Luke 23:44-46 The Rent Veil

Intro: Billy Bob & his family lived in rural Louisiana – down by the Bayou .

  1. One morning on his way to school – Billy Bob was walking along the Bayou – saw an out house sitting on the edge of the Bayou
  2. Feeling a Mischievous streak welling up inside of him – Billy Bob went over to that outhouse & gave it a hard shove
  1. He watched it tumble over the edge an into the Bayou below
  1. Everything was fine until he got home from school – found his dad waiting for him

Billy Bob – his dad said tell me the truth, son – did you push the outhouse into the Bayou ?

Billy Bob responded – Well daddy we studied about George Washington in school today Like him I cannot tell a lie – I did it daddy .

Billy Dad responded : Billy Bob bend over son I’m gonna give you a whupping

But daddy I told the truth – George Washington’s daddy didn’t whup him when he admitted to chopping down the Cherry tree

Billy’s Dad then said – That may be true son – but George Washington wasn’t in that Tree.

 

Sometimes we have the tendency to think- Boys will be Boys – sin is going to happen – Pushing over an occasional outhouse is no big deal

  1. After all we are Human – we mess up / we miss the mark all the time we are Sinners
  2. That is true – but the Problem w/ Sin is that Just like Billy Bob’s Father – our heavenly Father is Hurt when we sin!! ( Not Physically – But Grieved
  3. He is grieved by our sin – especially the sin that we commit so easily & Non-Chalantly
  4. Understand God is a Personal God – He is a Loving Father who feels deeply & grieves greatly when we sin – WHY?
  1. Is it because He is Hyper sensitive ? NO !!!

 

Listen : The Father Hates sin because He sees the Devastating effects that sin brings about .

  1. He sees the sorrow & the suffering / the problems & the pain that sin Brings - He Grieves for us / heart aches – lives messed up

B) Understand this : SIN IS NOT BAD BECAUSE IT IS FORBIDDEN

SIN IS FORBIDDEN BECAUSE IT IS BAD!!!!!

C)Most people think that SIN IS BAD because God forbade it –

  1. In actuality – a Loving heavenly Father forbids sin, warns us against sin & is grieved by sin – because He knows the Devastating effects

D)The most DEVESTATING – It separates us from the God Who loves us

so much - / Makes it so that we cannot enjoy fellowship w/ Him

  1. Until that sin is dealt w/ & removed !!!!

 

In the verses that we have just read we see a VISUAL – Illustration of how that which separated has been removed !!!!!

  1. Today we are going back in our story – felt led to focus this morning on the RADICAL MESSAGE OF THE RENT VEIL.

B) If taking notes – 4 things we want to consider -

    1. The History of the Veil – ( Background )
    2. The Message of the Veil – O.T.
    3. What the Veil Pointed to – Shadow of
    4. What the rent Veil means today

1st – The History of the Veil – ( Background)

  1. I want you to try & picture life – about 4,000 yrs ago / you are w/ the Children of Israel – in the Wilderness / after released from Egypt

B) In the mist of the Camp was what was known as the Tabernacle

    1. It was basically a tent that had two compartments / first Known as the Holy Place / 2nd known as the Holy of Holies

C)This tent sat surrounded by this curtained fence – made like a court yard

  1. You couldn’t see over this fence – but there was always smoke arises from inside the fence

D)Because the first thing you would see when you entered the fence into that

courtyard area – was this huge altar –

  1. It was there upon that altar that sacrifices were offered up daily by the priest
  1. As a Worshipper – that was as far as you were allowed to go – just to the altar – but off in the Distance – was that Tent – Tab. ( tent of Meeting)
  1. You grew up hearing how – GOD WAS IN THAT TENT / It was where His Presence was Felt – Shekinah Glory Dwelt
  1. Sense of Awe / Wonder / Fear / Awesome & Ominous / at same time

 

But only the Priest could go in there – But they didn’t get to see God either – for they could only go into the first room - Holy Place

  1. In the Holy Place – table to right – Bread – basin w/ incense in front and a lamp – oil in it to the left
  2. You knew that the priest went daily into that room – to offer up rituals & to perform prayers –
  1. But Separating that room from that from the HOLY OF HOLIES was this huge CURTAIN – Known as THE VEIL

The Veil was 60 feet tall – 30 feet wide – 10 inches thick - / it was so heavy that it took 300 priest to hang it up !!

  1. Now this Curtain – known as the Veil served as a Wall – separating those two rooms - & only one Person was allowed to venture beyond that Veil
  2. That was the High Priest & Only once a year on the day of Atonement - & only after performing various intense ceremonial washings for Himself
  1. And only after having offered a sacrifice for his sins & the sins of the people
  1. The sacrifices were Necessary because w/out the Shedding of Blood there is no remission or forgiveness of Sins

    2. 1) And that had to be taken care of before someone could approach God

  2. If any of these things were not properly done that priest would not make it in – He would be struck dead before entering the Veil –

1) It was an Honor to be the Priest Chosen to enter in – but also Scary

 

2nd thing – Note What was the Message of the Veil – OT.

  1. It was basically a message of DISTANCE & CAUTION/
  2. Idea was that only special people like Moses & the High Priest could have access to God
  3. The rest of the people had to stay back – No Access – God is holy / Righteous & Ominous – Can’t know Him
  1. In many ways the people didn’t want to know Him – they saw the cloud cover the mountain when Moses went up to meet God
  1. They heard the Thunderings / they Felt the EARTHQUAKE / they saw the Lightnings – they were terrified
  1. They Cried – Moses please don’t have God talk to us – You just tell us what He said
  1. That is how things were there was always a MEDIATOR – there was No direct Access – there was only Distance & Caution

But the Veil was also a shadow – a Picture – of that which was to come

3rd thing – we want to see – Writer of Hebrews gives us insight / TURN

10:1 For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.

2 For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.

3 But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year.

4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. 5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a body You have prepared for Me.

  1. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.

When the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies on the day of Atone w/ the Blood of the Sacrifice – it merely served as a Covering for Sin

  1. It really didn’t cleanse them of their sins ( Take them away their sin )

    2. Their sin wasn’t removed

  2. But it covered their sin / why they had to offer that sacrifice every year - & every year they were reminded that they were Sinners

Lets say a business man goes to bank to request loan for business venture

  1. He has friend who is wealthy who agrees to endorse the note & repay

the debt should the venture fail.

B) So the loan is made ; the promissory note is drawn up ; rate

of interest is set; business man signs note; his friend endorses it

  1. A year passes and the Business man's expectations have not

materialized

C) So He goes back to the bank and asks for further credit and for an extension of time on his expired loan

1) The banker agrees and draws up a new promissory note adding

the new debt carried forward another year

D.) This goes on and on the loans getting larger and larger every year and

the business man is getting deeper and deeper in debt

    1. Each year there is a reminder of his former debt and of his

new liabilities

E.)The only thing that keeps him afloat is the endorsement of his friend!

 

That is exactly what happened in O.T. - the animal sacrifices were like promissory notes

A.) Bringing them to the altar the Hebrews acknowledged their accumulating debt - covered for another year!

  1. And the writer of Hebrews says here that the Lord really had no Pleasure in these sacrifices – because they couldn’t take away sin.
  1. they couldn’t make the sinner Clean – so that He could really enjoy fellowship w/ God / Know God / Draw near to God
  1. And that is what God DESIRED - made man for fellowship – communion that was severed in the GARDEN

 

But the writer of Hebrews also tells us that these sacrifices were merely a shadow , a picture .

  1. They pointed to the one who was to come the Lamb of God

WHO WOULD TAKE AWAY the sin of the world FOREVER

B) A Shadow is interesting ; it has form but no substance - a

shadow in & of it self is really useless.

C) The shadow of a key cannot unlock a door -- big Mac cannot satisfy

hunger; in fact might make more hungry

1) The shadow of Calvary could not take away sin!

D) The endless offerings of the Levitical ritual could never make

those who came perfect!

    1. Perfect = bring to completion ; to intended end

 

The end to which the O.C. pointed was: complete salvation / which

included the taking away of sin , Access to God, clear conscience

A) Something the O.C. & its sacrifices could never do!

  1. You could pile shadow upon shadow & still have no substance / like

multiplying of zero

1) No matter how many times you repeat the process the result is still zero

C) The sacrifices just served as a reminder ! And Every year on

the day of Atonement / people reminded sins were still there.

D) But Each sacrifice carried with it the endorsement of the Son of God, who guaranteed He would fully repay all of the liabilities acknowledged by the sinner!

E)When Christ died at Calvary - he removed the debt Took away sins!-

something - sacrifice of bulls goats could never do!

1.) they were a shadow – He is the REAL THING

F) So Jesus Declares – a body you have prepared for me – When He came there was SUBSTANCE -

9 then He said, "Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God. ( NOTE THIS " He takes away the first that He may establish the second.

10 By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Jesus was establishing a New thing : A new Covenant. – doing away w/ the Old – The New Covenant. – Known not by Distance but Closeness

  1. then He adds, "Their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more." Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh,

21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let 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.
  1. The Writer of Hebrews gives us a very interesting insight that the veil was indeed Christ – His flesh / His Humanity

B)Just as the Veil hung between heaven & earth in the Temple /so too

Jesus Hung between Heaven & earth on the Cross

C)Just as the Veil was Ripped from Top to Bottom by the Hands of the Lord

– So too Christ was ripped from top to Bottom – by God

Isa.53: 4 Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.

D) Just as that Veil was ripped from top to Bottom completely by God

so that not one inch was left untorn

    1. So too the Atoning work of Christ on the Cross was a Complete work – nothing left for the sinner to do
  1. He paid the price for all my sin / my junk / my iniquity / my rebellion my foolishness
  1. He paid for all of it w/ one offering – He declared it is finished the work is complete

So what does the Rent Veil mean today ? It means there is access / there can be closeness – We can enter in . Distance has been removed

  1. Note. V.19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus,
  2. We have boldness to enter into the Presence of God not on the Basis of our Goodness but on the Basis of the Perfection of the Sacrifice
  1. by a new and living way which He consecrated for us,
  1. New way – Speaks of that which is always fresh – The Greek suggest the idea of NEWLY SLAIN
  1. Although Jesus Died a long time ago – His death now has the same impact as it did the moment it occurred
  1. We come to God – by a way which is always effectual w/ God – It never loses one ounce of it’s Power of it’s freshness

 

It is a New way & it is a LIVING WAY - Because Jesus is ALIVE !!!

  1. Continual Access through Him / I am the way …… life …..by ME!!
  2. It is also a DEDICATED WAY – what Consecrated means –
  1. Sometimes when a New road is opened or a Building is built there is a DEDICATION – SERVICE- stating open for the Public
  1. Jesus has Dedicated the way into the Holy of Holies – deemed it open for Public Use – all who Put their faith & trust in the REDEEMING BLOOD

 

So the VEIL RENT –means the door has been opened – Just think what it must have been like to be Priest in the temple that day – Veil rent

  1. There they stood staring at the Ark – didn’t die !!!
  2. The door has been opened – Access is AVAILABLE - He says that we have BOLDNESS to enter in !!!!
    3.
  3. Now a thief has boldness – when he breaks into a house – but he is not comfortable – always caution – sense what if I get caught
  4. Because of what Jesus did we can come in Boldness / completely comfortable – Knowing we are Welcome there !!!!
  1. We come not as Burglars / not as Sinners / but as Sons & Daughters
  1. The Lord doesn’t say – Oh No here comes that Rob guy again !!!!

But here is the thing to understand – Your being welcome into His Presence has nothing to do w/ Your Performance

My Son Aaron has always wanted a Brother – feels outnumbered – girls

  1. Well lets say that Denise & I adopted a little Brother – someone say 7,or 8 yrs old

B) Brought home – showed room / w/ Aaron – ( You get the top bunk )

Dresser for your clothes / bathroom etc.

    1. This is your home – we love you – we want you to be comfortable here
  1. So the next day the kids go off to school – after school – he comes home – rings the door bell – Can I come in - OF COURSE – Your house
  1. Calls me – Mr. Salvato - / Dinner can I eat is it OK
  1. Mr. Salvato – can I get you some Coke – Chips – can I wash the car / Vacuum the House
  1. And I ask him – why do you want to do all those things ?
  1. He responds so I can earn my Place & so you will love me

Son You need to understand – Denise & I do Love you – that is why we paid the price for You – You don’t need to earn anything – we want you to enjoy this as Your Home – NOT OUR SERVANT / OUR SON

  1. Guys remember what Jesus said – I no longer call you servants but friends
  2. The Door has been opened – the Price has been paid – the work has been accomplished that TAKES AWAY SINS – CLEANSING
  1. Forgiven & forgotten – When we sin – Just confess / repent – Forgives us cleanses us – BLOOD CONTINUES TO WORK
  1. We have boldness to enter as – Sons & Daughters but many like that adopted boy – STILL LIVE AT A DISTANCE
  2. They are always seeking ways to earn God’s favor - trying to Justify their standing w/ God based on their performance
  1. when a person does that they are in essence trying to Sow up the Veil again

When ever we start to think the way to God is based upon how much we pray or read or share our faith / or are involved in this or that

  1. We are sowing up the Veil
  2. All those things are merely to be the Response to the reality that there is Access / the way is forgiven / Price Paid
  1. Paid by Infinite Love –

C) I respond to that Love / ENJOY INTIMACY W/ GOD

 

Take my wife! I could send flowers, write cards - do laundry, buy outfits - but no good if never spent time with her!

A.) No good - mean anything if only gave her 2 hours a week

1.) She wants to be with me! ( some reason)

B.) Surfing in mornings - not there to wake up together

1.) When do - she is so happy!

 

Guys, the Lord wants our friendship - He wants our communion first and foremost-

  1. So the Veil RENT MEANS TODAY – there is BOLDNESS there is INTIMACY – one last thing – there is PRIVILEGDE
  1. Listen to what Peter says

9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

C) Peter declares our New Privilege all have a ministry – We get to do what only the Privileged used to get to do – Be used by God

a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

 

We Serve not out of Obligation or Duty – but out of Love

A) What are the spiritual sacrifices that we offer up to the Lord ?