Day 2: The Veil was torn
Matthew 27: 45 At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 46 At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”
47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink.49 But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.”
50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. 51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.
54 The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, “This man truly was the Son of God!”
For generations, the veil in the temple stood as a powerful reminder of both God's holiness and humanity's separation from Him. Inside the temple was the Holy of Holies, the place that symbolized the very presence of God. The veil that hung before it was massive. It was thick, heavy, and designed to keep everyone out except the high priest, and even he could enter only once a year. When he entered, he had to wear bells so that if he had not been completely ceremonially clean as God had instructed, he would have died.
The message of the veil was unmistakable: sin had created distance between God and humanity. But praise God, everything changed the moment Jesus died.
As Jesus gave His life on the cross, something happened in the temple that few people initially understood. The veil was torn in two from top to bottom. Not from the bottom upward, as if by human hands, but from the top downward. It was an act of God Himself. The barrier was removed by God!
The sacrifice of Jesus did what no priest, ritual, or sacrifice ever could. Through His blood, access to the Father was opened. What once separated us from God's presence was taken away forever. Because of Christ, we no longer approach God from a distance. We are invited to come near.
The invitation of Scripture now rings out clearly: “Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” James 4:8
Prayer is no longer a distant cry toward heaven. It is the privilege of stepping into the presence of our Father. Fasting helps remind our hearts of this reality. As we set aside physical hunger, we then either awaken or begin to quench what we already feel, our spiritual hunger which is the deep longing to be close to God.
Today, remember: the veil is gone. The way is open. You are not praying through a barrier. You are praying in the presence of the Father and look what John tells us in 1 John 5:
1 John 5: 14 And we are confident that he hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. 15 And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.
So, as we pray, we are not praying to a closed door. We are not on hold or getting God’s answering machine. He is in the room. So let's talk to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords today!
Prayer Focus
Father, thank You for the sacrifice of Jesus that removed the barrier between us. Thank You that through His blood we can come boldly into Your presence. Teach me to draw near to You with reverence, faith, and hunger. As I fast and pray, awaken in me a deeper desire for Your presence. Let my prayer life grow stronger as I walk closer with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.