“And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up his spirit.
Then behold, the veil of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom;
and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split…”
Matthew 27:50-51

The passage goes on to say there was an eclipse. Darkness covered all the land for the three hours Jesus hung on that cross.

vs 45:
“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour
there was darkness over all the land.”

When the children of Israel were wandering in the dangerous wilderness, they brought along with them the Tabernacle, which was the place where God met with his people and gave them instructions, providing them the guidance they needed. In that Tabernacle was the golden Ark of the Covenant which contained the commandments. Upon the Ark sat the golden Mercy Seat, and on each end of the ark were two cherubim, golden angels with their wings covering over the Ark. This was the Holy of Holies, the very innermost sanctum which was marked off by a huge and heavy curtain. Only the High Priest was allowed to enter the Holy of Holies. The High Priest entered on behalf of the people, under the shelter of the wings of the cherubim which portrayed God’s protection under which one would find refuge.

Scripture tells us that the Tabernacle was a picture of God’s Temple in heaven. There Jesus Christ our High Priest makes intercession for us, he who understands our weaknesses and fears, he who stands ready to provide guidance and help in any point of need we might have.

“For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses,
but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”
Hebrews 4:15

In the earthly Tabernacle and later the Temple, the veil separated the Holy Place from the people, and only the High Priest was allowed beyond the veil, no one else was permitted to come near, under the penalty of death. Indeed, when the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies the people would tie a rope around his ankle because if he wasn’t worthy to enter he would die and they would pull him out without going in themselves. But when Jesus Christ was crucified, there was an earthquake and that veil in the Temple was torn in two, top to bottom, indicating that our High Priest has gone into that Holy Place in heaven, and the blood that he shed for us makes it possible for us now to enter and approach the very Throne of God!

The veil is torn. We are now authorized to come to the very Throne of God, to come to Jesus Christ our High Priest, and to ask for help with our needs, to receive guidance and protection in our storms, and the forgiveness of our sins. What a privilege – we have been granted the right to come to the very Throne of God in heaven, through our Lord Jesus Christ!

“Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16