“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…” Hebrews 10:19
In the temple that Solomon built, there was a particular place that symbolized “nearness” or closeness to God. It was a small place, but of monumental significance with regard to God’s will, and purpose for man. That very special, and particular place, was called the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place. It was separated from a larger room called the Holy Place. That which divided the two rooms was a veil. It is significant that within the Holy of Holies was placed the Ark of The Covenant. Upon that Ark was what is called “the Mercy Seat.” There was a promise of God associated with that mercy seat, and it was this: “There I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee.” (Exodus 25:22) The intent, will, and purpose of God, with regard to the entirety of His revelation to man, and the eventual work of Calvary, was to make provision to meet, and commune with man. In the book of Exodus, in speaking of the Tabernacle, the precursor to the temple, the Lord spoke of “…the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the Lord: where I will meet with you, to speak there unto thee.” (29:42) This meeting with God applied to every person who would come to the tabernacle to seek Him. In other words, God ordered the building of the tabernacle, and later the temple, that they should serve as symbols of the fact that He created man to have fellowship with him. Man was to KNOW God, not just to know about Him. The tabernacle and temple were built in such a manner as to reveal also God’s way of knowing Him. If one would adhere to His ways, realizing His purpose, and relying wholly upon His covenant, he could know God, God “meeting” with him, speaking to him.
The first temple to be built was that of Solomon. It was later demolished by Israel’s enemies, only to be replaced by another, which was less elaborate and ornate, than Solomon’s. It would last approximately 500 years. At the site of the second temple, Herod would build a third temple in an effort to win over the Jews. This temple was in place when Zechariahs went in to burn incense before the Lord, just prior to the birth of his son, John the Baptist. The Lord Jesus would be born shortly thereafter. When Zechariah entered into the temple, he did not go into the Holy of Holies, or the Most Holy Place. There was a veil that separated the place were the angel met Zechariah, and the location of where the Ark of the Covenant should have been. It had disappeared some time around the Babylonian exile. That veil is very significant in that it is part of the picture that God has provided throughout thousands of years, to reveal His purpose for man, and His way for the realization of it.
When Jesus was crucified, something happened to that veil. It was ripped from top to bottom. That barrier of separation between that which belonged to the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place, was removed. How and why? Scripture tells us that Jesus, “…by His own blood He entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Heb. 9:12) We know that He entered into the Holy Of Holies because the believer is called upon to have boldness, “…to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus.” (Heb. 10:19) The Lord Jesus rent the veil, revealing to all men that God was giving to the believer the most perfect and complete access to God.
God’s eternal purpose was to bring us “nigh unto God,” and into a greater and fuller knowledge of Himself. The rent veil was a sign, and demonstration, of a mystery revealed. The outpouring of the Spirit at Pentecost, would enable believers to know the nearness of God’s wondrous presence.
Dear Father, Open our eyes to see, and to grasp, the “much more” of communion with Thee. In Jesus’ name, Amen.