Boldly Go Where We Couldn't Before

Hebrews 10:1-25

On this Good Friday, one of the holiest days in the Christian Calendar, I would like to look at the reading from Good Friday’s Lectionary reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews.  Throughout the days of the Old Testament the Jewish people would continually bring animals to the Temple for the priests to offer as a sacrifice for their sins.  This was done repeatedly, year after year, whenever they sinned.  The priests, as well, would have to offer a sacrifice for their own sins.  The author of Hebrews says, though, that the blood of these sacrificial animals could never atone for anyone’s sins, otherwise there would be no need to continually come back, over and over again, offering more sacrifices.  This is why Jesus came to earth, for the purpose that He was to be God’s Sacrificial Lamb for our sins.

Within the Temple was an inner sanctuary which was called the Holy of Holies.  In this sanctuary was the Ark of the Covenant, where God dwelt in a special and unique way.  This sanctuary was so holy that it was forbidden for anyone to enter, except the High Priest, and then only once a year on the Day of Atonement, when he would bring the blood of the sacrificial animals for his and everyone’s sins.  Dividing the Holy of Holies from the rest of the tabernacle was a veil or curtain, which kept it separate, and emphasized its holiness.  This veil was not thin like a typical house curtain, but much thicker, more like a stage curtain or even a tapestry, as its purpose was to keep people from looking into the Holy of Holies.

When Jesus died on the cross, His shed Blood was the perfect, the only real atonement for our sins.  Jesus was sinless, and His Blood paid the penalty due for our sins.  His death satisfied God’s righteous judgment against sin.  At the time of Jesus’ death, the veil in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom, as was recorded in the Gospels (Matthew 27:51).

This may seem very incidental with everything that happened on Good Friday and at the time of the crucifixion.  So a heavy curtain in the Temple was torn in two, what would be so important about that, that it was recorded in several Gospel accounts?  As our author of Hebrews states in verses 17-22, since the remission of sins was made, and now there was no need for any more offerings.  The veil was torn in two by God because there was no need for any more separation between God and man.  Jesus is our High Priest, and He came to the Father, not with the blood of animals, but with His own Blood.  His Blood opened the way for us to have access to God.   Believers now had access to the Father through the Blood of Jesus.  We are bidden to draw near to God now, to come into His presence with a true heart, a heart that has been sprinkled clean from sin by Jesus’ Blood.

We are also told that we can come with boldness into the holiest place, that before the throne of God (vs. 19).  We don’t have to cower in the corner in fear.  If we are believers, and have accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we have nothing to fear from God.  Jesus paid our penalty, and we are now accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6).  I remember seeing pictures of President Kennedy with his two little children, Caroline and John Jr., playing in the Oval Office of the White House.  He dearly loved his children, and they could come boldly into that Oval Office.  Other people did not have that privilege.  They would have to get an appointment, wait for permission, and maybe come with some trepidation.  But Kennedy’s children were always welcomed, and they would come running, skipping, and playing into that room.  He was their father, and they were his beloved children.

Jesus’ Blood bought us that privilege, and if we’ve accepted Him as our Savior, we, too, like the Kennedy children did with their father, can come boldly into the Holy of Holies to be with our Father.  Thank you, Jesus, for what you did for us on that Good Friday so many years ago.