Veiled, but not concealed

2 Corinthians 3:12-4:6, Mark 15:21-40 (esp v 38)

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Veils are an important part of a bride’s wedding day attire. Today, no one exactly knows why brides where veils other than “tradition” and “they’re pretty.” Some people talk about how the veils are another way of showing a bride’s modesty and chastity, which certainly isn’t a bad thing. Historically, the tradition of brides wearing veils originated outside the Christian Church, with Roman brides wearing veils of orange and red to make evil spirits think they were similar to fire so those spirits would stay away from them on their wedding day. But if you aren’t trying to imitate fire, veils don’t often have a clear purpose. At the same time, they obscure the lines and details of what they cover and increase interest in what’s under the veil, creating interest and intrigue. Maybe it’s because people are curious about what’s hidden and unseen, but anything that is under a veil is more interesting than anything that’s not under a veil. Perhaps that’s why auto shows cover the award winning vehicle until the prize is made public, and why celebratory banners and placards are veiled until the championship is announced with confetti and cheers.

Yet, in congregations, veils are used to obscure things as well. During these waning days of Lent as the Church enters into passiontide, crosses are veiled. Sometimes, icons, paintings, statues, and other religious art are covered as well. When I was first exposed to this tradition, it seemed backwards to me. Why, during Passiontide of all times, would the cross be obscured? Wouldn’t this be the very time that the Church would pay attention to the unobscured, unveiled, unconcealed cross in it’s horrific yet gracious detail? Why cover up the means that our Lord Jesus has used to save His people? While there are many traditions of why this is a helpful practice, today, follow just one line of reasoning.

The Scriptures unfold a narrative history, a story if you will, of salvation. That salvation is not rushed or hurried. Already when Adam and Eve fell into sin in Eden, disobeying God and doing what seemed right to them, the Lord God made them a promise. The Savior would come, born of a woman, and crush the serpent’s head. In Genesis 4, Eve named her first son Cain, using the Hebrew word “Cain” meaning “gotten” or “received” because she had “received a son, the Lord.” She thought the promise was fulfilled. Alas, Cain was not the Savior. Neither was the murdered Abel nor Seth. Generations came and went, and the Savior wasn’t yet born. The Lord’s wrath arose in the days of Noah and He destroyed all humanity except those 8 souls on the ark, but still there was no Savior. The Lord called Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob - promising a Savior who wasn’t yet born. The Lord’s people travelled to Israel to be preserved in the days of famine without a Savior, and the Lord brought them out of those depths of woe with a promise that He would bring them to the Promised Land. But it was in the wilderness that the Lord gave instructions to Moses about building a tabernacle, a tent where the Lord would meet His people. Today, remember there were two important things in the tabernacle - an altar for sacrifices and a curtain that separated “the holy place” with an altar for incense and a lampstand from “the Holy of Holies” that had the Ark of the Covenant and was only entered once a year by the High Priest Himself.

On that altar, the Lord’s people burned sheep, goats, bulls, pigeons, and doves to the Lord. Those sacrifices were for their sins, brought them into fellowship with God and each other, showed thanksgiving to the Lord for all His benefits, and gathered them under the promise that they were indeed God’s people. But those sacrifices weren’t their Savior. Those sacrifices were bleeding, dying, fiery gifts that pointed to what was behind the veil - the Lamb of God who would come to be the Savior. That Savior, the Lamb of God, came for His people. God’s gift of love, they crucified. No bloody beast on a Jewish altar slain could remove sin’s stain - but the Lord Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, could and does deal with human sin. He doesn’t ignore it. He doesn’t hide it. He doesn’t cover up sin with a veil. No, instead, without a veil or a covering, the Lord Jesus forgives sin by His own death upon the cross. That hideous cross, the tool of torture reserved for rebels, traitors, and renegade slaves, was what the Lord Jesus took up and embraced on Calvary. There, the Lamb of God with no sin to hide took upon Himself your sin so that you have the righteousness of God.

And when Jesus died on that cross, the curtain in the Temple (that had replaced the Tabernacle) was torn into two. There was no more separation between God’s people and the ark of the covenant, topped with the “mercy seat” were blood was sprinkled once a year to cover sin. By the death of Jesus, there was no more need for the annual Day of Atonement, and no more need of a sacrificial goat or lamb or scapegoat. Jesus filled all those roles, once for all as the precious Lamb of God. He didn’t just do it for the people of the Exodus, nor did He do it only for the crowds on that first century Friday outside Jerusalem. He did it for you. He is not merely “a” Lamb of God, not “the” Lamb of God, but “your” Lamb of God. He died, not just for “sins” or “human sin” but for “your sin.” You know your sins - the wickedness and unrighteousness that clothes you, the ways you ignore, disregard, and sometimes even willfully break God’s commands, and the evil inclinations, thoughts, words, and deeds of your life. That is why Jesus came.

So, back to the question, “Why veil the crosses during Passiontide?” If the veil of the Temple was torn on Good Friday, why re-introduce a veil? Today, look at these veiled crosses and consider that they obscure the horror of the cross, hiding the shame of the cross so that you consider the beautiful grace of your Savior. The horror that your Lord endured is covered as you receive His love, or better said, His Passion for your forgiveness. On that cross, the tragedy is concealed as God’s grace is revealed. Look to the cross, not with shock, horror, or shame but with reverent joy because on that cross is your Lamb of God.

St Paul, referencing that Moses wore a veil when he returned from seeing God’s glory, said that Moses covered his face so the people wouldn’t see the glory of God fade from his face. He then says that a veil remains over those who regard God’s covenant apart from Christ. It is in Christ that the veil is lifted. Now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:18 “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

This Passiontide, you are free from your sins. They are forgiven by Jesus, your precious Lamb of God. With unveiled face, look at Christ the crucified. The images might be veiled, but they are not concealed. Rejoice in the beauty of the love of God for you. Amen.