We stand at the cross and witness the death of Christ. Although Matthew writes his Gospel in a simple, straightforward narrative, there are unfathomable depths hidden here. Every week, I struggle to bring these infinitely deep truths into a small sermon with limited language; the subject before us is truly that vast. Indeed, we haven’t even begun to grasp all that transpired there.
The uncharted depths of our Lord’s soul during those six hours on the cross are beyond human comprehension. What He accomplished in those six hours—before shouting, “It is finished”—requires eternity to fully understand. On that cross, His perfect life and His sin-bearing suffering joined to achieve a full and perfect redemption for us.
This death is the only good news for a perishing world. That is why the Apostle Paul summarized his entire message as “the word of the cross.” See how deeply he grasped its power when he said with such passion: “God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This was the “death of deaths.” Neither heaven nor hell will forget this event throughout all eternity. The world cannot forget it either. We still look to the cross today; most churches use it as their logo or symbol, many nations feature it on their flags, and people wear it around their necks in gold and silver. Poets and hymn writers sing of “the wondrous cross.” It is amazing that a sign of the most cruel death has become so cherished. Imagine wearing a hanging rope or an executioner’s axe as jewelry—those are bad omens. Yet, such is the glorious meaning of the death of Jesus Christ that He turned an instrument of torture into the most sacred symbol in the world.
So, what is the meaning of the death of the Lord Jesus Christ? What did His death and resurrection achieve? While the New Testament epistles explain His death in detail, one of the most unforgettable ways to teach truth is through an “object lesson”—demonstrating truth through an event. Just after the death of Christ, God the Father Himself announced the meaning of His Son’s death. He did not use simple, poor human language, but spoke in His own peculiar tongue: the language of miracles.
We see three amazing miracles immediately following the death of Christ: the rent veil, the earthquake with splitting rocks, and the saints raised from the dead. This is God’s own testimony. Today, we will look at the first miracle—the rent veil—by looking at the miracle itself, what God is saying through it, and the lessons we can apply.
The Miracle of the Rent Veil
The three hours of darkness have vanished. The rocky mountain of Golgotha was momentarily stunned as that darkness ended with the loud cry of “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” Christ drank the eternal hell intended for all the elect. Shortly after, the sun shone brightly. Having thirsted in the unquenchable fire of judgment, He spoke softly, “I thirst.” They gave Him sour wine on a sponge, and once His mouth was refreshed, He cried out with a shout of triumph: “It is finished!” Then, in complete satisfaction and serenity, He dismissed His spirit, saying, “Father, into Your hands I commit My spirit.”
At that point, His head dropped. The Son of God was truly dead. The feet that walked hundreds of miles were unmoving; the hands that blessed millions were still; the lips that spoke like no other man’s were closed. If we were to place modern medical instruments upon Him, there would be no pulse, no heartbeat, no respiration, and no brain waves. The monitor would show a straight line. He who alone possesses immortality had given up the ghost. The Lord of Life was dead.
As soon as His mouth closed in death, His eternal Father, Jehovah, came forth to speak. He spoke through a miraculous intrusion into the world to disrupt natural laws—something only He can do. In doing so, He spoke to those at the scene and to us today about the profound significance of His Son’s death.
Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the miracle of the rent veil.
- Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
“Behold” is a word of shock. It tells us to turn aside from everything else and focus. What was this veil? The Jewish Temple was divided into three parts: the Outer Court, the Holy Place (where priests burned incense daily), and the Holy of Holies. The Holy of Holies was separated by a thick veil.
We often imagine a thin, transparent curtain, but this veil was different. Exodus describes it as a curtain of blue, purple, and scarlet thread with cherubim worked into it. Jewish historians say it was 60 feet long, 20 feet wide, and as thick as a man’s hand. It took 300 men to lift it. Such a curtain could never be torn by human hands. Matthew specifies it was torn “from top to bottom,” signifying that this was a supernatural act of God.
The Holy of Holies, covered by this veil, was the symbol of the immediate presence of God. It was the center of Jewish worship, yet no one was allowed inside. Only the High Priest could enter, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. On that day, he would wear elaborate robes and prepare himself through rigorous rituals and sacrifices. He would enter with blood, wearing bells on his hem and a rope tied to his waist. If he entered presumptuously and was struck dead, the other priests could pull his body out using the rope, as no one else dared to enter.
For 364 days a year, that sacred place lay silent, dark, and untrodden. If anyone else even peered into its mysteries, they would die. The veil stood as a massive barrier between a holy God and sinful man. By tearing it at the moment of Christ’s death, God was making a monumental announcement to the world.
The veil was a symbol that free and unfettered access to God was not yet possible. It was a sign of separation. As long as that veil remained, no one could freely go to God. This is not mere guesswork; it is the clear teaching of Scripture in Hebrews 9:6-8:
“Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle… but into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood… the Holy Spirit indicating this, that the way into the Holiest of All was not yet made manifest while the first tabernacle was still standing.”
As long as that thick curtain hung before the presence of God, every thread of that heavy fabric spoke a clear message: “The way into My presence is not yet open to all.”
The Moment of Impact
Now, transport yourself to the scene described in Matthew 27. As soon as Jesus yielded His spirit, the Gospel of Mark says immediately the veil was torn in two from top to bottom.
Think of the Temple. It was filled with people, and the inner court would have been crowded with priests performing the evening Passover rituals. In the midst of those mass sacrifices, with no warning whatsoever, this massive veil—which required 300 people to hang—was suddenly seized by a pair of giant, invisible hands and torn asunder. It split from the very top to the bottom, laying bare the Holy of Holies.
Imagine the horror and shock. Priests who had been told for centuries that entering or even looking into this space would bring instant death now saw it completely exposed. Many surely fell prostrate in fear; others likely fled, convinced the world was ending. As Gentiles, we can hardly appreciate the mind-blowing impact this would have on a Jew. Their most sacred place, the very center of their worship and life, was laid open.
What God Is Saying
What was God communicating through this unforgettable miracle?
Under the old system, no man had true access to the presence of God. Sinful man could not intimately commune with a holy God because his sin had not been fully dealt with. The Old Testament sacrifices were merely shadows; no lamb, goat, or ram was ever sufficient to atone for human guilt. Furthermore, no man possessed the perfect righteousness required to stand before God. The veil was a constant reminder: “You cannot come in.”
But at the death of Christ, the heart of the message was revealed. While Christ hung on the cross as the perfect Lamb of God, the Father poured out a full cup of wrath for our sins. As the Judge of the universe, the Father punished His Son in our place. Once that cup was drained and the agony reached its peak, Jesus cried out in triumph, “It is finished!”
The same hands that held the cup of judgment reached into the Temple and ripped the curtain apart. God was saying: “Because My Son has fully atoned for sin and purchased perfect righteousness for My people, the way is now open.”
He did not just unhook the curtain or push it aside; He tore it. He did this because the sacrifice was so perfect that it never needs to be repeated. As Hebrews 10:14 says, “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.” God threw wide His arms and announced to all sinners: “The way is open through My Son.”
A New and Living Way
We no longer need rituals, animal sacrifices, or human priests. Hebrews 10:19-20 explains it beautifully:
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh.”
Because Jesus rose from the dead, this is a “living way.” We can now enter the most holy place with boldness. This is one of the highest degrees of boldness imaginable. In the Old Testament, 50,000 people died at Beth Shemesh just for looking into the Ark; here, we are invited to enter.
Do we realize what a soul-chilling blessing this is? If we truly grasped it, we would dance with joy like David. Why do we continue to live so far from Him, coming to Him in trembling fear like those under the Old Covenant? Because of the rent veil, we can enjoy closest intimacy with the eternal Jehovah.
We can sing “Jehovah Shammah”—the Lord is here. Just as the High Priest went in to commune with God, we can now pour out our hearts with the assurance that He hears us. We can come out with the peace that passes all understanding. The separation has been removed; the death of Jesus Christ has paid the debt and obliterated the barrier. The rent veil is a grand, historical demonstration that Christ has opened the way to God for every sinful man and woman who comes in faith.
Application
The rent veil is joyful good news and a glorious invitation for both believers and unbelievers. Through the death of Jesus, every barrier to God is removed. Everything about the Jewish temple reminded people to stay away. The design—with its high steps, three separate divisions, and strict rules—screamed, “Do not come near.” Gentiles were barred, Jews were limited to the outer court, only priests could enter the Holy Place, and only the High Priest could enter the Holy of Holies once a year.
But now, one offering was so glorious that He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified. In ancient Israel, only one man at a time had ever been beyond the veil. Now, the rent veil shows that by the death of Jesus Christ, everyone is welcome to pass into the innermost sanctuary in faith. We can dwell as close as we wish to the very heart of God and experience His blissful presence.
A New and Living Way
Do we realize the great privilege we have? Hebrews 10:19-20 says:
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh…”
Because of Christ’s work, we can come boldly into the very presence of the living God. This is not the old way of distance, but a “living way.” Christ said, “I am the way.” The way itself leads, guides, and brings us near.
Consider what it would be like to gain an audience with royalty—to enter the fabled halls of Buckingham Palace, escorted by guards, and have a monarch ask, “What can I do for you?” That would be a massive privilege, yet most of us lack the standing to ever achieve it. But in the eyes of God, you have the standing through the blood of Jesus to enter the throne room of heaven. By His death, He tore down the wall. You are a personal friend of God’s Son, a member of His family, and a citizen of heaven. This standing is given to every blood-bought child of God.
Your All-Access Pass
The rich and famous of this world have advantages we may never have. They have access to sold-out events, first-class travel, and the finest rooms. But if the Holy Spirit opens our eyes, we will see that we have something infinitely greater. We have instant, unlimited access to the throne of God. We can come anytime, anywhere, for any reason. Our Heavenly Father will not turn us away. We have an All-Access Pass to the throne room of the universe.
When men like Martin Luther or John Bunyan realized this, it brought them pure heavenly bliss. The philosopher Blaise Pascal expressed this joy with tears, realizing that he—a wretched sinner—could come into the presence of a holy God boldly.
An Anchor for the Soul
The rent veil also confirms our hope of eternal life. Hebrews 6:19-20 tells us:
“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf.”
In a great storm, an anchor saves the ship by being firmly lodged in the ocean floor. Our anchor is not resting in shifting sand; it is lodged behind the curtain in the very presence of God. Because Jesus cannot be moved, our hope cannot be moved. This truth inspired Edward Mote to write:
When darkness seems to hide His face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, My anchor holds within the veil.
When you face the end of your life and the world gives way under you, you will not have to grasp at the air. You can hold onto Christ, the forerunner who is waiting for you.
A Message to the Unconverted
What do you need to be right with God? Nothing but Christ and His veil-rending virtue. Perhaps you think your sins are too many, but as J.C. Ryle said: “Our sins may be many and great, but the payment made by our Great Substitute far outweighs them all.”
Refusing to come to God through the cross is what will condemn a person, not the magnitude of their sins. God says the way is open. Do not wait for a special experience; come as you are and trust His finished work.
The End of the Old System
The splitting of the veil was the first official act of dismantling the Old Testament ceremonial system. When God laid bare the inner sanctuary, He was declaring the end of the physical temple, animal sacrifices, and the human priesthood. The “engine” of that old religion was broken because the true High Priest had finished His work.
In 70 A.D., this was culminated when the temple was physically destroyed, fulfilling Christ’s prophecy. Therefore, any religious system today that uses altars, human priests in robes, or repeated sacrifices is trying to stitch back together what God has torn apart. Whether it is a requirement for rituals or the false hope of a future earthly temple with sacrifices, it is an insult to the perfect work of Christ.
Let us turn from the story of the crucifixion with hearts full of praise. The way of peace is no longer shrouded in mystery. The door is open, and the way of life is set before the whole world.