Have you ever stood on one side of a locked door, longing to be on the other side? Maybe it was a door to a hospital room, or the emotional wall of a broken relationship. That ache of separation is universal, and it mirrors the deeper separation humanity has faced since sin entered the world. Sin locked us out from God’s presence.
Lent is a season to confront that separation. It’s a time for reflection and repentance as we journey with Christ to the cross. But Lent is not only about what sin has done. It’s about what Christ has undone. And few moments capture that better than the tearing of the temple veil.
The temple in Jerusalem was a place of worship—and separation. At its center was the Holy of Holies, the space where God’s presence dwelled. A thick, heavy veil marked it off, saying, in effect, “No entry.” Only the high priest could pass through, and then only once a year, with the blood of a sacrifice.
The veil wasn’t just a curtain. It was a constant reminder of sin’s barrier. It proclaimed, “God is holy. You are not. Keep out.” But everything changed on Good Friday: “When Jesus had cried out again with a loud voice, He yielded up His spirit. Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” (Matthew 27:50-51)
Picture it: the heavy fabric, torn not from the bottom by human hands, but from the top by God’s own power. God Himself reached down and tore apart the barrier. Why? Because the sacrifice was complete. The separation was over. Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, had offered Himself for the sins of the world.
With His final cry, “It is finished” (John 19:30), Jesus declared the work of salvation complete. His blood was the atonement sin demanded. The torn veil was God’s announcement that the way to Him is open. No more sacrifices. No more mediators. The barrier of sin is gone.
Lent invites us to reflect on this reality. What barriers stand between you and God? Is it guilt that whispers, “You’re too sinful”? Is it doubt that questions whether God hears you? Lent reminds us that every obstacle was removed by Christ. “For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.” (Ephesians 2:18)
Because the veil was torn, we can approach God without fear. The writer to the Hebrews urges us, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.” (Hebrews 10:22) Jesus’ sacrifice means we can bring our sins, our burdens, and our doubts to God, confident in His mercy.
Lent is more than a season of sorrow. It’s a season of grace. It’s a time to marvel at the love that led Jesus to the cross. It’s a time to rejoice that He tore apart the barrier between us and God. As you walk through these forty days of Lent, let the image of the torn veil guide you. It’s God’s invitation to draw near—to lay your sins at the foot of the cross and find peace in His loving embrace.
The door is no longer locked. The veil is torn. The way is open. So let us approach the cross with humble and repentant hearts, confident that in Christ, we are forgiven, loved, and welcomed into God’s presence.
is pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Winter Haven, Florida, and a member of the CLC Board of Missions.