How does Mark 15:38 symbolize the end of the Old Covenant? Text of the Passage “And the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.” — Mark 15:38 Historical Context of the Temple Veil The veil (Greek: katapétasma) separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in both the tabernacle (Exodus 26:31–33) and later temples (2 Chronicles 3:14). Standing roughly 60 feet high and some 4 inches thick according to Josephus (Jewish War 5.5.4) and the Mishnah (Yoma 54b), it dramatized restricted access to God. Only the high priest could enter once a year on Yom Kippur (Leviticus 16:2, 34). Old Covenant Sacrificial Economy Under the Mosaic covenant, continual animal sacrifices mediated temporary atonement (Hebrews 9:6–10). The veil embodied that provisional barrier: sin separated humanity from God (Isaiah 59:2). Every ceremony reinforced mankind’s need for substitutionary blood (Leviticus 17:11) while simultaneously emphasizing distance. Symbolism of the Tear Mark’s terse notice that the veil “was torn” (eschisthē) takes the passive voice, marking divine agency. The phrase “from top to bottom” underscores God’s initiative; no human ripped a 60-foot inner curtain at the moment of Christ’s death (cf. Matthew 27:50–51; Luke 23:45). The act signals that the sacrificial system’s curtain of separation is forever removed. Fulfillment of Prophecy a. Psalm 22: Christ’s cry (v.1) and ensuing deliverance envision cosmic repercussions (vv. 27–31). b. Zechariah 13:1: “On that day a fountain will be opened…for sin and impurity.” The open way parallels the open veil. c. Jeremiah 31:31–34: a promised “new covenant” with internalized law and full forgiveness finds inaugural fulfillment at Calvary. Access to God in the New Covenant Hebrews 10:19–20 explicitly interprets the symbolism: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way opened for us through the curtain of His body…” Christ’s torn flesh corresponds to the torn veil, granting believers direct, continual access (Ephesians 2:18). Termination of the Levitical Priesthood Hebrews 7:12 states that a change in priesthood necessitates a change in law. The veil’s destruction foreshadows the temple’s physical destruction in AD 70, historically ending Levitical sacrifices. The epistle argues that Christ’s once-for-all offering (Hebrews 9:26) supersedes repetitive animal offerings (Hebrews 10:1–4). Temple Typology and Eschatological Shift Jesus had already pronounced judgment on the temple (Mark 11:13–17). The veil’s rending is the theological equivalent of His earlier fig-tree sign and the Olivet discourse prediction (Mark 13:2). The earthly sanctuary gives way to the heavenly (Hebrews 8:5). Early Christian Interpretation Ignatius (Ephesians 19) speaks of “the temple’s veil torn, and the sun obscured” as proof that “God appeared in human form.” The Epistle of Barnabas 7 connects the tear with the annulment of former sacrifices. Patristic consensus viewed it as the formal close of the Old Covenant. Archaeological and Extra-Biblical Corroboration First-century earth tremors in Judea are recorded by Thallus (fr. 2) and referenced in Julius Africanus. While Josephus notes the temple’s massive door opening by itself (War 6.5.3) shortly before its destruction, both sources align with a pattern of prodigies surrounding the era of Christ’s death and the temple’s impending obsolescence. Evangelistic Application Because the way is now open, any person—Jew or Gentile, skeptic or seeker—may “draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22). The gospel invitation pivots on the objective historical event of the veil’s tear, calling hearers to abandon self-effort and trust the risen Savior whose death accomplished what ritual never could. Conclusion Mark 15:38 is not mere narrative detail; it is theological proclamation. The divinely-torn veil announces the end of the Old Covenant sacrificial order, validates Christ’s atoning death, inaugurates direct access to God, and ushers believers into the promised New Covenant reality foretold by the prophets and ratified in resurrection power. |
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