It wasn’t always this simple. There was once a time when blood sacrifices of animals were necessary to atone for sins. In Jerusalem, there was a temple where people would go to offer such sacrifices as a way of requesting forgiveness for their sins. Inside the temple, there were priests who would act as advocates between the individual people and God, praying on their behalf for forgiveness of their sins.

Although this type of ritual occurred throughout the year, there was one day designated during the year for special prayer in a special room in the temple that was known as the Holy of Holies — a room that was separated from the rest of the temple by a thick curtain or veil. In theory, God “lived” in this room, so nobody was allowed to enter the room except on the annual Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. On this day, the high priest was allowed to go behind the veil, carrying the blood of an animal, in order to pray for forgiveness for himself and all of the people he was representing.

“Into the second [room] went the high priest alone once every year, not without blood, which he offered for himself, and for the errors of the people.” (Hebrews 9:7)

This was how it worked up until the time of Jesus, even while He was living on earth. However, everything changed once He took His last breath on earth. Jesus then became the “great and last sacrifice,” fulfilling the Law of Moses such that blood sacrifices of animals were no longer necessary. Or to put it another way, Jesus was now the high priest, entering the Holy of Holies to advocate for forgiveness of our sins, offering His own blood instead of the blood of animals.

“Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” (Hebrews 9:11-12)

Right after Jesus takes His last breath on the cross, a visible sign is given that this change has occurred — “the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom” (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45). The miraculous tearing of this thick curtain illustrates that there is no longer a separation between mankind and God — all are now welcome to come into His presence. And note that the veil was torn beginning at the top — clearly, it was torn by God!

So, when you pray today, whether for forgiveness of sins or for any other reason, remember that the right to approach the God of the universe was purchased at a price — the blood of Jesus, the Son of God. Because of Jesus, you have access to the throne of God.

Image credit: Rending of the Veil by William Bell Scott