Morning, April 19

Charles Spurgeon · Morning and Evening: Daily Readings

"Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the
   bottom."

  Matthew 27:51

   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.