The story of the cross of Calvary has many components. Volumes could be written on each detail of Christ’s passion and resurrection. Each facet has multiple meanings and purposes in the life of a Christian.

A look at the torn veil of Calvary is well worth the study for its meaning is profound in a person’s relationship to God. The scripture in Luke 27:45-54 NKJV gives this account of the mid-Friday afternoon events of the crucifixion.

“Now from the sixth hour until the ninth hour there was darkness over all the land. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” Some of those who stood there, when they heard that, said, “This Man is calling for Elijah!” Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and offered it to Him to drink. The rest said, “Let Him alone; let us see if Elijah will come to save Him.” 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, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. So, when the centurion and those with him, who were guarding Jesus, saw the earthquake and the things that had happened, they feared greatly, saying, “Truly this was the Son of God!”

From noon until three in the afternoon, darkness covered the entire geographic area around the cross. When the natural sun should have been the brightest, it was blotted out and separation between God and mankind was at its greatest. When Jesus breathed his last breath, the earth trembled, quaked, and erupted opening graves and destroying buildings and natural habitats. Inside the temple of the Jews, the veil that separated the holy of holies, the dwelling place of God, from the other chambers of the temple was torn vertically from top to bottom. The tearing was a divine act from heaven downward by God himself. Why is this important? Because it meant from this moment forward mankind would not be separated from the presence of God.

In Exodus 26:31, 33 NKJV, the priests were commanded, “You shall make a veil woven of blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen. It shall be woven with an artistic design of cherubim. And you shall hang the veil from the clasps. Then you shall bring the ark of the Testimony in there, behind the veil. The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy.”

In Leviticus 16:2 NKJV, “and the LORD said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat” The priest could not come inside the veil because the presence of God would be hovering over the mercy seat and face to face confrontation with God would mean death.

The work of the cross gives us access to the presence of God, life not death. It gives us the privilege of a relationship with God through Christ who was the final sacrifice for sin. When Jesus appeared to Mary at the resurrection on Sunday morning, he said, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener saith unto him, “Sir, if thou have borne him, hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus saith unto her,” Mary.” She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. Jesus saith unto her, “Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.”  John 20:15-17 KJV

Jesus’ message to Mary, the disciples, and all of mankind was inclusion. I go to my Father and now, your Father. I go to my God and now, your God. The veil has been torn from top to bottom as an act of God for the inclusion of “whosoever will” into the family of God. Don’t stand outside wishing you could go into his presence. The veil of Calvary has been torn, and the entrance is wide open!