The veil of flesh

Peter J. Leithart March 6, 2007

John does not record the tearing of the veil of the temple. Alone among the gospel writers, though, he records the piercing of Jesus’ side. The two facts are related: Jesus is the temple (as He says in John 2), and in the tearing of His flesh there is a tearing of the temple veil. Just like Ezekiel’s temple, when the veil of flesh is torn, living water flows out.

Peter J. Leithart

Peter J. Leithart is president of the Theopolis Institute, Birmingham, Alabama. He posts regularly at his Substack, Notes from Beth-Elim.

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