04.13. SHADOW: The Vail of the Temple the Door to Go

SHADOW: The Vail of the Temple, Door to God

Exodus 26:31-34 AUDIO http://www.exposingtheword.com/SHADOWS/MP3s%20Shadows/13%20Shadow-%20The%20Veil%20of%20the%20Temple.mp3

When someone has access to a person, it means they usually have a relationship with them. It may only be a professional relationship but access is to be desired. Who has not watched the star struck fans of a particular singer or actor that screams for only a touch or an autograph. They do not have a relationship only a glance. You can go on tours of the stars homes in Nashville and Hollywood but seldom does that get you very close. Sure you can go to Graceland and tour it but guess what, Elvis has left the building. Children’s Miracle Network raises money to give sick children a visit and a chance to spend time with their favorite star or athlete. Today we turn our attention to an inanimate object that gives us a foreshadow of the Lord Jesus. Notice our text in Exodus 26:31-34 . These are instructions given to Moses concerning the construction of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Within the broader instructions we find directions for making the door that led into the Holy of Holies.

    Exodus 26:31-34 "And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: ³²And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. ³³And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. ³⁴And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place."

I- The Source of the Shadow:

    This curtain or vail that was made for the door gives us a picture of the Lord Jesus. Notice what Jesus said in John 10:7-9 "Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. ⁸All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. ⁹I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."

    We also need to go to the time of the death of Jesus to see Jesus as the source of the shadow that we are looking at. The three synopsis gospels record this event. Notice Luke 23:44-45 "And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. ⁴⁵And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst."

    Matthew tells us in Matthew 27:51 "And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent."

II- The Colors:

    Let us notice a couple of things in passing that are not without significance. Lets visit briefly the colors of the vail. Moses was told to, "…make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen…" The colors of blue, purple, red and white are important. The colors can and do have several things they tell us. One of these is the blue speaks of heaven from which He came and returned. The purple is the color of royalty and reminds us He was and is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. The scarlet is the color of blood and who can forget that the King from heaven shed His blood. The white or fine linen speaks of the purity of Christ. After all if He had shed His blood without it being acceptable to God it would have been to no avail.

III- The Furniture:

    Within the vail of the temple there were items placed. Notice Moses was told to, "…³³bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony." Also upon this ark he was told to, "… ³⁴put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony…"

    This ark of the testimony was the witness against Israel. It was the law that they failed to live by and therefore cried out of their guilt. Praise God for what Christ did. Notice, Colossians 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross."

    The other item was the mercy seat. This was where God met with Israel. This was significant in the fact that the vail of the temple was constructed to deny free access to the meeting place.

    But the good news is that in the fullness of time the Door arrived to open the way.

III- The Door Is Open:

    With the death of Jesus the door to God was opened. There are some things we need to see that the vail shows us.

1- Way to God is Open: Many times we humans become complacent and take the presence of God for granted. Let you mind think on what a privilege it is for us to have access. Hebrews 10:20 "By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh."

    In the times of the Old Testament things were not the way they are now. Access to God was not free as it is today for us.

2- Door is Open Never to be Shut Again: Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

3-Help Is Available In Time of Trouble, Temptation, and Trials: When God came near to men and dwelled among us it was as a man. Therefore we know He understands. Hebrews 4:15-16 "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."

4- Christ Alone Provides Access Through the Vail: John 10:1 "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber."

    May I say it this way? The vail still stands for those trying to access heaven and God in any other way except Jesus. Acts 4:12 "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

    The greatest invitation to come to Christ is found I think in Revelation 3:20 "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

    Have you come to Jesus? Have you entered through the ripped vail?