The Victory of the Cross: How Jesus Removed Every Barrier to God

When Jesus died on the cross, something extraordinary happened inside the temple in Jerusalem. The massive veil separating humanity from God’s presence was torn in two. This article explores how that dramatic moment revealed the victory of the cross—and what Jesus accomplished to remove every barrier between you and God.

 

The Veil That Separated Humanity from God

A thick veil once separated the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies in the temple—a powerful symbol of the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity.

Only the high priest could pass beyond it, and only once a year on the Day of Atonement. Even then, he entered with sacrificial blood offered for the sins of the people. For generations, this sacred veil reminded Israel that access to God’s presence was limited.

According to Jewish tradition, this massive veil was about 60 feet long, 30 feet wide, and a “hand’s breadth” thick (approximately five inches). Some historical accounts say it was so heavy that it took 300 priests to move it, and so strong that even a team of oxen couldn’t pull it apart.

Yet something extraordinary happened when Jesus died on the cross.

Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed His last. Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom (Mark 15:37-38).

This was no ordinary tear. The curtain was ripped from top to bottom—a powerful sign that God Himself had acted. The barrier that once separated humanity from His presence was suddenly removed.

The Victory of the Cross Removed Every Barrier

The tearing of the veil was more than a dramatic moment in history. It was a declaration of what Jesus accomplished through His sacrifice. The cross removed the barrier between a holy God and sinful humanity.

The apostle Paul explains the depth of this love:

“God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Jesus didn’t wait until we were righteous. He came to rescue us when we were still lost and far from God. The book of Hebrews explains the meaning of the torn veil even more clearly:

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus … through the curtain, that is, His body” (Hebrews 10:19-20).

In other words, Jesus didn’t simply open the way to God—He became the way. His sacrifice made it possible for anyone who believes in Him to enter God’s presence freely and confidently.

Before and After the Cross

Before the cross, people approached God through priests, sacrifices, and temple rituals.

After the cross, we approach God through Jesus Himself.

Christ became our perfect sacrifice and our mediator with the Father. Because of Him, the door to God’s presence is open. As Hebrews declares:

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

What once required priests, sacrifices, and sacred rituals has now been replaced by a living relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Cross Shows God’s Love for Sinners

Christ didn’t die for us when we were His friends—we were His enemies. He didn’t save us because we were righteous—we were sinners. He came to our rescue when we were ungodly and without strength.

It was love that moved your Heavenly Father to send His only Son to earth in the first place (John 3:16). That same love was on full display when Christ died for you—even when your life may have looked more like the prodigal son, sitting in some distant pigpen of broken choices (Luke 15:11-32).

From His birth in Bethlehem until His death on the cross and His resurrection three days later, Jesus’ mission was clear: to restore what had been lost and bring people back into fellowship with God. As He said, He came “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).

Pause for a moment and give God thanks for His relentless love that sought you and redeemed you when you were still far from Him. Because of Christ’s victory, the barrier between you and God has been removed.

An Invitation to Come Near

When God ripped the temple veil in two, it was a dramatic statement that lost humanity could now come to Him freely. No longer does His love remain hidden behind any veils or religious rituals. Instead, He issues a call for you to come to Him just like you are:

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? 

“Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28-30 MSG).

You can’t earn or purchase God’s presence or the resources of Heaven, nor do you need to. They are freely given to anyone who heeds the Lord’s invitation to come to Him. 

Enter God’s Presence with Confidence

What a wonderful invitation. It’s like someone has invited you to a lavish party, and you ask, “What can I bring?”

Their answer is stunning: “You don’t need to bring anything. Just come. Everything has already been prepared.”

This is exactly what Jesus taught when He described the King sending out invitations to His son’s lavish wedding feast:

“Everything is ready. Come to the banquet!” (Matthew 22:1-4 NLT).

Take a moment to let this incredible truth sink in. Nothing is required except your willingness to come. Nothing is hindering you from entering boldly into God’s throne room of grace to receive what you need from Him (Hebrews 4:16).

So draw near to Him today. Come boldly to His throne of grace.

Because of the victory of the cross, there aren’t any barriers between you and God. The way into His presence is open to you today

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The Way to God Is Open
When the temple veil tore, it revealed the victory of the cross and the open invitation to come near to God through Jesus.

If you’ve never responded to that invitation, today can be your beginning.

👉 Say yes to Jesus.