Morning, April 19, edited from Spurgeon’s Morning and Evening

“Behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” — Matthew 27:51

No minor miracle was performed in the rending of so strong and thick a veil; but it was not intended merely as a display of power—many lessons were taught us here. The old law of ordinances was put away, and like a worn-out garment, ripped apart 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 tear 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 made apparent 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 bulls or of lambs is needed now, for Jesus has entered within the veil with his own blood. From now 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 tear 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 marvelous manner by our Lord’s expiring cry was the type of the opening of the gates of paradise to all the believers by virtue of the Passion? Our bleeding Lord has the key of heaven; he opens and no man shuts; let us enter in with him into the heavenly places, and sit with him there till our common enemies shall be made his footstool.