For forty years, God led His children out of the bondage of slavery in Egypt.  He went before them as a pillar of cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night, allowing them to travel both day and night to escape their enemies.  When the tabernacle was built in the wilderness, there was a special room, which no one could enter except for the chief priest.  He would make atonement for the people through blood sacrifices.  The Holy of Holies, or most holy place, was a place for God to reside as He had when they made their exodus.

God was very specific about how the division should be made.  There would be a heavy linen curtain, woven intricately with cherubim entwined into the pattern of purple, scarlet and blue yarn.  The word “veil” in Hebrew means screen or divider and this wall was intended to keep anyone out other than the chief priest, and keep God separate from the sinful people.  Even the chief priest had to make special preparation to enter this room on the annual day of atonement.  He needed to cleanse himself physically, put on special clothing and burn incense as he entered so that the smoke would hinder his eyes from seeing God. He would also bring blood offerings.

When the Jerusalem temple was built, a replica of the curtain was made.  It was sixty feet high, thirty feet wide and was 4 inches thick.  This was not a piece of fabric that could be torn by human hands.  The curtain separated Holy God from His sinful people.  Anyone who entered, except for the chief priest, would surely die.  This was a clear picture of how God detested sin.

When Jesus took His final breath on the cross and surrendered to death, the earth shook, rocks split, dead bodies came to life and the curtain of the temple was split in two.  Within His short life upon this planet, the Son of God took upon Himself the sin of the world.  The wall that separated us from direct contact with God was now broken.  From that moment on, we no longer have to fear God’s wrath.  We don’t have to rely on our works to get us to heaven.  We don’t need an earthly intermediary.  We can now meet God face to face and know that our sins have been forgiven.

His sacrifice, His holy blood, His undying love for His creation was the final blood offering.

A curtain made of yarn and linen woven together with greatest skill –

Designed to honor the face of God.

Only one could come into this holy place.

Only one could enter and only at the appointed time.

Cherubim meticulously crafted into the cloth of royal colors – purple, blue and scarlet.

Colors of the King of Kings.

The purple shows His passion – His love for all and His willingness to die for us.

The blue, the heavenly realm from which He came and to where He ascended. There He has reserved a place for us.

The scarlet reminds us of the blood – true blood – true flesh – true man and still true God.

Shed in payment for the sins of the world.

The curtain stands no longer.   It has been torn in two.

God has shown His miraculous love for mankind.

The door is open now for all who follow Him.