, day or night, for whatever reason. For anyone who has taken Jesus as their personal Savior, God is now our Father, and we are His children.
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