The gospel of John records that when the disciples went to the tomb after the crucifixion and discovered that Jesus was not there, that the burial face cloth was still there, by itself, folded.
As I thought about the face cloth, I remembered the story of Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai with the tablets of the law (the Old Covenant), his face shining so brightly that he had to cover it with a veil. And there was a veil in the tabernacle/temple that kept the place of the presence of God separated from the rest of the sanctuary.
The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy. Exodus 26:33
Each year sacrifices were offered and sin was covered, but there was no provision made to allow the people behind the veil, into the presence of God. The veil symbolized the separation that still existed between God and the people, even in the keeping of the law.
But in the initiation of the New Covenant, the face cloth (a word also translated veil) is folded and set aside as something no longer needed. There is now no more divider between us and the presence of God. Christ has entered into that most holy place with His own blood, once for all time. He has cleansed us from our sin and brought us near to God.
Oh, if we only knew, if we could only grasp the privilege we have been given! Those who have called on the name of Jesus for forgiveness of sin have been washed clean, clothed with His righteousness and given access into a fellowship with God that was never before available. It is almost scandalous to think that the holy God allows us to come and commune with Him. But He made a way!!
So let us not be guilty of erecting our own veils of laziness and complacency that keep us from entering this glorious reality. As a bride’s veil is removed when she is given to the groom, let us also remove the veils of separation that we have allowed to stop us from fellowshipping with our God. And then, with unveiled face, let us behold the glory of the Lord.
He is my Delight 