四月十九日
忽然，殿里的幔子从上到下裂为两半……（太27:51）
把又韧又厚的幔子裂为两半实在是非同小可的神迹．但并为了彰显神的能力有多大——其中给我们很多教训。仪式的旧律法已经过去了，像一件破衣被撕碎之后掷在一旁。耶稣一死，一切祭物都终止了，因为都在他里面成全了。当然那预表的东西被废除，应当有一种清楚的记号。幔子的破裂也把旧制度时一切被隐藏的奥秘都显露出来：神的荣光所遮掩的施恩座现在也可以被人看到了。因着主耶稣的死，神清楚地向我们启示出来，因为神对我们并“不像摩西将帕子蒙在脸上”。生命和永生现在已经有了亮光，从创世以来所隐藏的奥秘都在他里面彰显出来了。每年一次洒血赎罪的礼也废除了。本来赎罪的血是一年在幔子里洒一次，现在却由大祭司一劳永逸地献上了，因此预表的礼就这样被破除了，牛羊的血现在已经不需要了，因耶稣已经用自己的血进入幔内。现在我们可以坦然进到神的面前，这是每个信基督耶稣之人的特权。幔子并不是破了一点叫人可以窥视施恩座，乃是从上到下裂为两半，我们可以坦然无惧地来到神的施恩宝座之前。若我们说主的呼喊开启了至圣所，就是他借着所受的苦为一切圣徒开了乐园之门的预表，我们岂是错了吗？流血的主有天门的钥匙，他开了就没有人能关；让我们与他一同进入天堂，与他同坐等一切仇敌都作了得胜之王的脚凳。
April 19
“Behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to
the bottom.” –Matthew 27:51
No mean miracle was wrought in the rending of so strong and thick a
veil; but it was not intended merely as a display of power–many lessons were
herein taught us. The old law of ordinances was put away, and like a worn-out
vesture, rent and laid aside. When Jesus died, the sacrifices were all
finished, because all fulfilled in Him, and therefore the place of their
presentation was marked with an evident token of decay. That rent also revealed
all the hidden things of the old dispensation: the mercy-seat could now be
seen, and the glory of God gleamed forth above it. By the death of our Lord
Jesus we have a clear revelation of God, for He was “not as Moses, who put
a veil over his face.” Life and immortality are now brought to light, and
things which have been hidden since the foundation of the world are manifest in
Him. The annual ceremony of atonement was thus abolished. The atoning blood
which was once every year sprinkled within the veil, was now offered once for
all by the great High Priest, and therefore the place of the symbolical rite
was broken up. No blood of bullocks or of lambs is needed now, for Jesus has
entered within the veil with his own blood. Hence access to God is now
permitted, and is the privilege of every believer in Christ Jesus. There is no
small space laid open through which we may peer at the mercy-seat, but the rent
reaches from the top to the bottom. We may come with boldness to the throne of
the heavenly grace. Shall we err if we say that the opening of the Holy of
Holies in this marvellous manner by our Lord’s expiring cry was the type of the
opening of the gates of paradise to all the saints by virtue of the Passion? Our
bleeding Lord hath the key of heaven; He openeth and no man shutteth; let us
enter in with Him into the heavenly places, and sit with Him there till our
common enemies shall be made His footstool.
