On January 21, 2019, the 2,000th anniversary of the day on which, according to Christian tradition, the veil of the Temple of Jerusalem was completely torn in two, from top to bottom, was completed. This event occurred at the moment when Jesus died on the cross, and many Christians see in this fact a sign that Jesus is the only mediator between God and men, and that with his death, all men now have access straight to God.
What was torn in the temple when Jesus died?
Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying, and he was fighting against the anguish and death that he knew would come. His friends were sleeping nearby, and he said to them: “Can’t you watch with me for one hour? Look, the Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of sinners!”
At that very moment, Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, arrived with a group of armed men. Judas had betrayed him, and handed him over to the religious leaders to be killed. Jesus said to them, “Whom are you looking for?”
They answered: “To Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus said to them: “It is I.” Judas, the traitor, was there with them. Jesus said to them, “Whom are you looking for?”
They answered: “To Jesus of Nazareth.”
Jesus said to them: “It is I.” Judas, the traitor, was there with them.
Then Jesus was arrested. The soldiers took him first to Caiaphas, the high priest, where the elders had gathered. Peter followed Jesus at a distance. The soldiers asked Caiaphas: “Is this man the Messiah?”
Caiaphas replied: “I don’t know! What does it matter to you?”
The soldiers said to Peter, “Are you one of his followers?”
Peter replied: “I am not.”
So the soldiers took Jesus to the governor, Pontius Pilate. The religious leaders came before Pilate and told him, “This man is disturbing our nation. He teaches people not to obey our laws. He has proclaimed himself the King of the Jews ».
Pilate asked the leaders, “What do I do with this man?”
They replied: “Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them: «Why? What wrong has he done? »
But they shouted more and more: “Crucify him!”
Pilate asked them: “What will you do with the man you call the King of the Jews?”
They replied: “Crucify him!”
So Pilate said to them, “Very well, then I will crucify him!”
But the religious leaders shouted: “None of our men will be crucified!”
Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus?”
They replied: “Crucify him!”
Pilate said to them: «Why? What wrong has he done? »
But they shouted more and more: “Crucify him!”
Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but the religious leaders threatened to complain to the emperor. So Pilate gave the verdict on him: “Let him be crucified!”
The soldiers took Jesus to the place of the crucifixion, and there they gave him vinegar to drink. Then they crucified him, and put a sign on his cross that read: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many people passed by, and they mocked Jesus saying: “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross!”
The religious leaders also made fun of him. They told him: “He has saved others, why can’t he save himself?”
After the crucifixion, the soldiers broke the legs of the other two men who had been crucified next to Jesus. But when they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs.
One of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and blood and water flowed from it.
This fact was witnessed by John, the author of this book. All of this happened so that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones shall be broken.”
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Council, went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Joseph had been waiting for the kingdom of God, and he was a good and just man.
Pilate was surprised to hear that Jesus had already died, so he called the captain of the soldiers and asked if Jesus had already died.
When the captain confirmed that Jesus was dead, Pilate gave the body of Jesus to Joseph.
Joseph bought a linen cloth, wrapped it with the body of Jesus, and put it in a tomb that had been dug out of a hill. Then Joseph put a large stone at the entrance of the tomb and left.
What is a veil in the spiritual
The veil is a spiritual figure often used in the Bible. generally refers to the separation between God and man. In the Bible, God dwells on high, in his own kingdom, while man dwells on earth. The veil represents this separation.
The veil is also used to represent the fact that man is covered in sin and cannot approach God. In the Bible, the veil is often used to represent the sin or wickedness of man. For example, in the book of Isaiah, God says, “I have set my face against those who desecrate my sanctuary, and I have given those who go out of it to be defiled in the lands of their destiny” (Isaiah 65:4). . In this passage, God is saying that he will punish those who desecrate his temple, and the temple is a symbol of God’s presence. The veil represents the separation between God and man, and the fact that man is covered in sin.
The veil is also used to represent the mystery of God. In the Bible, God reveals himself to men in many ways, but there is always something that remains hidden. For example, in the book of Matthew, Jesus tells Peter: “Truly, truly, I say to you, that you, the one you confess me before men, the Son of Man will also confess you before the angels of God.” (Matthew 10:32). Jesus is saying that even if Peter confesses it in front of men, there will always be something of him that will remain hidden. The mystery of God is something that will always be hidden from man.
The veil is also used to represent the separation between earth and heaven. In the Bible, the earth is often used as a symbol of the world of men, while the sky is used as a symbol of the kingdom of God. The veil represents this separation. For example, in the book of Luke, Jesus says, “Truly, truly, I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43). In this passage, Jesus is talking about the separation between earth and heaven. Man is on earth, but when he dies, he goes to heaven. The veil represents this separation.
In short, the veil is a spiritual figure often used in the Bible. It can be used to represent the separation between God and man, the fact that man is covered in sin, the mystery of God, or the separation between earth and heaven.
how was the veil
What was the veil like?
The veil of the temple was a curtain that separated the Holy place from the Holy of Holies. The veil was of fine woven linen, purple, crimson, and scarlet in color, and it was decorated with cherubs. The veil of the temple protected the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the tablets of the Law given by God to Moses, and also protected the Israelites from the power and glory of God. The veil was a symbol of the separation between God and men. Only the high priest could enter the Holy of Holies, and only once a year, on the Day of Atonement. The veil was torn when Jesus died on the cross. By dying, Jesus opened a direct path to God for all men, and the veil was torn in two. The veil in the temple was a reminder of the separation between God and men, but it was also a reminder of God’s promise to reconcile us to Him. When Jesus died, God kept His promise and reconciled us to Him. The veil in the temple was a symbol of the separation between God and men, but it was also a symbol of God’s promise to reconcile us with Him.
How long was the veil of the tabernacle?
God commanded Moses to make the tabernacle and all its utensils after the pattern he had shown him on the mount. Among these utensils was the veil that separated the most holy place from the sanctuary. The veil was to measure five cubits long by five cubits wide, and was made of fine handwoven linen. In addition, it was decorated with embroidered cherubs.
The veil in the temple was torn because Jesus died on the cross. Jesus was the only one who could bear our sins and offer himself as a perfect sacrifice to God. By dying, Jesus fulfilled all the Law and the prophets, and his death ended the need for animal sacrifices. By tearing the veil, God showed that the temple was unnecessary, since Jesus had done everything necessary to save us.