Mark 15:38-4138And the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom. 39And when the centurion, which stood over against him, saw that he so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God. 40There were also women looking on afar off: among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the less and of Joses, and Salome; 41(Who also, when he was in Galilee, followed him, and ministered unto him;) and many other women which came up with him unto Jerusalem. (Mark 15:38‑41)
“AND THE veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”
When Moses erected the tabernacle in the wilderness, provision was made for man to be represented before God at the mercy seat, behind a veil, in the “Holy of Holies.” But this was only once a year—on the day of atonement—and then only the high priest could go in, properly clothed and carrying the blood of sacrifice, which spoke in type of Christ’s blood. The veil separated all others and to look behind it, or venture into that “Holy of Holies” would mean instant death.
This is a most interesting subject and the reader who would like to explore it further will enjoy reading the following scriptures: Exodus 25:8-22; 26:31-358And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. 9According to all that I show thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make it. 10And they shall make an ark of shittim wood: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof. 11And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold, within and without shalt thou overlay it, and shalt make upon it a crown of gold round about. 12And thou shalt cast four rings of gold for it, and put them in the four corners thereof; and two rings shall be in the one side of it, and two rings in the other side of it. 13And thou shalt make staves of shittim wood, and overlay them with gold. 14And thou shalt put the staves into the rings by the sides of the ark, that the ark may be borne with them. 15The staves shall be in the rings of the ark: they shall not be taken from it. 16And thou shalt put into the ark the testimony which I shall give thee. 17And thou shalt make a mercy seat of pure gold: two cubits and a half shall be the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof. 18And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. 19And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 20And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be. 21And thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. 22And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel. (Exodus 25:8‑22)
31And thou shalt make a vail of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen of cunning work: with cherubims shall it be made: 32And thou shalt hang it upon four pillars of shittim wood overlaid with gold: their hooks shall be of gold, upon the four sockets of silver. 33And thou shalt hang up the vail under the taches, that thou mayest bring in thither within the vail the ark of the testimony: and the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy. 34And thou shalt put the mercy seat upon the ark of the testimony in the most holy place. 35And thou shalt set the table without the vail, and the candlestick over against the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south: and thou shalt put the table on the north side. (Exodus 26:31‑35); Leviticus 16; and a summary in Hebrews 9 and part of chapter 10. These portions are recommended for your personal study.
When the Lord Jesus yielded up His life on Calvary, that veil—which was then in its proper place in the temple in Jerusalem—was rent completely open from the top (the work came from above) to the bottom. This was God’s sign that there no longer would be a barrier to men to enter into His presence. The sacrifices of old would no longer be the means of approach, for the blood of Jesus had fulfilled all they spoke of and is the token with which faith takes us to God.
Who could conceive such a detail as the rending of the veil, but God Himself? It is a most important principle for every believer to grasp. Among the many evidences of God’s pleasure and satisfaction with the work of His Son on Calvary, this was the first outward token shown to man, and the Holy Spirit has been! pleased to emphasize its importance to us. Hebrews 10:19-2219Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19‑22) explains the new position beautifully: “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, His flesh; and having a high priest over the house of God; let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith...”
In the immediate vicinity of the cross there was no voice heard pro claiming the Lord’s Person, except that of the dying thief, whose cry to Jesus was noted in our last reading. No doubt there were some in that crowd who truly loved Him and owned Him in their hearts, but were not bold enough to speak out. Yet God would have one more testimony, and this from a Gentile: “And when the centurion, which stood over against Him, saw that He so cried out, and gave up the ghost, he said, Truly this man was the Son of God.” v. 39. We do not know how real the conviction was to the centurion’s conscience, but his expression surely voiced the belief of many who had witnessed the Saviour in His life as well as His death.
A company of women who loved Him and had ministered to Him in His life, were also “looking on afar off.” Too timid and fearful to remain in the forefront of that rough crowd, they watched with sorrowing hearts the death of the One who had touched their hearts. Among these were three specially mentioned — Mary, the mother of Jesus; Mary Magdalene; and Mary the wife of Cleophas, who at first stood near the cross, but who apparently shrank from the violence of that scene and joined the other women “afar off.” Their hearts soon express their love to the blessed One, as we shall see in following verses.
ML-06/21/1964