Understanding the Symbolism of the Torn Temple Curtain

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The Torn Curtain Mark writes that Jesus let out a loud cry and the very next thing that happened was the temple curtain torn completely in half and diminished the separation between man and God. This is told in the gospel of Mark 16:38, “The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” In glorious tearing of the temple curtain God displays His power, signifies who Jesus is, tells us what the cross accomplished, and reveals the access we have to God through Jesus Christ. The earlier temple had three rooms, a large courtyard with an altar, an indoor room where only the priest could enter after washing and a holy room where only the high priest could enter for the atonement of sins on behalf of God’s people. The Holy room was separated by a very thick curtain that is described in Exodus 26:31-33. The purple curtain may have been up to one hundred feet wide and one hundred and fifty feet tall Only the high priest could enter once a year into the holy room that was separated by this curtain, and any other who entered would die. …show more content…

Jesus is our now our High Priest, as it is written in Hebrews 8:1-2, "Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the Lord set up, not man." Jesus Himself now serves as our high priest and there is no longer a need for a Jewish high priest to stand before the Lord and make atonement for our sins. Jesus has provided for our atonement through His death on the cross. The torn veil is the beginning of the new covenant as read in Hebrews 8:13, “ By calling this covenant "new," he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.” Hebrews

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