At the moment of Jesus’ death the veil in the Temple was torn in two.
This curtain hung as a ceremonial fabric in the Jewish Temple. Its function was to separate the holy place from the Holy of Holies. Embroidered on the curtain was a cherubim. A cherubim is an angelic being that guards the holy presence of Yahweh from individuals who are unworthy to enter His presence (see Genesis 3 when God puts the cherubim in place to guard the garden of Eden after the Fall). This isn’t for Yahweh’s protection, but the sinner’s protection.
The Holy of Holies was the throne room of God that housed the Ark of the Covenant which was the throne of Yahweh (which is why it’s also called the “mercy seat”).
According to the law of the Old Testament, only the High Priest was eligible to go into the great throne room once a year (Day of Atonement; Yom Kippur) to atone for the sins of Israel, God’s people.
The preparations and cleansing that needed to take place in order for the High Priest to enter in and not die because of the powerful and holy presence of Yahweh was out of control. The level of painstaking detail that the High Priest had to purify himself extraordinary.
This meant that the presence of God was something exclusive; something reserved for certain people.
From here, we can reason (and interpret Scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit) to understand that Jesus’ death makes the holy and powerful presence of Yahweh accessible to all. That which was reserved for a few is now available to all. With the work of Jesus, the barrier between humanity and God has been removed. All who wish to enter may.
In addition to this, now the holy and powerful presence of God can GO OUT. This is the missional dimension of holiness. Not only can we now draw close to Yahweh because of internal cleansing and forgiveness through faith in Jesus, but God can no draw near to the world because of Christ’s work.
This is a powerful concept that should shape the way the church understands its mission to the world.
It is now the church’s responsibility to carryout the mission of Christ by bringing the powerful and holy presence of God to a broken and hurting world. That very presence is the healing balm of humanity—the only balm that can restore the hearts of men and regenerate culture and transform the state of affairs on this terrestrial ball.
The torn veil is as much a call to mission as it is an invitation to enter.
The curtain is torn in two so that all may enter, and that He may go out.