When Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil was torn in two. At the time of Jesus, the temple was a very significant place, as it is where the sacrifices were done to cover the sin of the Jews according to the Law of Moses. Yet notice that the blood of the sacrifice covered their sins; it didn’t take those sins away! Inside the temple, the veil separated the inner chamber known as the “Holy of Holies” from the outer chambers. The “Holy of Holies” was the earthly dwelling place of God’s presence, and the only person allowed inside was the high priest. Yet even the high priest only could enter that chamber once a year, on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.
Solomon’s temple was 30 cubits high, according to 1 Kings 6:2, with a cubit being the average distance between the bend in the elbow and the tip of the middle finger, commonly about 18 inches. So the veil was at least 45 feet high. According to Exodus, the veil was made of blue, purple and scarlet material fashioned into linen and twisted together, and adorned with cherubim. Additionally, according to the writings of the Jewish historian Josephus, the veil was at least four inches thick and he said that horses tied to each side could not pull the veil apart. That makes what occurred at the death of Jesus even more of a miracle:
50 And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. 51 Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, 52 and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; 53 and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many.
Matthew 27:50-53
When the veil was torn, it gave us access into the “Holy of Holies!” Jesus is our High Priest (according to Hebrews 3:1, Hebrews 4:14 and others), and He takes us into the throne room of God!
5 For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, 7 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christ and not lying— a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth.
1 Timothy 2:5-8
That should give us a better concept of the gift of prayer. Now, at any time we like, we are invited into the throne room of the Creator and Ruler of all to have a private and personal conversation! This shouldn’t be once a year, as in the Day of Atonement. So building on yesterday’s devotional, if you feel separated from God, come to Him in prayer
Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened,
That it cannot save;
Nor His ear heavy,
That it cannot hear.
2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God;
And your sins have hidden His face from you,
So that He will not hear.
Isaiah 59:1-2
He always hears the confession of your sins. The best part is that because of the work that Jesus did on the cross, God doesn’t cover our sins. He removes them! Come to Him and let Him take away the burden that is keeping you distant from Him!
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