THE VAIL.
Exo_26:30-32; Mar_15:38; Heb_10:19-20.
I. The Name. The name "vail" suggests something which conceals, a something hidden behind which cannot yet be seen. The vail on the face of Moses screened the glory gleaming within. The vail of unbelief in the heart hides from the soul the glory of the grace of God, as seen in the face of Jesus. The vail of the Tabernacle hid-or came between-the priest and the glory of the divine presence, which rested on the mercy-seat in the holy of holies. It is a type of the body of the Lord Jesus Christ. He took upon Him "the likeness of sinful flesh" (Rom_8:3). This flesh, like a vail, concealed the glory of His divine character. His transfiguration on the mount was an incidental outburst of the hidden glory which dwelt within. The divine majesty was always there, but the weak body of flesh vailed it. Our own bodies are but vails which hide from us the face of our loving and glorified Lord. Death is but the rending of the vail, the opening of the way for our access into His immediate presence. "Absent from the body, present with the Lord" (2Co_5:8). Just now-how sweet the thought- only a vail between.
II. The Character.
1. It was made of "fine twined linen." May we not see here the moral purity of Jesus Christ as a Man. His character was as "fine linen," pure and spotless. Satan came but found nothing in Him. The garment of His thoughts and life was without spot. This linen was to be "fine twined." Who can look at the texture of Christ’s life and character without exclaiming how wonderful! The divine and human natures were indeed finely twined. So beautiful were they wrought together, so closely were they united, that in looking on one can only say, "Behold the Man" (Joh_19:5).
2. It was to be of "cunning work." Now we must look deeper down than the visible texture of the life of Jesus. We come to His birth, the mystery of the incarnation. This is in truth "cunning work," because it is the work of the Holy Ghost. "The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee; therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (1Ti_3:16). Cunning work! "Great is the mystery of godliness, God manifest in the flesh!" (1Ti_3:16). Who but Christ Himself could ever have suggested such a type.
3. It was "blue, purple, and scarlet." The same colours appear in the gate and the door, because it is the same Divine Man all the way. The "blue" speaks of Him who came from Heaven. The scarlet of Him who was lorn of a woman. The purple, formed by mingling blue and scarlet, speak of Him as God and Man in one Person, the Mediator, the Royal Priest, Emmanuel. Can we join with Mary in saying, "My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour" (Luk_1:46).
III. The Position. This holy vail hung right in front of the ark of the mercy-seat. It was the only wall of separation between the holy place and the holy of holies. It was only through the vail that the priest could enter into the holy presence. It is only through Christ that we can have access unto God, "I am the Way" (Joh_14:6). This vail could only be parted once a year, as the priest entered in not without blood. But notice that before he could enter in the vail had to be removed. This must have been a deeply solemn act on the part of the priest. In putting aside the vail he had at once to do with Jehovah Himself. How significant! Let us approach the truth with profound reverence. Christ must be removed. The holy One must needs be set aside ere man through atoning blood can enter into fellowship with God. When those sin-blinded priests and rulers cried, "Away with Him! Away with Him!" (Joh_19:15), they were ruthlessly tearing the holy vail aside, and exposing themselves to the wrath of the God of Israel (Act_2:23). Yet the purpose of God was being fulfilled.
IV. The Rending. As soon as Jesus gave up the ghost "the vail of the Temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom" (Mat_27:51). The vail of the Temple is supposed to be the same vail that was used in the Tabernacle. The death of Christ on the Cross and the rending of the vail on the pillars are closely linked together, because they signify the same thing, that we may have liberty to enter into the holiest "by a new and living way which He hath consecrated for us through the vail, that is to say, His flesh" (Heb_10:19-20). It was-
1. Divinely Rent. It was rent from the top. Rent from above, rent by God. Had it been the work of man it would have been torn from the bottom There is a deep meaning in all this It was true that "with wicked hands" they crucified and slew Him. Yet He could say, "No man taketh My life from Me." Here is the point. "It pleased the Lord to bruise Him, He hath put Him to grief" (Isa_53:10). "My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me?" (Psa_22:1). He made our sins to meet on Him. The vail was rent from the top, the hands of God were stretched forth, they took hold of it and opened it up, indicating that the death of His beloved Son has met every righteous claim, and that now He sets before us an open door into the presence of His mercy-seat.
2. Rent in the Midst. Not down the side. It was no side entrance Christ made for us by His atoning death. The ark, with its mercy-seat and shekinah glory, stood in the centre of the holy of holies and close to the vail. The vail, being rent in the midst, was rent right in front of the mercy-seat. Faith in Christ brings the sinner into immediate touch with a merciful God (Rom_3:25).
3. Rent Completely. From the top to the bottom. Not a thread was left in the way. Grace began it and grace completed it. "It is finished!" He hath indeed perfected that which concerneth us. Every difficulty in God’s way of saving men is now removed, and removed by Himself. The Lamb of God has taken away the sin of the world (Joh_1:29). God rises up and rends asunder the separation vail, that He might offer His mercy to all who approach Him in the Name and through the blood of Jesus Christ His Son. "God is in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses" (2Co_5:19). "I flee to Thee to hide me" (Psa_143:9). There is salvation in "none other Name" (Act_4:12). Now that the vail is rent all human priestly pretensions are worthless. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved" (Act_16:31).
Autor: James Smith