Behold, the Veil of the Temple Was Rent in Twain
The sermon explains how the death of Jesus Christ brought about a new era of direct access to God, marking the end of the old law of ordinances and the beginning of a new era of revelation and redemption.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the profound significance of the temple veil being torn at Jesus' death, illustrating the end of the old law and the fulfillment of sacrifices in Christ. This miraculous event not only signifies the abolishment of the annual atonement but also reveals the mercy-seat and the glory of God, granting believers direct access to Him. The tearing of the veil symbolizes the opening of heaven's gates for all saints, allowing them to approach God with boldness through Jesus, our great High Priest. Spurgeon encourages believers to embrace this privilege and enter into the heavenly places with Christ, who holds the keys to paradise.
Text
No mean miracle was wrought in the rending of so strong and thick a veil; but it was not intended merely as a display of power--many lessons were herein taught us. The old law of ordinances was put away, and like a worn-out vesture, rent and laid aside. When Jesus died, the sacrifices were all finished, because all fulfilled in Him, and therefore the place of their presentation was marked with an evident token of decay. That rent also revealed all the hidden things of the old dispensation: the mercy-seat could now be seen, and the glory of God gleamed forth above it.
By the death of our Lord Jesus we have a clear revelation of God, for He was "not as Moses, who put a veil over his face." Life and immortality are now brought to light, and things which have been hidden since the foundation of the world are manifest in Him. The annual ceremony of atonement was thus abolished. The atoning blood which was once every year sprinkled within the veil, was now offered once for all by the great High Priest, and therefore the place of the symbolical rite was broken up.
No blood of bullocks or of lambs is needed now, for Jesus has entered within the veil with his own blood. Hence access to God is now permitted, and is the privilege of every believer in Christ Jesus. There is no small space laid open through which we may peer at the mercy-seat, but the rent reaches from the top to the bottom. We may come with boldness to the throne of the heavenly grace. Shall we err if we say that the opening of the Holy of Holies in this marvellous manner by our Lord's expiring cry was the type of the opening of the gates of paradise to all the saints by virtue of the Passion?
Our bleeding Lord hath the key of heaven; He openeth and no man shutteth; let us enter in with Him into the heavenly places, and sit with Him there till our common enemies shall be made His footstool.
Sermon Outline
- The Veil of the Temple Was Rent in Twain
- The Death of Our Lord Jesus Brought a Clear Revelation of God
- The Annual Ceremony of Atonement Was Abolished
- The Atoning Blood of Jesus Was Offered Once for All
- Access to God Was Now Permitted for Every Believer
- The Hidden Things of the Old Dispensation Were Revealed
Key Quotes
“He was not as Moses, who put a veil over his face.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Life and immortality are now brought to light, and things which have been hidden since the foundation of the world are manifest in Him.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Our bleeding Lord hath the key of heaven; He openeth and no man shutteth;” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- As believers, we now have direct access to God through Jesus Christ, and we can come to Him with boldness and confidence.
- The death of Jesus Christ has brought about a new era of revelation and redemption, and we can now see the glory of God and the mercy-seat with clarity.
- We no longer need the blood of animals for atonement, but can rely on the atoning blood of Jesus Christ for our salvation and access to God.