The Day the Veil Tore

 

When Yeshua took His last breath on the cross, everything seemed to stop. The earth shook, darkness covered the land, and something extraordinary happened: the veil in the temple tore in two. From top to bottom. It might seem like just a detail in the moment of His crucifixion, but this event wasn’t a random occurrence. It was a powerful, symbolic act, one that carried deep meaning for the Jews standing there and one that continues to have profound significance for us today. Both Jew and Gentile.

Let’s first consider the veil itself. The veil in the temple wasn’t just a piece of cloth; it was the physical divider between the Holy Place, where the priests performed their duties, and the Most Holy Place—the Holy of Holies—where the very presence of God dwelled. The veil symbolized the deep separation between sinful humanity and a holy, perfect God. In the temple, only the chosen high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and even then, only once a year, on the Day of Atonement, after making sacrifices for his own sins and for the sins of the people. The veil was a constant reminder that no one could simply walk into the presence of God without an atoning sacrifice, without first being purified.

Then, when Yeshua died, the veil tore. It wasn’t just a tear that could have been easily explained away—it tore from top to bottom. This wasn’t an accident, and it wasn’t just a moment of physical destruction. This was a deliberate act, a sign from God Himself. In that moment, God was saying, “The old system is finished. The barrier between humanity and Me is no more.”

For the Jews who witnessed this, it was more than just an unusual event. The temple was the center of their faith. It was where they offered sacrifices, where they went to pray, and where they believed the presence of God was most fully manifested. The veil in the temple wasn’t just fabric; it was a powerful symbol of their relationship with God, or rather, the limits of that relationship. It represented that God’s holiness was so pure and so powerful that no one could approach Him without atonement. But when Yeshua died, the veil was torn. It was as if God was saying, “You no longer need to rely on the old sacrifices. The perfect sacrifice has already been made.”

This tearing of the veil wasn’t just symbolic—it was the beginning of something new, something entirely unexpected. For centuries, the people of Israel had lived under the old covenant, a covenant of the law and sacrifice, where access to God was limited. But through Yeshua, that old covenant was fulfilled. He became the ultimate sacrifice, once and for all, and His death opened a new way for humanity to be in God’s presence, not through rituals or priests, but through Yeshua. No longer would people have to stand at a distance, afraid to approach God. Through Yeshua’s blood, the way was opened for all who believe to come directly before God, without fear, without the need for another sacrifice.

Imagine what it must have been like for the priests and religious leaders of the time. They were trained in the old ways, steeped in the traditions of the temple. They understood the significance of the veil. It wasn’t just a physical barrier; it was a spiritual one. For the veil to tear was to announce the end of their entire system of worship. It would have shaken them to their core, challenged everything they knew about their relationship with God and their role in leading the people in worship.

But for those who followed Yeshua, the tearing of the veil would have been a moment of deep, profound understanding. This was the moment they realized that everything He had taught them was coming to pass. The kingdom of God wasn’t just something to look forward to in the future—it was happening now. The separation between God and humanity had been bridged through Yeshua. The veil was torn, and with it, the old barriers between God and His people had come down.

And this truth carries on today. The tearing of the veil means something for us, too. It means that, through Yeshua, we now have direct access to God. We no longer need a priest to mediate between us and God. We can approach God directly, at any time, without fear or shame, because Yeshua has made a way for us. His death removed the separation that existed because of sin. The veil, which once represented the distance between a holy God and sinful humanity, was torn in two, and that act opened up a new covenant—a covenant of grace, where we are invited to come boldly before God’s throne of grace, not because of our own righteousness, but because of Yeshua’s sacrifice.

This access to God is something we often take for granted. We’re so used to praying, to having the Holy Spirit dwell in us, to walking in relationship with God, that we forget what a monumental shift this was. For centuries, the Israelites had been separated from God by the veil, but now, because of Yeshua, there is no veil. God is no longer distant. He is near, and we can draw close to Him any time, through Yeshua, who is our High Priest.

In Hebrews 10:19-22, we’re reminded that because of Yeshua’s sacrifice, we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place, the place where God’s presence dwells. And not just the priests, but every believer, every person who trusts in Yeshua, has access. This is an incredible truth—one that, when we truly grasp it, changes the way we approach God. No longer do we have to approach God through a mediator or feel unworthy to enter His presence. We enter with boldness, knowing that we are cleansed and accepted because of the blood of Yeshua.

The tearing of the veil was also a sign that the old way was being replaced with something new. The old covenant, based on laws and sacrifices, was fulfilled in Yeshua. And in its place, we now have a new covenant, based on grace. Through Yeshua, we are invited into a personal relationship with God, a relationship where we don’t have to earn our way in, where we don’t have to be perfect, because He has already made the way for us. And this is available to anyone who believes in Him.

When the veil tore, it wasn’t just about removing a physical barrier—it was about restoring relationship. God wanted His people to come back to Him. He desired for them to have unhindered access to Him. And through Yeshua, that access has been given, once and for all.

It’s hard to overstate the magnitude of this event. The tearing of the veil was the moment that changed everything. It marked the end of the old covenant and the beginning of the new. It symbolized the end of humanity’s separation from God and the opening of a new way—a way that was made possible by Yeshua’s death on the cross.

For us, today, it’s an invitation to come near. The veil has been torn. The way is open. We can approach God with confidence, knowing that He is always near, always accessible, and always ready to receive us, not because we are worthy, but because Yeshua made us worthy through His sacrifice. That is the beauty and the power of the moment the veil tore—the moment that forever changed how we relate to our Creator.

image is ai generated